Whos horse (also in vets and stable yard)

Roasted Chestnuts

Roasted Chestnuts

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.... has had a touch of the runs lately???

My two are having it on and off. Both up to date with worming (recent counts were fine) both a good weight (kia slightly porky but hes normally a poor doer and an oldie) and both none the worse for it energy wise.

Have tried a yeast type supp from vet and also pink powder but nothing has an effect and its coming and going.

Also poos are cowlike and green (strange for the time of year I thought) when they have the runs then they are a bit green bt firm then they go back to runny. They are on the same paddock which was grazed most of the summer, they got taken off it for 4 weeks from october till november (after growth rush) then put back on so no fresh grazing there.

They are on hayledge, on bale has been a second cut and one a first cut second cut bale was dryer than the first cut.

Does anyone know if this could be related or can shed any light??? Vets arent worried as they are in perfect health otherwise.

They have been on hayledge since october before that they were on this years hay and no runs. The runs have only been since the snow both whilst it was here and afterwards.

Just a bit stumped and since this forum is massive with lots of in the know people I was hoping somone could shed some possible illumination :)

Thank you!!!

Nikki :)
 
We had 2 horses on my yard who went a bit 'squitty' when the snow came, and although were turned out daily, were only eating haylage off the snow. I put them on pink powder, and now the snow has thawed, and they are back on grass, they seemed to have settled down again.
Like yours, both in good health so not a major concern, and just put it down to lack of grass and increase in haylage. Hope the situation resolves itself!
 
Haylage I would say is the likely cause.Our younger horses usually get like this if they over do it but they are fed ad lib.It has never caused them any harm and come out the other side of winter glowing.If it was happening every day I would cut down slowly on their haylege amount to see if it makes a difference as each bale can be different as regards the moisture content but may all look and smell the same.
 
I think it might be something to do with the grass after the snow - mine had a tiny bit of that, just a bit dribbling down his back legs on occasion when they went onto limited turnout and when out they were on very frozen grass. And he was on more haylage then when had to be kept in for longer or not turned out at all which happened for a couple of days. The field is now back to being a bog and he's getting about 5-6 hours turnout a day and he's coming in with mud on his nose which then makes me worry about how much soil he's digesting as the grass is coming up roots and all out of the mud but his back end seems to be fine.
 
Mines runny too :/

Ive given him some probiotic yoghurt in his feed to help (recommended by vet) which seems to have done the trick slightly. hes on pink powder anyway. all mine are.

I think the grass changes when its had the stress of the snow on it, and that effects their beliies if it becomes more rich etc. Could be wrong... but that would be my guess!!

Hopefully theyll settle down soon!!
 
i havent experienced this, although mine were allowed 4-6 hours TO per day during the snow perferring to eat the hay put out rather than try to graze.

I would assume its the snow causing a tummy chill (but vet said good health), or haylage (quite rich).

keep an eye out, amke sure taking on enough fluids, any worries contact vet, but if vet is happy i wouldnt worry too much.

P.S - are you feeding sugar beet/bran - that will scour them xx
 
i think it should be noted that OP is in an area of high snowfall and the horses were unlikely to be able to get through to any grass due to deep snow ;) so its not eating grass that is causing it like others are finding :-\
Its good that the horses all seem fit and well other than the scouring though:)
 
coss said:
i think it should be noted that OP is in an area of high snowfall and the horses were unlikely to be able to get through to any grass due to deep snow ;) so its not eating grass that is causing it like others are finding :-\
Its good that the horses all seem fit and well other than the scouring though:)
Click to expand...

Thank you C I forgot to mention that!!! *slaps forehead*

Nikki :o
 
We are feeding straw mixed with our haylage as we are concerned that it is rather too rich. We also feed pink powder and all ours are fine. We were concerned as this is the first year we have fed haylage, always used hay before. My main concern with continued scouring is the risk of other illness associated with digestion problems.
 
Mine have had the runs slightly, after one of our bales of haylage turned out to be very damp and rich. (We're also partly blaming it for two of the horses getting winter laminitis). I think if you put yours onto hay, HorseHage or the aforesaid mixed with straw you'll find it'll clear up.
 
My old pony had this problem a few years ago. I had the vet out and he found it to be a campholobactor (sorry cant spell ) gut infection. He said it was caused by injesting sand while grazing on the short, winter grass and the sand having an abrasive effect on his gut, letting in bacteria from the soil.
 
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