Poo fully formed but lots of water coming out. Why?

Hollycat

Hollycat

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For the last few weeks my horse has had a bit of a strange problem. His poo is well formed and normal - but when it comes out quite a lot of water comes out too. He also sometimes does watery farts (not often). I am worried his bottom might get sore and also he is grey so I am having to wash his bottom and back legs every day.

Any ideas? Is it worth getting a worm count done? Fields are regularly poo picked and he was wormed not that long ago (would need to check with YO for exact date). His diet hasn't changed nor is he stressed. He is very well in himself. The only possible dietry change I can think of is that the horses have been digging in the field and eating tree roots/bush roots, though none are poisonous trees/bushes. He is on ad lib hay, lo cal balancer and a little slow release mix so I don't think he has any diety deficiencies. All the horses are digging but none others have ths problem.

I also thought it may be worth trying him on NAF pink powder for a week or two to see if that would help it to settle down.

Any ideas very gratefully received!
 
Try some pre-biotics, I personally prefer these to pro-biotics as they encourage the health of the micro flora in the hind gut, rather than just introducing new bacteria to what may be an unhealthy hind gut. Also, check you are feeding the recommended amount of the balancer, as digging & eating the bushes could indicate he is lacking in something, I know he has ad lib hay, but perhaps adding some hi fi or similar to his balancer would help, as fibre is good. Think you are on the right track with something like Pink Powder, but personally prefer the Ration Plus from Equiform Nutrition. Hope that helps.
 
Hi

That helps a lot thanks! The pre-botic sounds like a good idea. I have found a website that has the Ration Plus and it is very reasonably priced so looks good.

He does get a big scoop of hi fi in his food (its a pretty sorry looking ration wthout it!) but forgot to mention it in my post. Sorry! All of the horses seem to like digging and I was never really worried about it as its a natural behaviour and it does seem to keep them amused. Its only in one field with 1 set of bushes/trees they do it in - they don't dig in the other fields. He has always been particularly interested in eating bushes and odd things though. He looks very healthy - has a great coat, has very good feet and energy to work wthout being fizzy so I don't feel he is lacking in anything, but I could be wrong. He gets the correct amount of balancer for his weight and hasn't changed condition recently though I am starting to work him a bit harder than normal. I don't like to feed a lot of hard feed, instead prefering to feed lots of fibre which is why I use the balancer to make sure he gets everythng he needs nutritionally.
 
Sounds like you are doing everything right, & perhaps there is something specially yummy in the field where they dig! Thought about it afterwards, & most balancers do usually contain something like yeasac to aid the digestive system, check on your bag. Ration Plus does work really well, PM me if you want any more help, I work for the company that makes it & can drop you some off if you are in the south east, if not, Anna in the office can always help with nutritional queries. Hope thats not classed as advertising!
 
I know 2 horses that do this they have both got early stages of bowel(sp) disease..
Not saying thats what your horse has got mind you!! If the pre biotics dont work try charcoal works a treat fot the 2 horses that I know x.
 
My horse's poos are always like this - he seems in good health digestive wise but perhaps its worth mentioning it to the vet if its a relatively new thing? You could try a handful of bran in his feed?
 
have same problem with one of mine in the last week and got her on pink powder and feelgood 30 digestive supplement. starting to wonder if its the time of year as before this cold spell it has been mild.
 
My old lad has been like this for about 6 months now - I put it down to his age (30).

He cannot eat much hay anymore because of his teethso he has fibrebeet, Hi fibre cubes, Mollichaff veteran and Top Spec Leisuretime.

I have had him on Pink Powder for a couple of weeks and I think it has slightly improved, but not the difference I had hoped. I will finish the tub anyway.
 
Horse I used to have was like this and eventually found he couldn't cope with anything molassed. As soon as it was removed from his diet he was normal again in that department.

Maybe something he is intolerant of in his feed or is eating while out?
 
I'd get a worm count done for sure because you've wormed doesn't mean its worked.

I'd also look at the diet we've noticed early signs of spring in our grass
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so that may be having an impact.

I'd go for pro-biotics for a week and see how you go
 
Mine has exactly the same thing, too. He seems not to be tolerating they haylage - same supplier, same field and all mine are on the same bale. He's 12 and not much older than the others, who occasionally have had an odd day of this. Worm counts have been neg for a few years. If I put him on drier, softer stuff (an odd headland-mown bale comes through from the same field) it clears up in a day.
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It seems to be clearing up a little now which is good. There is certainly new grass coming though so perhaps that is contributing.
 
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