Gut Help

[proctorclaire]

Some people may recall from previous posts that at the beginning of the year my Arab mares digestive system shut down leading to secondary impactions and huge amounts of reflux. IV fluids etc kick started it again and impactions cleared. They have no idea what caused it. She got infection at catheter site whilst in the hospital which led to 2 abscesses and over a month worth of antibiotics which they changed type 4 times. Less than two weeks out of the hospital she colic again and back in hospital. This time no IV fluids needed. She's been home nearly 3 months now but has lost considerable amount of weight and is basically skin and bone. Since her second visit to hospital and antibiotics finishing she's had non stop cow pats. No ball formation at all. She's been on a strong course of probiotics from trinity consultants as well as long course of L94 and strong condiment(don't think that's the name of it actually) and now on a course of their norminal which is probiotics, charcoal and other ingredients. Both courses of probiotics there was one day when balls started to show in cow pat but then back to how they were. Her gut is completely knackered and I'm watching her waste away. She's on unlimited hay, winter grazing and 3 hard feeds a day of soaked hay nuts, healthy muesli and herbal chaff all from thunderbrooks. Has anyone else had this experience for this long and how did you overcome it? She's very bright, happily eats, drinks normal, not colicing etc.

 

[deicinmerlyn]

I would speak with an independent Nutritionist as she’s been so poorly and your Vet. Is she getting a balancer or a multi vit/minerals daily?
What you’re feeding is good but probably better for a good doer rather than sod ething tha. Needs to gain weight. Also if her gut isnt working optimally, she’s unlikely to make good use of any nutrition.
I’d really recommend getting professional advice.
Hope she picks up soon.

 

[Carrottom]

Oil in some form might help, but I agree with above that a phone call to your vet for advice would be the best place to start.

 

[meleeka]

I agree her diet sounds like it could do with more calories. Second professional advice.

My friends horse had similar and he picked up again with Equi Jewell.

 

[Identityincrisis]

When my horse had ulcers I was researching and came across this company who may be able to help, it is certainly interesting what they offer

Equine Faecal Test Kits | Equibiome Equine Gut Health

Equine faecal test kits for all horses and ponies. Take the guesswork out of what and how to feed your horse with the equibiome test.

www.equibiome.org

 

[Bonnie Allie]

We had one like this a few years back. Vet, vet, vet, lots of “feed him this, feed him that” but no improvement. I got tough and asked for a specialist and had to make a long and expensive trip to another vet hospital, which happened to also be a Uni teaching hospital. They were brilliant. Not only did they do extensive tests, they peer reviewed everything with a practice in Kentucky.

Horse had severely inflamed gut - including hind gut. He was absorbing about 10% of his nutrients. He was put on the world’s most expensive steroids for three months. Initially he had to have them twice a day, then tapering to once per day, then slowly tapering off every second day for the final month. From day one of treatment he improved.

He fully recovered, was a top eventer for most of his career and passed away at 28yrs at home, healthy right up to his last day.

Maybe it’s time to insist on specialist diagnosis?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I agree her diet sounds like it could do with more calories. Second professional advice.

My friends horse had similar and he picked up again with Equi Jewell.

Was going to suggest Equijewel

 

[Highmileagecob]

My instinct would be to cut out the hard feed and replace with easily digested fibre based stuff. Soaked sugar beet, grass chaff, Pink Mash sort of feed. Just a thought, but have you had her teeth looked at recently? Not being able to chew properly will have an effect on digestion and hind gut function. This far down the line, I think I would be asking for a referral for a second opinion.

 

[ycbm]

This must be very worrying for you. How old is she PC?
.

 

[proctorclaire]

Just to clarify my house is under professional care but even the vets are stumped. That includes normal vet and hospital vets. I have sent a pooh sample away to equibiome so that should help identify bacteria issues after all the antibiotics.