Help horse with loose stools

cindielou · 11-23-2007, 03:35 PM

My horse is 16 years old.We just got him in april. He has loose stools i have tried probios. Could it be his sweet cod it is not dry. I have tried so many things on him.The vet has also just gave him steroids for 2 days. seem to help some but not all the way. He is feed wheat hay.any other feed makes it worse. is there anything else i can do to help him?
He has not lost any weight and drink plenty of water. He was under weight when we got him he is know at the right weight. He still his happy for any one to ride him or play with him. He just has a lose stool problem
thanks
cindy

IheartDuke · 11-23-2007, 04:03 PM

Did your vet say anything about sand colic? I recently had a horse have a very serious bout of sand colic, however, it first presented as diarrea for about the first week.....you may want to do a psyllium tx anyway!

AllAroundRdr · 11-23-2007, 05:02 PM

Something's too rich/high in protein for him most likely -- hence the loose stools. Increase the work load so your horse uses the excess proteins or drop the grain in half (maybe more) I've also found that Forco helps better than regular Probios (from my personal experience) with loose stools, even though you say he's drinking pleanty (are you marking the water bucket to measure exactly how much he's drinking?) it's not a bad idea to throw some electrolytes in his feed to ensure enough water intake.

Ryle · 11-23-2007, 06:08 PM

Have you had any bloodwork done? That could give you some idea as to whether or not it's infectious or inflammatory. Also have a fecal culture done to determine if there is a bacterial cause.

Other than that I would minimize what you feed besides hay---say go to a ration balancer. And try a probiotic.

BettyBootsy · 11-24-2007, 03:47 AM

I would for sure stay on some Probios daily and have you tried adding like 2 bananas a day sliced up in his feed. I second a CBC. Are you feeding alfalfa at all? I would avoid if you are.

ejforrest · 11-24-2007, 06:15 AM

Check for sand. Treat with a psyllium product(sand clear 3.75 oz day or in the stores, metamusle-1 cup a day) for 2 weeks and than once a month for 7 days. This helps keep sand down. When sand builds up in the gut, it creates loose stools, diarrhea, blocked stools, colic.

cindielou · 11-24-2007, 08:23 AM

I am feeding him wheat hay. what will the banana's do? we have not done blood work yet. vet did put him on steroids for 2 days.

Dawn · 11-24-2007, 08:41 AM

Is wheat hay the absolute only feedstuffs that he's getting?

cindielou · 11-24-2007, 03:51 PM

no he is also getting grains.only about 2 cups a day because we are trying to rule things out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawn

Is wheat hay the absolute only feedstuffs that he's getting?

Dawn · 11-24-2007, 03:55 PM

In order to rule out the grain, you have to eliminate it completely. 2 cups, 2 lbs, doesn't matter. If it's what's causing this bad of an issue, it's going to in any amount.

11-23-2007, 03:35 PM	#1
cindielou Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 6	Help horse with loose stools My horse is 16 years old.We just got him in april. He has loose stools i have tried probios. Could it be his sweet cod it is not dry. I have tried so many things on him.The vet has also just gave him steroids for 2 days. seem to help some but not all the way. He is feed wheat hay.any other feed makes it worse. is there anything else i can do to help him? He has not lost any weight and drink plenty of water. He was under weight when we got him he is know at the right weight. He still his happy for any one to ride him or play with him. He just has a lose stool problem thanks cindy

11-23-2007, 05:02 PM	#3
AllAroundRdr Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southern CA - The Land of Fires & Shakey Ground Posts: 3,639 Images: 26	Something's too rich/high in protein for him most likely -- hence the loose stools. Increase the work load so your horse uses the excess proteins or drop the grain in half (maybe more) I've also found that Forco helps better than regular Probios (from my personal experience) with loose stools, even though you say he's drinking pleanty (are you marking the water bucket to measure exactly how much he's drinking?) it's not a bad idea to throw some electrolytes in his feed to ensure enough water intake. __________________ People say riding isn't a sport...Well you see, the 'ball' I play with has a mind of its own. I've been Goosed..and I LIKED it!

11-23-2007, 06:08 PM	#4
Ryle Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 2,924 Images: 1	Have you had any bloodwork done? That could give you some idea as to whether or not it's infectious or inflammatory. Also have a fecal culture done to determine if there is a bacterial cause. Other than that I would minimize what you feed besides hay---say go to a ration balancer. And try a probiotic. __________________ Cindy D. Registered Veterinary Technician Member American Assoc. of Equine Veterinary Technicians

11-24-2007, 06:15 AM	#6
ejforrest Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: U.P. Michigan Posts: 2,761 Images: 411	Check for sand. Treat with a psyllium product(sand clear 3.75 oz day or in the stores, metamusle-1 cup a day) for 2 weeks and than once a month for 7 days. This helps keep sand down. When sand builds up in the gut, it creates loose stools, diarrhea, blocked stools, colic. __________________ ej ----------- And God said to horse, trust no man if you cannot see your own image in his eyes.

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11-23-2007, 04:03 PM	#2
IheartDuke Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CA Posts: 309 Images: 15	Did your vet say anything about sand colic? I recently had a horse have a very serious bout of sand colic, however, it first presented as diarrea for about the first week.....you may want to do a psyllium tx anyway!

11-24-2007, 03:47 AM	#5
BettyBootsy Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 3,258 Images: 87	I would for sure stay on some Probios daily and have you tried adding like 2 bananas a day sliced up in his feed. I second a CBC. Are you feeding alfalfa at all? I would avoid if you are.

11-24-2007, 08:23 AM	#7
cindielou Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 6	I am feeding him wheat hay. what will the banana's do? we have not done blood work yet. vet did put him on steroids for 2 days.

11-24-2007, 08:41 AM	#8
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,482 Images: 1390	Is wheat hay the absolute only feedstuffs that he's getting?

11-24-2007, 03:55 PM	#10
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,482 Images: 1390	In order to rule out the grain, you have to eliminate it completely. 2 cups, 2 lbs, doesn't matter. If it's what's causing this bad of an issue, it's going to in any amount.