Squitty mare... a HUGE thank you for all the posts..and a vague plan!!

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MissieSFW

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Firstly I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you :D to everyone who took the time to reply to my post about my TB mare with chronic diarrhoea/loose poo problem. I've had some fantastic advice and I'm really grateful to you all for taking the time to help me out. Having considered everything, here is my rough plan:-

Have today been to the feedshop and bought some Speedibeet, so over the next few days will be cutting feed right back to just plain unmolassed sugar beet with a bit of salt and her Ulcer Calm supplement. I'm in two minds whether to continue with her Lo Cal Balancer but I think I will do so for now as can't really see that that can be upsetting her and I want her to be getting her full complement of vits and mins. If that goes ok over the next week-10days I will add in some linseed meal or Omega rice and maybe some grass nuts.

As advised by the vet I'm going to worm her for tapeworms with Equitape as she hasn't had a blood test to test for these. I know there was a bit of debate about this but thought I probably ought to go with the vets advice on this one. I've also ordered a syringe of Protexin Quick Fix which I will use with the wormer to boost her gut flora which may be affected by the wormer. Once my Ulcer Calm is finished (about 1/3 of a small tub left) I'll switch her onto Protexin Acid Ease which should cover the probiotic and ulcer issues.

If she still no improvement then next on the list is Happy tummy charcoal or Coligone. But I guess I'll have to give her a little while on the new diet and time for probiotic and wormer to have an effect before I do anything else.

The only niggle in the back of my mind is whether the unmolassed beet is the right diet for her, as at least one person has said it made their horse worse, but then the majority did seem to think it was the best option, plus it's not so radical a change as the calm & condition is largely sugar beet anyway, so I guess I'll just have to try it for a couple of weeks or so and see what happens. Don't feel comfortable cutting out all hard feed altogether as she is so fussy about hay and she really needs the calories!

Any feedback on the above please feel free to comment In the meantime thanks so much again and I will keep you posted on our progress (or lack of!)
 
MissieSFW said:
As advised by the vet I'm going to worm her for tapeworms with Equitape as she hasn't had a blood test to test for these. I know there was a bit of debate about this but thought I probably ought to go with the vets advice on this one.
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You SAID she had been wormed with Equimax in the Autumn and that DOES tapeworm - and tapeworm doesn't cause diarrhoea - it is far more likely to cause impaction colic. No harm in doing her again but the most likely worm problem to cause the symptoms you're seeing is encysteds becoming mobilised (which happens in Feb/March) and Equest is the only thing that will deal with them!!
 
I dont' think it does! Phoned baileys to check and they said there was nothing potentially problematic in it - the 'm' word was not mentioned! But then I suppose they would say that!!!
 
Hi JanetGeorge - I'm sure you are right about tapeworms not causing diarrhoea, and I dont' think that tapeworms are her problem, however having asked the vets specifically how I should go about worming her they said I should worm twice a year for tapeworm (in which case she would be due for that now anyway) and then just have worm egg counts for everythng else. They didn't mention encyteds! Not saying you are wrong just saying what the vets advised! Would it be totally OTT to use Equest as well as Equitape or I could worm with Equest at end of April say?
 
Well, frasnkly, your vets have given you BAD advice! Encysteds do the MOST damage - and by April, it will be getting too late as they'll have eaten their way through part of the bowel by then! If you're worried about tape, I'd use Equest NOW - and leave the Equitape until the end of April. A LOT of vets say once a year is enough for tapeworm! I don't agree with that either - I do mine twice a year for tapeworm - but Equest in Feb/March is THE most important dose IMHO.
 
Oh dear, that is rather worrying! Ok I will take your advice and use Equest now and Equitape for a few weeks. I've just ordered some protexin quick fix to use with the wormer, should be here by the end of the week, is that still too late? Was thinking early next week for worming as by then will have got her diet swapped over and protexin ready to go, but I take your point about it needing doing now really.
 
Hi again - just done a quick bit of research online and you are quite right, I should have been using Equest in Jan/Feb for encysted redworm larvae (which she was treated for in Nov with 5 day Panacur Equine Guard). Bit annoyed that the vets didn't ask about this when they came out in Jan for diarrhoea/colic. I will worm her with Equest tonight and use the Equitape in April. Think I'm right in thinking you can worm every 4-6 weeks so should still be in the right timeframe for treating tapeworm. Thanks for the advice!
 
JanetGeorge said:
I wouldn't recommend that in a horse with an unknown problem with its digestive system. IF there was a large burden of encysteds AND tapeworms, hitting them both at the same time would NOT be a good idea!
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We had a pony with unknown worming history and the vet recommended panacur to deal with any redworm, then follow up a few weeks later with pramox. He too was of the opinion that if there was potentially a large worm burden there then it would be detrimental to go in all guns blazing with the pramox.
 
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