Horse had diarreah...what could cause this? **UPDATE**

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Many kinds of clover can carry an endophytic fungus (invisible) that causes vast amounts of slobber. As long as the horse has plenty to drink it is harmless, just gross, like we're talking buckets and buckets of drool

I'm not saying there mightn't be something else causing it with your horse, but my money would be on a 'harmless' looking clover.

Pat

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

she could've collicked.

 

[Meesh]

No clover here... It's wayyyyy too dry (think high SW desert). I personally think it's most likely some phase of tumbleweed when it's tender and green that causes it. About all there is out in the drylot is sparse tumbleweed, bindweed, and mustard.

And yes, lots of drool. Like someone left the faucet on.

Cheers,
Michelle

 

[Equest94]

Quote:
I would definitely get a vet out. Dehydration is one of the leading causes of death in horses and it can also lead to other potentially serious illnesses such as colic.

I do not think this this is colic. Most colics are due to a twist in the intestines or to impaction (no bowel movement, sand impactions, etc), but as I have just mentioned it can be caused by diarrhea because of dehydration.

21 years old is getting up there in horse years, so I would be especially worried. Has anything changed such as diet?

As for now make sure your horse has plenty of water available; you may want to also try adding some electrolytes.

 

[FLchook]

Sorry it took so long to post an update, but I just havent had a chance to sit at the compter all week!

Anyway, wanted to post an update. Vet said it was just in fact sand. They are both doing so much better!!

Shannon

 

[Meesh]

Thanks for following up (I like follow ups on vet stuff). Have you psyllium-ed them?

Cheers,
Michelle

 

[GwenFarms]

I'm so glad she is doing better. Thats great news.

There has been alot of talk about colic during this thread and I want to take a minute to clear up a misconception about colic. Many people have been told that if your horse has a bowel movement, he isn't colicing, or his colic is over. This is not true. If your horse has stopped having bowel movements its too late, his guts have already twisted. This requires major surgery to repair and many times the horse has to be put down. Colic is not the twisting of bowels that is actually a result of colic sometimes.

I once had a very old horse here that tended to colic. He would reach his head around to his sides, go off of his feed and lie around. He rarely rolled, so we didn't have to walk him. I've seen many people make a miserable horse even more miserable by not allowing him to lie down when he had a stomach ache. Its just not neccesary to keep a horse on his feet unless he is rolling badly. Then you risk twisted gut.

Alot of things can cause colic. Sometimes its nothing more than the same things that cause us to have stomach aches, like too much food. Other times its something that needs to be treated, like chronic ulcers. The first will go away within hours, the second won't.

10cc's of betamine is the common treatment for colic. Just remember the drugs will make your horse think he is all better before he is. So withhold food (not water) until you are sure he is over his episode and you know it is not something more serious.

Hope this helps someone out there

 

[Florida chick]

FYI all colic means is "belly pain." Glad it was sand colic, you should change your feeding habits and feed in feeders and always add bran, sand clear and mineral oil regulary Esp in FL. goodluck

 

[UnttouchableRose]

Quote:
Bran and Mineral are something you should NOT add to a diet. It can cause a variety of problems. I can elaborate if you'd like.

Feeders are defintely a must with something to avoid more sand intake like a feeder in a tire or on a piece of rubber.

Colic is not just belly pain it is a digestive upset a horse can colic due to something not in the stomach but somewhere within the intestine. Horses can also present as colic and actually be choking.

Loose Stools and Dehydration can turn life or death in a colic situation.

 

[nccatnip]

Bran, mineral oil and psylium are common vet recommended additives in sandy areas for the prevention of colic. Hanging the feeders help but horses still graze and pick up sandy from the grass.