Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466 
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Post by Terry on Jan 2, 2015 20:40:47 GMT
I've noticed that, since approximately Monday of this week, Sis has had diarrhea. The first day that I noticed it, it was hard to miss - she had made a huge mess of her stall overnight (very unlike her) and there was runny diarrhea everywhere. She's eating her hay and grain fine, she's drinking plenty of water, and she shows no signs of colic or any other strange symptoms, just the very runny diarrhea. It was still bad on Tuesday, so I ran out and picked up some probiotics and got her started on them that day. Since starting her on the probiotics she no longer has the totally runny diarrhea, but her stools are still pretty loose. Since she has no other symptoms and she's eating and drinking fine, I have not seen a need to call the vet on this yet. Does anyone have any suggestions as to anything else I could or should try? I just feel so bad for her because, as we all know, having diarrhea is never any fun. 
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Post by lorddaxter on Jan 2, 2015 21:02:45 GMT
No,idea but if it were me I'd take a fresh sample to vet:)
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Post by horselover4life on Jan 2, 2015 22:36:08 GMT
Sand test........
Sometimes a sand overload shows symptoms and signs of what you are experiencing.
Do your horses eat hay from the ground? Or do they pick the pasture???
Sand test and if you find it use sand clear or physillium{sp?} to clean the gut of it.
I use Metamucil {store brand/generic} orange flavored sometimes along with mineral oil to slightly moisten the powder so a inhalation or exhalation not make a cloud of "meta" in the air on in the lungs..
Worm overload I thought of but I know you take care of that in a timely fashion... 
Maybe something in the hay? Do you have new bales from a different load delivered they are now eating?
Other ideas? ?  .... 
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dc
New Member
Posts: 173
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Post by dc on Jan 2, 2015 23:59:18 GMT
Anything new in her life? I had a mare, move to new place, new horse added to the mix, recently wormed anything and she got the poops. Still, I wouldn't leave it too long. You don't want to risk de-hydration
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Post by mustangsavvy on Jan 3, 2015 0:39:17 GMT
Sand test and a fecal should be run. I would also consider ulcers.
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Post by horselady on Jan 3, 2015 1:07:03 GMT
I would say to get a vet out. i had a mare that was squirty poo and she had potomic horse fever. not to scare you but the need for antibotics is urgent. hope it is only a temporary thing but if she begins to get off on her feed and has a fever please call vet.
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Jan 3, 2015 1:26:44 GMT
Thanks for all the ideas. She doesn't eat her hay off the ground (we have hanging hay feeders outside and hay nets in their stalls), so I don't think it's sand, but I can try the sand test.
I do worm my horses regularly, but she is due to be wormed now. I didn't want to give her the wormer while she has diarrhea, though, because I wasn't sure if it might make matters worse. Do you guys think I should go ahead and worm her now, or wait until she firms back up?
The only new things in Sis's life are (1) new pony brought in at the beginning of November (almost 2 full months ago), and (2) we stopped feeding their hay on the floor of their stalls at night and instead put slow feed hay nets in their stalls (this was done approximately a month ago).
Sis had Potomac Horse Fever in September of 2013, so I've been down that road with her before, and I don't believe that is the issue this time. When she had PHF, she was lethargic, running a fever, and completely off her feed, in addition to the explosive diarrhea. Fortunately none of those other symptoms are present, so I think we're ok on that one.
I will continue to give her the probiotics and, if she still has loose stools by Monday, then I will call the vet to discuss it.
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Post by horselady on Jan 3, 2015 1:36:57 GMT
OK all bases covered, perhaps pepto bismal will work to help stomach and her diarrhea . i had a mare with bad runny poo and the vet said to give her 60 ccs 2 times a day. hope it is resolved soon and perhaps give her all the hay she wants and stop the grain.
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Post by Shelly on Jan 6, 2015 13:45:55 GMT
Ah Diarrhea cases are so tricky Sometimes I wish they had Imodium for horses (not that it would solve the actual issue.. ) When Sheldon had diarrhea the solution was getting his teeth floated and it actually worked. Every case is different so I definitely suggest that if it doesn't resolve itself soon definitely get your vet involved. I know with Sheldon I wish I had called the vet sooner poor boy was loosing weight because his body wasn't able to properly absorb nutrients in his food anymore. best of luck xo |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2015 21:19:00 GMT
How is Sis doing?
I have been going through something similar with Benny lately. I am having a second vet out tomorrow.
The first vet I had out gave me some herbal stuff to feed. I believe it is called ActiGut, or GutActiv? Something like that. I will check later tonight. I didn't think it would really do anything, but it seems to be helping Benny.
Have you thought about adding a probiotic?
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Jan 7, 2015 4:00:08 GMT
I've had Sis on the probiotics for a week now, and I got all of the horses wormed Sunday. Fortunately Sis's loose stools have firmed back up nicely now, so all is well, thank goodness. 
When I was out shopping for the probiotics I found a supplement made for senior horses that I think I'm going to start Sis on soon. Age-wise I don't really consider her a "senior" horse (she's approximately 17 years old), but she had a very rough life before she came to me, plus she has a wave mouth and bad teeth (she's had 3 teeth pulled in the 4 years I've owned her because they had come loose), so my vet and I both agreed that she was going to need to be treated like a senior horse sooner than a horse who had received proper care and nutrition all of it's life. Anyway, I already have her on a hoof supplement (probably not necessary in her case - she has good feet, but I figured it couldn't hurt), a joint supplement (she gets a little creaky from time to time), and now I've got her on probiotics for digestive health. Well, this senior combo supplement covers all of those bases in one supplement, and it costs less than what I spend on the other 3 supplements separately, so I figured I will give it a try. Fingers crossed that it will work well for her.
Shelly, due to Sis's wave mouth, she was on a 6 month float schedule for her teeth for the first couple of years that she was with me in order to get her wave under control. Now that the wave has been corrected, she's on a yearly float schedule, which she will be due for again in the spring, so I think we're ok as far as her teeth are concerned, unless, of course, another tooth has come loose.
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Post by Shelly on Jan 8, 2015 20:14:32 GMT
That's great news  Putting her on a senior diet doesn't seem too bad. Every horse is different and if it keeps her healthy and strong then we are definitely winning! As for her teeth, hopefully it isn't the case but it sounds like your on top of that one already!  I know I ended up behind with Sheldon without even noticing... never going to let that happen again!! |
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I know I ended up behind with Sheldon without even noticing... never going to let that happen again!!