Chronic diarrhea in Horses - Anybody have a good remedy? Im at a loss!

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Your feedstore or state ag extension agent will have a list of labs you can send a sample off to. Last I lived in the states (a while ago) it was typically like $20 or so for a basic analysis.

If ivermectin and Strongid don't worm for tape worm, then I haven't.

They don't. More or less the only good tapeworm wormer on the market for horses is the "Ivermectin Gold" type ones. Certainly worth a shot, although I'd be surprised if that were the problem.

I am worried about only putting him on only hay- He has trouble keeping weight on. So he gets the most amount of grain out of all my horses just to keep his weight on. The mare doesn't need as much grain so I could probably take her off of it. And another thing is is really ravenous about his grain like he hasn't been fed all day!

Mixing together several alternate trains of thought here:

How recently have these 2 horses had their teeth done?

Do they show any other behaviors/symptoms that might go along with ulcers? (Some of what you say is consistant with horses with ulcers...)

I don't know how big your flakes of hay are, but 6 flakes is not necessarily all that much... I would suggest giving these two (at least) their hay free-choice, which may mean as much as 30+ lbs a day depending on how much they waste and their size/metabolism but doing it an often straighten out a horse considerably. If it were me, I would cut out ALL the grain/pellets/supplements for a couple weeks to see what happens, until and unless you actually SEE the horse lose substantial amounts of weight... IME an awful lot of "hard keeper" horses really aren't once they get ALL the hay they need, and grain/pellets/supplements sometimes cause as much problems as they are meant to solve, so I truly believe this is worth your trying.

That said, continuing to pursue the possibility of an infectious cause (protozoans, salmonella or other bactieral enteritis, etc) also seems worth doing.

Good luck,

Pat​

 

[verthandi]

Quote:
Double dose strongid is sometimes used for tape but not the feed through type that you are using. Ivemectrin won't kill them either. Most feed through plans call for Ivermectin 2 times a year and a worming with a praziquantel based product once a year. Equimax makes a good wormer for tape. I just tossed that out as an idea as I had never had a problem with a horse with diarrhea until last year when my 25 year old mare developed it. I had a fecal done and it was negative. But wormed her and the rest of the herd with Eqimax anyway and the diarrhea stopped.

 

[Kelly G]

My 5 year old Fjord had diarrhea last year. He was otherwise exceptionally healthy. The vet suggested upping his hay intake - which I did (he only eats straight timothy), and his diarrhea cleared right up.

Whenever he's not getting enough hay - it comes back. Simple, but true.

I'm not sure this will help you, but I thought I'd share my experience. I hope you get resolution!

 

[snowhorse]

I think I am going to try and worm for tapeworms. Equimax is the best for that I'm getting?

Also call the Vet and do another round of tests....The gelding has been legthargic lately and Dad wants to test for Lyme( we have a hugggge tick problem, and one of our other gelding got Lyme this past fall)...so mid as well run some other tests while she is there, Like Coccidiosis and possibly do a intestine scraping.

And also consider just feeding hay...Only problem is they get turned out with another one of my horses, who is an extremely easy keeper, and doesn't need that much hay, so Im worried about him putting on weight....This will be a task but maybe he would be fine just getting hay as well. ( and I dont have the room to put him elsewhere and he is too much of hot shot to be turned out with my other crew without causing damage)

We have all of horses teeth floated once a year, they were done this past spring and will be done this spring.

Im not sure what the other symptoms for ulcers are - but the supplement I have them on is supposed to help with that as well.

And what would the protein level in the hay tell me?

As far as Alfalfa, I have heard never to feed it to feed it everyday... I have really mixed feelings about, but have heard that in small amount daily can help horses with ulcers.

I have to say I really appreciate the help, all this information is giving me new directions to go in.....THANK YOU!

 

[BlackBart]

That was going around my area. People tried changing feed, probiotics, coarse hay etc.. Dogs were getting diarrhea too for apparent reason.
Some horses stopped when given Panacur Powerpack de-wormer (even though they were on a regular de-worming schedule)others with Metronidazole.
One lady had luck with a clay type product that binds to whatever is causing the problem in the gut. Can't remember the name but there is a big thread on COTH about diarrhea and what people have used.

 

[duckluck]

Quote:
Are they on a sweet feed or a pelleted feed? I am not familiar with the brand you named.

 

[duckluck]

Quote:
Ivermectin with praziquantel will treat for tapeworms. Regular Ivermectin has been tested and shown to not treat for tapes. I use Equimax to rotate in with my Strongid C instead of regular Ivermectin.

Have the horses been checked for ulcers, and how are their teeth?

ETA: Make sure you are using someone who really knows teeth, like an equine dentist. There are a lot of people out there doing teeth who range from mediocre to really bad at doing it.

Eating a lot of hay would certainly absorb some of the extra fluid they are passing as loose stool. There is also a possibility of food allergies or ulcers with whatever may be in the feed. I would give the straight hay option a try, although I have never heard of feeding any amount of alfalfa to help with ulcers. And another thought: try treating them for sand ingestion. Inexpensive and worth a go, you never know, we have a lot of sand here in our soil.

 

[duckluck]

Quote:
Yes, the x-rays are YOURS and YOU are paying for them. I would demand a copy. I'd be questioning her abilities if you have a chronically lame horse and she's trying to keep everything to herself, because in my opinion she isn't putting the client first, which is what she is being paid to do.

 

[snowhorse]

Pellets

Here is the breakdown:

http://www.blueseal.com/equine/productpages/9_Trotter.pdf

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Sorry but that is incorrect from a legal standpoint. It has been well established in US courts that Xrays are the property of the veterinarian who does them, NOT the client.

That said, it is also sort of the 'accepted standard of behavior' in the AVMA that members are supposed to grant client requests for forwarding of xrays to another vet. It is not at all uncommon for a vet not to release xrays to a client, but it is not right for her to refuse to send her to your vet of choice, I would light a fire under her butt about that.

Good luck,

Pat