Horse with really loose droppings

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melandjazz

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Ive recently brought a horse that was at my work for a year before hand, and ever since we have had her she has had loose green droppings. Where i have moved her to we have got limited grazing and her droppings are so runny that u cant pick it all up. Another lady up there is concerned about it ruining the grazing that we have. I have tried her on global hrbs diareeze and on crossgates probiotic, which these didnt seem to make a scarp of difference. She seems happy enough and looks healthy. Has anyone got any ideas of what i could try? Or anyone had a horse with a similar problem?
 
First ideas that come to mind are stress with the change of home and grass. Also the grass at this time of year can upset some horses with the raised sugar content. If it's been going on for more than a week, and it sounds looser than cow pats if you can't pick it up, it may be worth a vet visit for a check up?

Any chance of giving her soaked (preferably to reduce sugars) hay in the field? Could she come off the grass into a pen or similar and have soaked hay? If she's out 24/7 bring her in at night with free choice soaked hay. I'd give her yea sacc in a low sugar feed like kwik or speedibeet along with a balancer and loads of soaked hay, keep her diet simple. Is her worming program up to date, it may be worth sending sample off for a worm count. Is she due for tape worming? I'd stop any sugary treats, if she gets them, and those bucket/tub type licks tend to be full of mollasses so if there's one she can lick remove it.

Sorry, more questions than answers.
 
What colour is the horse? If grey how old and does she have melanomas?

My boy had chronic diarrhoea for 4 months before eventually being PTS and post mortem showed the above was the cause.

Other tests and management he had though were

Full worm count. Blood and poo.

Full blood screen.

He then went on to have abdominal scan and rectal biopsy before we lost him. His only symptoms before he suddenly went downhill was the D. He was fine in himself, although had dropped some weight. Over the months he was on steroids and codiene to control it.

Take off all food that contains oil, sugar beet, cereals, haylage, any rich grass (not really prob this time of year). Basically just feed hay and a simple chaff. You need to slow the digestive system down.

Are you having problems keeping weight on her?

I think if the problem has been going on this long and the poo has no form and you can't pick it up, it is time to call a vet.
 
thank you will get a worm count done.

The person who else keeps a horse up there said that diarrhea can be a sign of tumours, so shes worried me abit now. And said she could be in pain, shes never seemed to of shown any pain related problems.

before she moved they were like cow pats all the time.

shes been fed on a low cal balencer with alfa a and lives out 24/7

So do u think its worth getting a vet opinion or do you think the other person is just being over protective because shes worried her horses will catch it? :cool:
 
Is your horse a grey?

Def get the vet out. I reckon you need to get a blood screen.

Don't panic though. even though my horse was an older grey with already visable melanomas, the vet said it was very rare for them to cause the problem... Sadly in my case they were. But the D itself didn't cause him to be PTS. Was just a sign of the melanomas getting really bad. They suddenly got enormous and blocked him up completly.
 
To be fair I can understand why the other person is worried, I would be too.

I think you're right to look at a worm count. In the meantime I'd get her off the grass & restrict her food to hay (last year's if possible) & balancer for a few days to see if that helps. Some horses are naturally looser than others, but permanent cow pats aren't normal & if you can't sort it out then I'd be getting the vet involved.
 
Shes black

am going to give the vet a ring tomorrow.
I cant help but worry though :confused:

If she is stabled then her droppings do improve, but as soon as she goes out the grass gos right through her.
 
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