wormers causing diarrhea?

[sophiebailey]

Good morning everyone!!

Quick question for you all; has anyone elses horses ever had a very runny bum after having a wormer?

2 weeks ago Bailey had a mild dose of spasmodic colic. Trying to establish some kind of cause, the vet took a blood sample to test for tapework which came back positive. There was a 'medium' amount of tapeworm antibodies in his tum.

So on the advice of the vet I wormed him yesterday afternoon with equest pramox, and since then (around 2pm) he's done 10 poo's, 5 of which were solid and 5 of which were very smelly cowpats, of different sizes (some very big splats, some very little). Would be helpful to know what order he'd done the poos in so I knew if they'd hardened up since the cowpats but until he does another poop I don't know!

So I was just wondering if this had ever happened to anybody elses horse, as I'm unsure if its something I need to worry about with his recent bout of colic.

*vital signs normal, grazing happily, eating, drinking, gut sounds normal*

Any advice appreciated

 

[ltoolan]

This isn't that uncommon, especially with older horses or those with a large worm burden (don't know the age of yours).

Usually, if the worming history of a horse is unknown the first step would be a course of Panacur Equine Guard (to clear out the other worms gently over the course of several days) followed up a couple of weeks later with a wormer for tapeworm. This reduces the shock to the system of a horse with a high worm burden.

Assuming your horse was otherwise wormed up to date keep an eye on him, making sure he's taking on fluids and if he gets a feed, feed him little and often (well soaked) - rather than a few big feeds - to keep his gut moving.

If in any doubt call your vet (especially due to the recent colic incident) as any advice posted on here is third party, without seeing your horse and the experience of those posting the advice unknown.

Hope Bailey is well in himself again soon.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

Yes, mine. Completely my fault but she's starting to pick up a bit now, thankfully. Spoke to Westgate labs, who reassured me a little but I'll go down the equine guard next time!

 

[sophiebailey]

Thank you, he is 20 so I think falls into the 'at risk' group. He was last wormed for tapeworm in January time so I was confused as to why he had a medium sized burden!

As he was on a regular worming schedule, I'm slightly confused as to why its affected him in this way!

If his poos are still sloppy tonight I'll put a call in to the vet for her opinion, poor Mr B really is going through the mill

 

[ltoolan]

How's Bailey doing today?

 

[sophiebailey]

Poos have firmed up again, no more cow pats. He looked quite down in the dumps today though

Took him out for a walk in hand and went to see his best mate barneybear, then came home and spent an hour grooming and rubbing him, and noticed both his fetlock joints are swollen (back legs)

He's not walking or trotting lame, turning circles and tracking up as normal so if they're still swollen tomorrow night looks like I'm calling the vet

I'm starting to despair, just want my pony back. Thanks for asking though xxx

 

[ltoolan]

Poor you - hope he gets better soon. x