Diarrhoea post laminitis

[CPW]

My horse has just started going out after eight weeks box rest with laminitis (caused by seedy toe). For the last couple of weeks of box rest he had bad diarrhoea which then seemed to improve when turned out, vet had a look at him and wasn't concerned. However it has returned, it tied in with me giving him a salt lick which I promptly removed but it has not got much better - this has been going on now on and off for about four weeks - any ideas?

 

[Pebble101]

Are you giving him bute? My old lad has half a bute a day for his arthritis, but if I need to up it to a full bute I find he suffers.

 

[Donkeymad]

After four weeks, your vet should be investigating not saying not to worry. It probably is nothing to worry about, but long-term diarrhea can have serious consequences.

 

[Llwyncwn]

The vets probably didnt tell you that his bowel movements would be different from now on. Any change, whether it be to lush or new grass, changing fields, stressful times, new hay/haylage, he will get the squits (only speaking from personal experience here). My boy is a recovering lami from 4 years ago. Even now he has the bare minimum and no treats (esp. carrots). Is his dung very 'sticky' and rather strong smelling?

My boy is on Coligone every time there is a change. It stopped the squits overnight in his case.

I am not a vet and the above is from my own personal experience. I would strongly recommend that you speak to a specialist equine vet who has experience of post laminitic horses (most vets dont even have a horse and use text books when from a small animal practise).

What you feed and when/how much/turn out is important as lami starts in he hind gut. I so hope you get help from a qualified opinion.

 

[CPW]

Thanks for all the suggestions. My issue is that the laminitis has not been caused by grass - it has been caused by trauma to the foot due to seedy toe/infection and lots of hoof being removed, this has caused the laminae to become inflamed due it pulling away from the horn due to instability of the hoof. I am treating him as a typical laminitis case i.e., soaked hay, gradual turnout on bare pasture, calorie free diet with lots of fibre etc just to be on the safe side. The diarrhoea started when I moved him onto a lamineze mix and this seemed to start the loose stools, so I took him off and it seemed to continue for a bit. Combined with him starting to go out again it got much better. A couple of days ago (after ripping a shoe off in the field - bad foot), he had to stay in for 24 hours until the vet came and this is when it started again badly. The horse isn't a stressy type, he loves his stable and coming in - so I can't think of something to tie in the occasions of when he has been getting it......... Also he had another attach when I gave him a salt lick!! ??