Diarrhea in horses?

[cc14]

I have had my new horse for about a month now and he seems to be one problem after another! First he cut his leg and broke his new sausage boot, then he decided to go lame after the farrier. How we've noticed his diarrhea seems to be getting worse.

I say worse...When he first came things were a bit loose but nothing out of the ordinary. As soon as we got him he was on a 3 day worming programme then kept in, so we knew that may cause a few things to shift around! Then we gradually started giving him a pick of grass, then turning him out for a few hours at a time. When he went lame after the farrier we were advised to turn him out 24/7 to get him used to the new shoes he had on (feet were not in a good way beforehand). He came in about a week ago and has been out periodically since with hay added to the field due to a slight lack of grass. Feed wise he is on one scoop of pellets in the morning and one in the evening unless he is out then hay constantly through the day. We got him from a riding school type place so he pretty much ate whatever they bought in that week, so we couldnt do the whole gradual introduction of new feed thing.

It has now got to the point where in the morning I am removing practically all his bedding because it is wet (and not with urine)...I think you get the picture. However, his coat is not dull, he is happy in himself, he still has loads of energy when out riding, he doesnt have a tempurature, hes drinking plenty and he has a salt lick which I know he uses.

Basically, could this just be because of the change of home/feed/worming? Was about to pop out and get some electrolytes or similar to give him, and thinking about stopping giving him pellets and just feeding hay...good or bad idea?

Tried not to be too graphic for anyone eating as they read Apologies for the length!

 

[LaurenBay]

I think I would be tempted to leave it another week. As you said his on different feed now so his gut needs to get used to it. My mare was very loose when I first got her, but problem sorted itself out. You did mention that he was still drinking lots, which is good as he would lose a lot of water through the poo, which then could make him dehydrated. So deffiently keep an eye on that.

If it hasn't sorted itself out in a week, I would call the vet.

 

[cc14]

Yeah, as I said he is absolutely fine in himself, his coat isnt dull, he has loads of energy etc so Im 99% sure its just a change in feed, surroundings, grass and hay quality etc. Just bought him some electrolite suppliment and some hi-fi, so that should hopefully help

 

[TicTac]

I had a horse like this once and he had tests to try and determine the problem but there wasn;t any obvious one. I did find that feeding a pro biotic helped. I think the one I had most success with was Equine Gold? ( can't remember exacatly the correct name) Dodson and Horell yea sacc is another good one as well.

 

[cc14]

Thanks Had a minor panic yesterday it would be redworm even though we wormed him it is apparently rather resistant, so gave him a double dose of some super duper wormer, but no worms present this mornng so wont have been that. Im moving him end of next week so going to give him the weekend and if not phone the vet. Thanks guys

 

[YasandCrystal]

I would use this. It works, also I would get a wormcount done if you haven't already.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIARRHOEA...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item35aeaa7c2c

 

[Sportznight]

You say he is fed 'pellets' - what kind? I echo getting a worm count done and also adding something like Pink Powder to his feed.

 

[lhotse]

It sounds from your description that he is on a rather un-organised routine. He is fed 2 scoops of nuts if he's in, hay if he's out, and double dosing of a wormer is not going to do anything a standard does is going to do, unless it's strongid for tapeworm!! I think you need to get into a routine with his turnout and feeding. I would stick to just feeding hay for the time being and try to get him settled in his new home. If you are still having problems then I would give the vet a ring.

 

[SusieT]

I would stick to a scurpulous routine for 14 days. It sounds like he is getting messed about a lot, soemtimes out, sometimes in, sometimes fed, sometimes not. If that doesn't settle it, get your vet out as he could have any number of problems, but first do the number on horse keeping rule-put him in a routine and stick to it!

 

[flintfootfilly]

There are many causes of diarrhoea, including stress, colic, parasites, changes in gut bacteria, changes in hay/grass/other feed as well as infections.

Diarrhoea can lead to dehydration and laminitis.

So it can be an indicator of a serious underlying condition, although equally there are times when it just happens for a few days and clears up on its own.

Any disturbance to the gut system is worrying, and you need to do all you can to help the gut system settle down, so personally I would opt for him having just hay, water and a salt lick. No other feed until it settles down.

Keep a really close eye on him, and monitor him regularly so you spot if there's any changes to his behaviour/attitude/demeanour.

Sounds a good idea to offer electrolytes in a bucket, as well as a bucket of plain water so he has the choice.

One book I have on horsey first aid suggests getting veterinary attention if the diarrhoea is profuse, if the horse is not drinking or eating, if he has a temperature over 100 degrees, if the diarrhoea persists for 24 hours, if signs of colic develop, or if signs of laminitis develop.

You don't say what the pellets are that you are giving him, but I'd stop those whatever for the moment. Definitely worth giving a few of the feed companies a ring and discussing with them what body condition your horse is in, as well as his current situation, as they will probably come up with good ideas on how to make sure his diet helps his gut to settle.

I too have read good things about Yea Sacc, a live yeast culture, which is reported to help stabilise the gut bacteria and gut acidity. Dodson & Horrell sell it, and I think you can buy it from other sources too.

Hope he's soon much better, bless him. Horses just aren't good at so many sudden changes, so the sooner you can establish a high fibre good bland diet, then so much the better for him.

Sarah

 

[amandap]

My first step rather than adding more stuff to his diet, or chemicals, would be to get him off the grass and give free choice soaked hay. Stop all other feeds and see what he's like after three or four days. Is there a grass free area he can be turned out in or could he have a sectioned off part of the field?

If he settles I'd start with pink powder in some rinsed, un mollassed beet plus some salt and possibly magnesium oxide.

Keep Vet informed as well as check his resps, pulse etc.

mta. Second flintfootfilly's post.

 

[amandap]

Just to say that very watery diarohrea may well need Vet involvement sooner rather than later as a horse can quickly become dehydrated...

Hope he settles soon.

 

[cc14]

Sorry I wasnt very clear about his routine!

When we first got him, it was a scoop of basic pony nuts in the morning, exercised, out for the afternoon, then in for the evening with another feed and hay.

When he went lame, we were told he needed to be out 24/7 to get used to new shoes/feet, so he had no hard feed then as he was grazing. When the grass got low, we put hay in the field.

When we brought him in and realised that he was getting runnier, we kept him in to monitor it. He is now being gradually introduced to hi-fi, being given electrolytes as well (under vets advice).

Worm count showed nothing abnormal, no worms or eggs in droppings the day after worming etc, so worms has been ruled out.

But anyway, he is well on the mend now, but thankyou everyone

 

[cc14]

amandap - wasnt very watery, droppings were slightly loose but nothing awful, it was just the runniness that would come inbetween that was a bit worrying!

sarah - thanks for fab advice we took out all straw bedding (he started to eat it) and stopped feed other than hay for a few days just to get him settled then gradually back into feed. Now on hi-fi and settling much better

And to the others saying about a routine, I am fully aware and he is on one now but when we had him he had to be kept in for days because of worming, then he had to go out when he went lame, so it has been quite hard! Done everything gradually where possible but now we have established what works for him he is settled into a very simple routine!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I would get the vet out.

MY mare had diarrhea for 6 months had 18 codeine phosphate tablets a day . I had to plait her tail daily as her poo was water. WE did every test you could think of. NO answer

Even to this day we never found the cause.

She lost ALL her weight she was emaciated like a jamie gray case. No muscle no meat. in the end she swayed as she was so weak . One evening she was down couldn't get up . We stayed with her the whole night .We flipped her over thinking she had a dead leg nothing worked.

Vet came morning said I don't think she will get up again. SO we had to put my beloved mare who I loved more than life itself down.


She was dehydrated etc. They go downhill so quickly. I would NOT wait a week.

PS just read improving glad for you I lost my mare in 95 RIP Hunny

 

[cc14]

Leviathan I am so sorry to hear that

Mine is not as bad as that, if it had been vet would have been over straight away. We had a horse here who was in a very similar state, all his weight just fell off, diorrhea that smelt of decomp. horse, it was awful. Again, all the tests in the world and no cause. Somehow he pulled through and is on the mend, but I knew that mine was nothing in comparison to what we experienced with him.