Irritable Bowel Disease

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Roc87

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My horse of nearly 19 years fell ill in December 2016, he had to go to Leahurst hospital as a large mass showed by his abdomen on a scan, this later turned out to be just healthy fat (so relieved!). He was however diagnosed with irritable bowel disease (like IBS in humans), they put him on Psyillian husk powder and he seems to be doing ok on this, the vet is amazed that we haven't had to resort to steroids yet. The vet advised to monitor his weight (currently 361 using my weigh tape, they're all different) he wasn't worried by this as long as it doesn't suddenly drop any lower as the spring grass will be coming through soon. Does anyone have anyone have any experience with this? The vet said that steroids are the only thing that will help maintain weight and that nothing else would work, is this the case?
 
Hello there,

My horse doesn't have irritable bowel disease , however he does have inflammatory bowel disease. As far as the steroids are concerned. My boy had to be on them to reduce the inflammation of his small intestinal wall as it was so inflamed he couldn't absorb the nutrients from his feed. Which did work and after 3 months he was taken off them. However he hasn't been on the since and is currently just on a high oil and high fibre diet. As the vet who was overseeing my horses care ( top vet) had had basically that is the best chance to stop this happening again. No cereals/ cubes mixes and nothing high in sugar or starch.

Feel free to pm myself if you have any other questions.
 
Hi,
Thanks for your response, I meant inflammatory bowel don't know why I said irritable. He seems fine at the moment I'll just have to see what the summer brings. I was just concerned about the side effects of steroids, I have him on chaff and cool mix which he's been on all his life,Only difference is he is now having oil and psyllian powder. Vet said not to change anything if he's happy on it but I do feel he has lost a little condition, in the summer he's got such a shiny coat and looks so healthy,I'll just have to wait and see. Wot would you recommend food wise for condition?
 
Ahh okay. I was just told high oil/ high fibre/ low starch and sugar. My boy was like an rspca case . It sounds like your boy is doing ok. I was pumping very high calorie feed into him and nothing was working and this was august!!
 
My get didn't mention that to me, I'll perhaps give them a call and see what they say. It was a bit of shock really as all the years I've had him I've only had to call the vet out once for colic, generally quite a happy healthy boy
 
My 23yo was diagnosed with an inflamed colon a couple of years ago and after a course of steroids (which also helped to put some weight back on as they increased his appetite) the inflammation was resolved. I was told it was likely to be an allergic reaction to something he had eaten or parasites. He was up to date with his worming and the only thing I had introduced to his diet was turmeric so I cut that out. The other thing the vet recommended was to feed Saracen Equijewel as it helps to protect their gut lining and prevent future problems - it is also very high fat so recommended for weight and condition gain.
 
I've got a lovely loan horse who had this last year and was on loads of steroids, fortunately recovered and came right off them and is now fine, but like Jim Bob his diet is carefully high oil, high fibre, low starch and sugar, and a very good gut balancer (Science supplements). Looks great now but had to be v careful. We use PURE feeds for him.

BTW some people seem to find that speedi beet and linseed can be irritants for SOME (but not all!) of these cases. Just in case that's any use for you. This horse came off both just in case.
 
Mine has IBS. It was diagnosed - winter 2015/16 - following difficult recovery from colic surgery. She has had 2 courses of steroids and these make her remarkably (perhaps too) well.
She has been tapered off steroids though and hasn't had any since July 16. No colics since August. She wintered in a starvation paddock and is now only going out for an hour a day now that spring grass is coming through. I'm anxious though
 
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