Help. Any ideas?

abi31

abi31

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My horse is kept in a block of four horses on a livery yard (which houses approx. 30 horses altogether). Yesterday morning my friends horse looked dejected and was paying no attention to her hay. I thought nothing of it and put it down to boredom or depression as they have been in for a couple of weeks due to the bad weather (stabled at night and indoor turnout during the day). However, when I got down yesterday evening my friend asked me to take a look at her horse as she was also concerned. Her mare hadn't eaten her haylage the previous night, or that day. Her pooh was runny, but her temp was normal and she was drinking lots.
When I tried to check her gums she was really reisistant to me opening her mouth or pushing her lips apart. They are very pale pink, as is the colouring around the eye. I suggested she tried her with some hard feed so she gave her some nuts and chaff which she picked over slowly. We reported it to the YO who said that a few horses on the yard had been behaving in a similar way but got over it in a few days.
We left her until this morning, but nothing has changed overnight. I said for peace of mind she should get the vet out to check and they are coming late this afternoon.
I may be paranoid but we have had strangles on the yard a few years back which saw a lengthy quarantine and the loss of 2 horses. I don't think this is strangles but am worried that it is affecting other horses too.
Does anyone have any ideas what it might be? Am I over-reacting?
She is up-to-date with flu and tet and due to be wormed shortly.
Big glass of mulled wine for getting this far.xx
 
how much indoor turnout does she get and what does she do when in there? Any way she could get turnout in a field? albeit a snow covered one... sometimes they go on hunger strike when confined... may be worth a shot.

the going off bucket feed does sound like a symptom of strangles BUT all the horses on our yard that had it, kept eating their hay.

Has hay(lage) supplier changed recently? could some of it be from a different field to the rest?

Does she have a temperature? hows her breathing and heart rate? is she drinking normally?
 
Hi CBFan,
the indoor turnout is in a large barn which is split into 10 pens, each of which is twice the size of their stables and allows them to socialise with each other even though it is just through the bars of the turnout. The haylage is the same each year off our own marshes. Her breathing is slow, but not laboured or raspy. We tried turning her out in the sand menage where she could reach the grass through the fence but she just stood in the middle looking very sorry for herslef. The only thing that stands out to me is that she is drinking a lot which isn't like her.
Off to yard now to see if the vet is there yet. Will keep you posted.xx
 
hope the vet has been. cant believe the yo isnt concerned with several horses going 'off' and not getting it investigated by a vet. have you got any answer from the vet? hope horse picks up soon
 
Vet gave her advice over the phone. He says that the cow pats of poo she is doing aren't a big cause for concern... However, on a positive note we swapped her haylage for hay, and although she dropped a fair bit on the floor, she is at least looking more interested. Perhaps it is less rich for a poorly tummy?
He will come out tomorrow if she still hasn't improved. Will keep you posted.xx
 
SACK your vet. in the least he should have offered pre and pro biotics and poss codeine to sort the diarohea. did your friend not get him out to assess her horse?? casual friend casual vet casual yard!
 
Horse is looking much better being on hay and poo is returning to normal. On further investigation we have found that the problem is with the marsh haylage being too rich, one horse has developed laminitis! At least we can do something to counter this, thank goodness it isn't a virus. We are half and halfing the hay/haylage for the rest whilst the affected horses are staying on hay. Thanks to all who commented.xx
 
Well done Sherlock for finding out the cause.:)
I was concerned when the vet wasn't, about cow pat poo, horses should NEVER have cow pat poo and it is generally a sign of too rich grass, or in your case haylage, but you know that now:)
She will be fine in a few days, with poo returning to normal, but it might be as well to dunk and drain hay in this weather as she will have had more moisture in the haylage.
Good luck and best wishes.
Bryndu
 
ofcourseyoucan said:
SACK your vet. in the least he should have offered pre and pro biotics and poss codeine to sort the diarohea. did your friend not get him out to assess her horse?? casual friend casual vet casual yard!
Click to expand...

I would watch commenting too rashly like this TBH. Codiene should NOT be reached for a first line for diarrhoea in any situations IMO. What it does is great - stops diarrhoea. But you have to understand how. It slows the whole gut movement, allowing greater time for absorption of more water - effectively if used willy nilly it causes constipation. I have certainly seen more than one horse with impactions due to owners being a little to keen on getting the codeine out!
In many cases it can be appropriate but sometimes slower transit time will also allow increased bacterial toxin uptake - a case with salmonella could get a LOT sicker rapidly - but guess what, good news is the diarrhoea's stopped!! :(
On the otherhand - it seems in this case haylage balancer may have been a useful idea. ;)


Bryndu said:
Well done Sherlock for finding out the cause.:)
I was concerned when the vet wasn't, about cow pat poo, horses should NEVER have cow pat poo and it is generally a sign of too rich grass, or in your case haylage, but you know that now:)
Click to expand...

Normal poo - I agree, but this isn't necessarily a case to rush for dramatic treatments. Rushing to the drug cupboard is often not right in such cases and reducing haylage/new feed content and increase fibre (good hay) in diet with pro/prebiotics will often sort the problem as efficiently.

If you have a dog or child with upset tummies do you rush for the drugs - or wait, starve and reintroduce a bland diet before panic sets in? No different in the horse.

ATB
Happy Xmas Imogen
 
I have had 2 of mine with a bit of a runny tummy and off their food a day or two. No temperature just a bit off.

I think it is to do with the weather the frost.

A bland diet, plenty of fluids and kept warm does them a whale of good.
 
abi31 said:
Vet gave her advice over the phone. He says that the cow pats of poo she is doing aren't a big cause for concern
Click to expand...
I'm glad the horse is improving, plain good hay is the safest thing to feed if you're concerned, however I have 3 really healthy horses, all of whom have started doing looser, more smelly droppings in this cold weather, my vet says not to worry, its just the extensive cold weather that's causing it and as its all 3 of them and they're all bright and perky, I agree with him!

Happy Christmas.
 
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