Hind gut ulcers, Cushings? faecal water

[meleeka]

I have a 27 year old retired Welsh mare. She has Cushings but is well controlled with 2 Prascend. She gets the same problem every winter of faecal water (dung is soft but formed. The liquid comes after the dung, but also when she passes wind) and this year has been the worst so far. I believe it’s due to increased hay as she’s fine all summer on less hay and grass and not feeding any hard feed doesn’t help. She’s fed ad-lib hay and eats a lot for her 12hh size although I’ve not weighed it. Some hay she’s better on, but my current hay has really upset her. I’ve fed Protexin Acid Ease for a few years with success but that’s no longer making any difference. Even Protexin Quick Fix that usually sorts it isn’t helping. Her worm count is 0 and she’s was wormed for Tape recently. Although she hasn’t had colic, I would say she’s mildly uncomfortable. She’s a stroppy mare anyway, but the more mess down her legs the worse her mood.

Apart from a vet visit what would you try?

 

[ycbm]

Have you tried fullers earth? It may be in something you have tried under that or a different name.
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[meleeka]

Have you tried fullers earth? It may be in something you have tried under that or a different name.
.

I’ve never heard of it. Off to google!

 

[AUB]

The only thing that works for my mare is a fermented kombucha-like product. I use one from a Danish brand called Urtefarm which I guess can only be found here, but I’d imagine you can find similar products elsewhere. Or just make it yourself...

I do a 10 day treatment once in a while called Gastro Stabilizer Plus and then use Gastro Maintain daily.

 

[TheBigPony]

Mine used to get this after being sedated for her teeth to be done. Someone suggested she had a leaky gut, I totally changed what she was fed (now just gets haycobs for hard feed) and we no longer have the problem. Bit different to your experience though. Is she grumpy if you touch her tummy in the summer?

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

I'm worried my mare is going down this route (although she's only 13 ?) She used to have exactly the same watery farts (alongside softish but kinda normal poos), obviously uncomfortable, very girthy, lots of crib biting. No improvement at all on the calcium carbonate supplement from the vet (I never got as far as having her scoped).

That was all before she was diagnosed with cushings, and it's mostly calmed right down for the moment since she's been on prascend. Which makes me think it's likely cushings related, and maybe your little one needs an increased dose. But two tablets a day is already a lot for such a little pony though. I'm sorry I don't have any actual helpful advice.

 

[meleeka]

A small update. They didn’t like the hay I opened last night so i left them out and left it loose. A fair bit is left this morning so she’s eaten less hay than normal and a much drier bottom this morning too. Im certain it’s hay related whatever the route cause.

 

[Haniki]

A friend of mine uses Fine Fettle Happy Tummy Charcoal to help her old Cushings horse who has the same problem. (He is on Prascend).
I think the charcoal may interfere with the absorption of the Prascend, so it may be worth doing some investigation.

 

[meleeka]

A friend of mine uses Fine Fettle Happy Tummy Charcoal to help her old Cushings horse who has the same problem. (He is on Prascend).
I think the charcoal may interfere with the absorption of the Prascend, so it may be worth doing some investigation.

I’ve tried charcoal.

 

[meleeka]

Just to update this. I’ve narrowed the problem down to the hay. . I use round bale meadow hay and it seems to be when the hay is course it upsets her. We had a few bales that were beautiful and soft and the problem cleared up overnight. Now it’s back to stalky stuff the problem is back. I don’t really want to change supplier and good hay is scarce this year (the hay isn’t dusty or mouldy, just course).
I’ve started feeding Coligone which seems to help.

 

[ycbm]

Did you try fullers earth?
.

 

[meleeka]

Did you try fullers earth?
.

That’s a very good point! I do have some to try. I ordered it, but she was better by the time it arrived so put it on the shelf and had forgotten all about it. ?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Just to update this. I’ve narrowed the problem down to the hay. . I use round bale meadow hay and it seems to be when the hay is course it upsets her. We had a few bales that were beautiful and soft and the problem cleared up overnight. Now it’s back to stalky stuff the problem is back. I don’t really want to change supplier and good hay is scarce this year (the hay isn’t dusty or mouldy, just course).
I’ve started feeding Coligone which seems to help.

My 2 can get a bit like your horse when I start feeding the new cut hay I find coligone works for mine, it's not cheapest but it does sort it out.