Suspected Hind Gut Issues

[woodyjessie11]

Hi (new here)!

My horse has recently moved back into the stable at night and started back in work under saddle after a few months off with hock/psd issues (now resolved) - no issues with sore back/lameness/tracking up so I don’t think this is related as such.
When he was out in the field he was largely left alone other than to be checked on/water/have feet done etc. so in terms of behaviour he seemed fine - but I wasn’t asking anything of him etc. I did notice him standing camped out quite a lot but I didn’t really worry.

Since coming in and going back onto hay / feed I have noticed he is very grumpy - and also not eating a lot of hay at all - he is out on grass all day as normal. Our hay is cut from our fields and is a nice natural meadow mix, not overly fertilised etc. His turnout includes plenty of hedgerow grazing.

Along with being grumpy and not eating much, he is very sensitive along his flanks and very very girthy to be tacked up/touched.
He was scoped for stomach ulcers not long ago so I am thinking along the lines of hind gut issues. I have not got the vet involved as of yet as I know there isn’t as much of a formal process as there is for stomach ulcers etc. I was thinking at first PSSM2 but given his behaviour around flanks etc and lack of appetite I am now thinking otherwise as his muscles are nice and soft etc.


I have just started him on ForagePlus GUT plus as it seems to contain a lot of useful ingredients.

His feed (2 times a day) currently consists of:

1/2 cup Coolstance Copra
1/2 cup Equidgel
4,000IU vit E
ForagePlus hoof and skin balancer
ForagePlus GUT plus
White Salt
Boswellia
Many litres of water! (Makes a big ‘drink’ rather than edible feed)

I should also add he has just had teeth done (2 weeks ago) with no issues.


Can anyone please suggest what if anything I can be doing to help hindgut issues?

 

[woodyjessie11]

I should also add another strange behaviour he has started is chewing wood - I have never seen him do this prior to recently

 

[Barton Bounty]

Pop some charcoal into his feed and see how he goes, other people race about aloe vera, also good for the gut ?

 

[sbloom]

Have a look at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1862115997153052, lots of good information and they offer diagnostic full biome testing.

 

[ycbm]

I would ad oily herbs, I'm currently using D&H hedgerow herbs.

 

[woodyjessie11]

Have a look at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1862115997153052, lots of good information and they offer diagnostic full biome testing.

I had this done on my other and followed the feed recommendation, but I’m not sure it’s made that much difference other than costing a bomb - I won’t know unless I test again, which isn’t feasible really given the cost… Still a little sceptical on this one!

 

[woodyjessie11]

I would ad oily herbs, I'm currently using D&H hedgerow herbs.

Great, I was going to ask for some recommendations! They are turned out on a fully hedgerow sided field and often enjoy a munch but whilst they have less in the winter I’d be glad to add some more in!

 

[SEL]

I should also add another strange behaviour he has started is chewing wood - I have never seen him do this prior to recently

That's the gut problem giveaway for one of mine. We've lost fence posts and she has to have a metal cover on her stable door.

Oily herbs (thyme, oregano, rosemary) & equishure helpful. Next stop after that is a slippery elm mix if she's still struggling.

Think it's the odd weather that's set her off recently because her gut hasn't flared up for years.

 

[lynz88]

I think the odd weather is having an issue because mine has turned super super stuffy until he poos and then he's happier and relaxed. He used to poo within the first 5-10 mins of working but now it's 40 or so mins in....this only started in the past 2 weeks and nothing has changed. I can only pressume it is digestive related as it is uncomfortable as a person sometimes when poo moves through the body....??

 

[woodyjessie11]

He’s still super unhappy, biting the stable to bits etc. He is also still not eating hardly any of his hay, so I wonder if he is hungry.

I just read that long stem hay is harder work for the hind gut and therefore can make issues worse.

Any suggestions for very low sugar/starch (suspected pssm) replacement forage/fibre that is short stem and would be suitable for a few weeks whilst he hopefully recovers? He’s an awfully fussy boy.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

That's the gut problem giveaway for one of mine. We've lost fence posts and she has to have a metal cover on her stable door.

Oily herbs (thyme, oregano, rosemary) & equishure helpful. Next stop after that is a slippery elm mix if she's still struggling.

Think it's the odd weather that's set her off recently because her gut hasn't flared up for years.

This is what I have just bought as mine has started to have watery droppings and they do sometimes chew on things, I am starting it today so will update on how it goes.

 

[Barton Bounty]

He’s still super unhappy, biting the stable to bits etc. He is also still not eating hardly any of his hay, so I wonder if he is hungry.

I just read that long stem hay is harder work for the hind gut and therefore can make issues worse.

Any suggestions for very low sugar/starch (suspected pssm) replacement forage/fibre that is short stem and would be suitable for a few weeks whilst he hopefully recovers? He’s an awfully fussy boy.

Depending where you are, you can get graze on grass in a 20kg bag, or try honeychop lite and healthy it is a chaff , its low starch and low sugar, ?

 

[Snow Falcon]

Brewers yeast, found in most digestive supplements, can also help.

 

[Fieldlife]

That's the gut problem giveaway for one of mine. We've lost fence posts and she has to have a metal cover on her stable door.

Oily herbs (thyme, oregano, rosemary) & equishure helpful. Next stop after that is a slippery elm mix if she's still struggling.

Think it's the odd weather that's set her off recently because her gut hasn't flared up for years.

What is the slippery elm mix? Thanks

 

[EllieBeast]

Could you try turning him back out 24/7? Still see how he’s going with his work but maybe he’s more stressed being in and prefers a more natural style of life?

my old mare wasn’t a big fan of being stabled and was much happier out.

 

[woodyjessie11]

Could you try turning him back out 24/7? Still see how he’s going with his work but maybe he’s more stressed being in and prefers a more natural style of life?

my old mare wasn’t a big fan of being stabled and was much happier out.

Not over winter, no. He’s out on grass all day at the moment and then in at night. He doesn’t like the cold or wet and stands by the gate looking miserable. He’s also due to be clipped next week so I wouldn’t want him out in bad conditions. He’s in a massive stable next to his best friend, the same as last year.

He’s lived with me since age 3 (now 11) and this routine has always been the same, so I’m not sure what about this year has set him off.

I suppose I will just have to wait to see if those supplements will help him for a week or so. And get some short chopped hay in the meantime for overnight also.

 

[woodyjessie11]

Sadly, I’ve seen no improvement yet.

Started on KER Equishure and Slippery Elm yesterday, so I hope this may help (also why is everything so ££££)…

I’ve also been thinking about his feeds - I think these issues starting may coincide with me starting him on Equidiet Equidgel, which is “Alfalfa Meal, Oatmeal and Omega 3 Oil”. I do wonder if he is one of the horses who cannot tolerate Alfalfa, so I’ve swapped him over to Speedi-beet this morning and he’s actually eating his breakfast with a little more enthusiasm for a change. Fingers crossed.

Now fed Speedi beet, Hedgerow herbs, Equishure, Slippery Elm.

Will post back in a few days if there’s any improvements (or not).

 

[Barton Bounty]

Sadly, I’ve seen no improvement yet.

Started on KER Equishure and Slippery Elm yesterday, so I hope this may help (also why is everything so ££££)…

I’ve also been thinking about his feeds - I think these issues starting may coincide with me starting him on Equidiet Equidgel, which is “Alfalfa Meal, Oatmeal and Omega 3 Oil”. I do wonder if he is one of the horses who cannot tolerate Alfalfa, so I’ve swapped him over to Speedi-beet this morning and he’s actually eating his breakfast with a little more enthusiasm for a change. Fingers crossed.

Now fed Speedi beet, Hedgerow herbs, Equishure, Slippery Elm.

Will post back in a few days if there’s any improvements (or not).

Mine cannot tolerate alfalfa either, and is allergic to soya ? so I would ditch that and see if it makes a difference.
I am so anal about what goes in my horses mouth, people just dont think at all, my last yard was really bad for it, they think oh its just a horse treat! ‘A horse treat that has both soya and alfalfa in’ and he probably would colic again - this time I might not be so lucky

 

[woodyjessie11]

I haven’t contacted the vets yet as he was scoped not so long ago for foregut ulcers and was completely clear, and i was under the impression they don’t do a lot for hind gut.

But are there any medications that can be given to help him improve more quickly?

 

[Barton Bounty]

I haven’t contacted the vets yet as he was scoped not so long ago for foregut ulcers and was completely clear, and i was under the impression they don’t do a lot for hind gut.

But are there any medications that can be given to help him improve more quickly?

Succeed could help more quickly, think its roughly 100 for a month supply . But it’s an expensive way of trying things out. I tried coligone previously and found no improvement whatsoever.
Other members have recommended Aloe Vera Juice for ulcers, its worth a try.
brewers yeast is good for the hindgut and its in most other expensive supplements anyway.

 

[Squeak]

Quick reply before I dash off for a ride but from your posts it sounds like you're trying a lot fairly quickly - struggling to think of the correct terminology but basically their stomach acidity and bacteria take a while to change - you may not see a change in a week and also you may be causing more problems by keeping changing things as it will keep disrupting the bacteria.

Sugarbeet is meant to be really good for coating the stomach lining so I would be giving a good dose of that morning and evening whilst making the changes.

 

[lynz88]

You know what....mine has just started becoming a grump as well. He did this starting last Nov/Dec and lasted until the spring. He was fine during the summer and now in the past week he has started this behaviour again - similar to what you describe. Everything seems to check out fine. I am ready to scream "just tell me wtf is wrong!!!!"

 

[Barton Bounty]

You know what....mine has just started becoming a grump as well. He did this starting last Nov/Dec and lasted until the spring. He was fine during the summer and now in the past week he has started this behaviour again - similar to what you describe. Everything seems to check out fine. I am ready to scream "just tell me wtf is wrong!!!!"

Sometimes it can just be the grass. Try some activated charcoal to settle his tummy ?

 

[Sandstone1]

Have you tried Ron fields nutrition? Hes very helpful. They have a facebook page too.

 

[lynz88]

I've just ordered the Ulc30ex from Ron Fields. I have read fab stuff about it and was going to give it a go before but things started to get better so ditched the idea. I know I shouldn't put too much weight into this, but there are some videos of some horses on Ron Fields' YT that behave exactly like mine. If the Ulcx30 doesn't work I will contact the company for some further advice.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I've just ordered the Ulc30ex from Ron Fields. I have read fab stuff about it and was going to give it a go before but things started to get better so ditched the idea. I know I shouldn't put too much weight into this, but there are some videos of some horses on Ron Fields' YT that behave exactly like mine. If the Ulcx30 doesn't work I will contact the company for some further advice.

I tried it, and unfortunately didnt work for mine. I have been using aloe vera so that might be an option for you if this doesnt! I hope it does though ?

 

[lynz88]

Thanks BB. I only got the small bag to give it a go - wasting £26 in horse world is peanuts and at least won't be left wondering. Otherwise aloe vera juice might be on the menu. Yum yum. His dinner already smells like spaghetti with his oily herbs ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Thanks BB. I only got the small bag to give it a go - wasting £26 in horse world is peanuts and at least won't be left wondering. Otherwise aloe vera juice might be on the menu. Yum yum. His dinner already smells like spaghetti with his oily herbs ?

Hahah, yeah i think bb turned his nose up at it lol. We tried coligone too and I did find that it was good with the liquid just before a ride out. By that point I had ordered the starter pack at £72 with the powder, liquid and a syringe, but once I started using the powder , there was girthiness back
Etc.

 

[lynz88]

Ahhh right. Mine is a pig in disguise (and is looking more like one as he's gained and maintained significant weight since adding the oily herbs. Otherwise he is your "typical" skinny TB) so am never worried about him turning his nose up at something.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Ahhh right. Mine is a pig in disguise (and is looking more like one as he's gained and maintained significant weight since adding the oily herbs. Otherwise he is your "typical" skinny TB) so am never worried about him turning his nose up at something.

Thats good he has gained weight, hope he keeps it on. I seem to
Have a good routine for my tb too. Looked fab all winter and summer the last 4 years. ?