poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
Same I was gutted
so stressful leaving them with nothing then they go screw it up anyway x
Winter faecal water syndrome
- Thread starter Highmileagecob
- Start date
so stressful leaving them with nothing then they go screw it up anyway xHighmileagecob
Well-Known Member
2024 update.
I have found a meadow grass haylage, which he can manage to eat just fine, and have totally withdrawn the chopped, ryegrass haylage. The faecal water has dried up like turning a tap off, within 24 hours he was clean and dry. Fingers crossed it continues, and I have found something that works for him.
I have found a meadow grass haylage, which he can manage to eat just fine, and have totally withdrawn the chopped, ryegrass haylage. The faecal water has dried up like turning a tap off, within 24 hours he was clean and dry. Fingers crossed it continues, and I have found something that works for him.
Dam1
Well-Known Member
Mine was the same - just one simple thing - was (hopefully) sorted by just adding some hay . It's such a relief - especially with winter looming. It's no fun having to wash a green tail/bottom in the freezing cold - expect the horse feels the same lol
Long may it last
x
Long may it last
x
meleeka
Well-Known Member
Mine can't tolerate anything remotely coarse, but is ok on meadow hay, as long as she doesn't eat too much of it (given the choice she'd eat 24/7). A teeny holed net help with that.
Highmileagecob
Well-Known Member
Old Dobbin has been absolutely fine on a mix of soaked sugar beet, handful of bran, fast fibre, grass chop and Mollichaff apple, as well as the meadow grass haylage. Swapped the Mollichaff for the light version in an attempt to reduce sugar, and the faecal water came back with a vengeance. Withdrew Mollichaff light and put M apple back, and the faecal water had gone by morning. He will now stay on this diet, and hopefully, no more soggy bottom!
GrassChop
Well-Known Member
I'm glad you've found a solution.
My mare is still not great. 3 weeks into using Think Pink. I've now started to get my haylage out the night before to dry it out more before feeding the next day and I've added a handful of bran to her feed.
I've spoken to the hay supplier and he's going to start giving me wrapped hay instead, didn't even know he did it.
Highmileagecob
Well-Known Member
Still dry, with normal droppings. Thinking back, the faecal water started around the same time he was diagnosed as probably EMS, and the sugar levels started to be controlled or reduced. This winter I have swapped Speedi Beet for lightly molassed pellets, and introduced a lightly molassed oat straw chaff. I am now wondering whether he actually needs a certain level of sugar to aid fermentation in the hind gut?
GrassChop
Well-Known Member
I saw your post about including the bran and I don't know if it's that or if it's just been a bit longer on the Think Pink but her poos are back to normal! She's just on soaked grass nuts, fast fibre, heaped 50ml scoop of bran, Think Pink and her usual supplements.
poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
That's interesting. Is there a link between sugar and Faecal Water?
I use Dengie Hifi, its one of the only things my whole gang agree is edible, then add whatever as needed individually. I don't use it for the FEC pony, it really isn't great for him. Recently I only noticed when i got homw the wrong bag of feed had been put in my boot at the feed shop. (They give a ticket in the shop and the public are not allowed to load themselves or go in the warehouse)
They gave me a finer molassed chaff which he likes and is much better on. I was going to return it but it was too much hassle and i figured a tiny bit wouldn't hurt.
Highmileagecob
Well-Known Member
No idea, I'm just jotting down my observations! He was diagnosed as a probable EMS at the age of 18, and I have had twelve years of winter bottom washing! Due to his teeth starting to fall out, he now has a lot of forage replacing bucket feeds, and appears to be completely normal with the additional sugars. I can't explain it, but wish I had discovered it sooner!
Highmileagecob
Well-Known Member
Bumping up for anyone who is interested.
Dam1
Well-Known Member
I'm interested
It might explain why feeding my mare half hay/half haylage stopped her FW. It could be that the hay contains more sugar than the haylage - its an unknown quantity sugar wise but the haylage is tested and I know that's low sugar. Also it would explain why she doesn't get it so much in the summer as she's on more grass (more sugar). Hopefully she's not ems - there's never been any signs but she is quite chunky. I might get her blood tested when the other one is (cushings) just to be sure.
Thanks for that HMC - it certainly puts a different slant on things x
It might explain why feeding my mare half hay/half haylage stopped her FW. It could be that the hay contains more sugar than the haylage - its an unknown quantity sugar wise but the haylage is tested and I know that's low sugar. Also it would explain why she doesn't get it so much in the summer as she's on more grass (more sugar). Hopefully she's not ems - there's never been any signs but she is quite chunky. I might get her blood tested when the other one is (cushings) just to be sure.
Thanks for that HMC - it certainly puts a different slant on things x