Help older horse is has very loose poo at competitions

[Mary3050]

Hi Guys,

So my older horse has just started going to competitions after a long break maybe 3 years with covid . He used to be a bit loser at competitions but still firm. It’s not like he’s super excited you can see from his face he exited but he’s not buzzed up if you get me .

However since he has started going out competing again it’s just like water … I have tried quick Fix which didn’t make much difference. I used it before we left and when we got there at the 8ml does then 4ml.

When I asked my vet she said give him more the night before, morning and once there. Plus electrolytes if he will drink it .

Is there any more I can do as the next time we go out it’s gonna be a long day as I have a few hours between classes. Is there anymore I can do …

Someone on the yard suggested feeding him a small high fibre feed when we are there . Not sure what to do …

Any advice please ?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

How about trying some sort of calmer as it sounds like it's a stress thing you could then use it continuously through the competition season.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Sounds like it is stress related. You will have to work out whether it is excitement or dread - one will leave the horse happy, one won't! Is he eager to load? Alert and relaxed on arrival? Is he sweating up? He's getting anxious about something, and it's often a challenge to unpick what the trigger is. Hope you manage to sort it.

 

[Mary3050]

Sounds like it is stress related. You will have to work out whether it is excitement or dread - one will leave the horse happy, one won't! Is he eager to load? Alert and relaxed on arrival? Is he sweating up? He's getting anxious about something, and it's often a challenge to unpick what the trigger is. Hope you manage to sort it.

No he loves going out so it seems to be excitement . He bucks all the way to the lorry and self loads ?. I thought it would be for the first few times back out but it’s not stopped we have been out 7 times without improvement .

 

[Birker2020]

Equine Faecal Water Syndrome
https://www.dengie.com/news-article...in horses can,if grazing is particularly poor.

 

[Mary3050]

Equine Faecal Water Syndrome
https://www.dengie.com/news-articles/feed-advice/equine-faecal-water-syndrome/#:~:text=– Faecal water in horses can,if grazing is particularly poor.

I had thought this in the past maybe I will try increasing fibre . But I give ab lib soaked hay and the horse doesn’t have grass due to metabolic issues just ablib hay which has been tested .

 

[Highmileagecob]

My oldie suffers from faecal water. Had to stop soaking forage, cut out high fibre bucket feed, and replace bucket feed with a small bran mash plus a small amount of Pink Mash. I can only guess that his gut can no longer cope with high fibre, or he has worm damage from before I owned him. It's a total pain and so messy. You have my sympathy.

 

[Auslander]

I had thought this in the past maybe I will try increasing fibre . But I give ab lib soaked hay and the horse doesn’t have grass due to metabolic issues just ablib hay which has been tested .

Don't worry = It's not faecal water syndrome if it only happens at competitions, and there is no normal poo before/with the liquid. It's stress/excitement.

 

[Getbackboys]

Feed 1 tblespoon Brewers Yeast in feed once a day on the day before the competition during the competition and the day after the competition

 

[Hackback]

Mine has been like this. We're not sure it it's related to his Cushings. He has also been on/off quite loose in the stable but far worse out on hacks. He isn't even doing anything exciting, and doesnt seem particularly excited, but his tummy is reacting very dramatically to the slightest stimulus.

The vet ruled out WFS for the reasons Auslander says and suggested trying him on Bio Sponge. He was also wormed again. One or the other has made a difference, so far he's been perfectly normal in his box and out on hacks, but I haven't taken him anywhere really exciting yet. He had the Bio Sponge for a week and he's stayed OK after it was withdrawn.

Good luck, I hope you find something that works. I'd got to the point where I wouldn't have taken mine anywhere because his back legs and tail would be plastered and stink within minutes ?

 

[Mary3050]

Mine has been like this. We're not sure it it's related to his Cushings. He has also been on/off quite loose in the stable but far worse out on hacks. He isn't even doing anything exciting, and doesnt seem particularly excited, but his tummy is reacting very dramatically to the slightest stimulus.

The vet ruled out WFS for the reasons Auslander says and suggested trying him on Bio Sponge. He was also wormed again. One or the other has made a difference, so far he's been perfectly normal in his box and out on hacks, but I haven't taken him anywhere really exciting yet. He had the Bio Sponge for a week and he's stayed OK after it was withdrawn.

Good luck, I hope you find something that works. I'd got to the point where I wouldn't have taken mine anywhere because his back legs and tail would be plastered and stink within minutes ?

Interesting mine also has cushings … is yours on meds ? Thanks I will give it a go

 

[Hackback]

Interesting mine also has cushings … is yours on meds ? Thanks I will give it a go

Yes, he's been on Prascend for over 6 years. I read somewhere, possibly on here, that Cushings can cause too much of the hormone that you get with excitement to be produced, and hence the excited pooing. My vet didn't seem to think much of that theory though, especially as his Cushings is well controlled. Interesting that yours is the same though.

 

[Mary3050]

Yes, he's been on Prascend for over 6 years. I read somewhere, possibly on here, that Cushings can cause too much of the hormone that you get with excitement to be produced, and hence the excited pooing. My vet didn't seem to think much of that theory though, especially as his Cushings is well controlled. Interesting that yours is the same though.

Also on prascend make you wonder if the meds contribute to it . Yes my boys cushings is well controlled too . I have wondered before if it’s that .