Soft poo - when to call the vet?

[alishaarrr]

I've had my mare for three months now, and since she arrived she's consistently had pretty soft stools. Now that the spring grass has come in, they've gotten to be downright cow pies.

She's otherwise healthy: good energy levels, healthy weight, coat looks gorgeous and shiny, nothing else seems amiss. I do have her on Max Gut Health as a preventative for any potential gut issues, especially with the stress of moving and a new environment.

She's continued to settle in well since coming to me, although not 100% the most relaxed horse yet. She gets more and more confident and at ease by the week but still shows signs that she's a little anxious about life ... she was bounced around a bit in the two years before she came to me (no fault of hers, she's lovely) and I know she's still getting used to me and her new digs, so I recognize the loose stools could just be stress-related and temporary.

However, I'm wondering whether this is a fair assumption, or whether/when it's time to get the vet involved. Thoughts?

 

[L&M]

Could it just be 'normal' for her? Sounds similar to my cob's, which are always a lot looser than our mares........she does neat little nuggets and he does pat's!!!!!

Sorry not much help, but if it she was mine I wouldn't be spending money on vets (unless she was dropping condition), and just monitoring.

 

[Red-1]

I have had a few new horses have sloppy poos, as well as normal poos with waterery splooshes added. They have all firmed up within a couple of months. I have given several gut balancers, pro and probiotics.

I would simply make sure worming is on point (by worm count) and give forage based feed. Avoid strong haylage, feed ulcer friendly in diet and style (as in, small meals, frequently), avoid too much rich grass, keep as stress free as you can.

 

[TPO]

A previous horse arrived (well, was bought from the same yard I was in so no upheaval that way) with loose droppings.

He was worm counted & his diet got an overhaul to include adlib forage and a healthier bucket feed (was getting a scoop of molassed mix with previous owner).

His droppings were still loose so put him on a tub of gut supp (protexin I think it was) but that didnt help so while the vet was out for something else I asked about it.

I think this would have been about 8-12wks into owning him. If I remember rightly the vet took bloods. My vet is *very* thorough and went through even possible cause and scenario from best to worse case.

The bloods were fine so the next step was going to be some sort of sample from horse's stomach of some description. It was nearly 8yrs ago in my defence!

Anyhow I swapped him onto Keyflow Pink Mash, extra Protexin and kept him on the same vit/min (pro balance). Everything firmed up and wasnt an issue again.

Long story short it's worth having a chat with your vet and getting their opinion

 

[PurBee]

I would trial stopping the max gut health (sorry not familiar with bacterial strains or dosage) for a week or two to see if theres any difference. If shes been on that daily for the 12 weeks she’s been with you, that could cause looser stools as itll encourage loads of breeding of beneficial bacteria...which is good....but there’s such a thing as too much too and potentially create looser stools.

i use probiotics myself on and off, and when on multi billions large doses i experienced looser stools....a phenomenon ive barely ever suffered with in life except when on high strength probiotics. (more prone to constipation just to give perspective but hope thats not tmi! lol)
So i can see how daily dosage for weeks on end could potentially create too many of certain bacteria and stool structure alters.

 

[Marnie]

My little pony has had this problem and after discussion with my vet I give her ProTexin Quick Fix for 4 or 5 days and that seems to sort her out for a while.

 

[CorgullionConnie]

A few of us at our yard have had good results with Science Supplements Gut Balancer and GastroKind (we've been feeding both to target stomach and hind gut). My mare has more completed hind gut issues but this has stopped her colics which other highly recommended supplements did not. The other 3 horses on the yard have firmer droppings and are generally more comfortable. Would definitely recommend!