On and off loose manure

[gahorseygal]

My 18 year old gelding has had loose manure on and off since I bought him in March. We changed his feed very gradually after buying him so I attributed it to that. Then I had a feed change again a few months ago when we decided he would be better on a ration balancer. Again, a little loose manure and then was fine. However shortly after the temperature started becoming very hot (the last month or two) he has had the loose manure more often. It seems to be a bit worse than before as he now has it down the back of his legs. It does seem that it may be related to the temperature, as the few cooler days we have here and there he goes back to normal.

Is this something to be concerned about to call a vet out for? Or do I just watch and monitor changes?

I do remember a camp horse that had the same issue every summer but then was fine in the winter.

[jonem004]

Mine had runny poop and it finally cleared up when I treated him for stomach ulcers. On vet recommendation I’d done a course of sand clear first, then we treated for hind gut ulcers, then stomach ulcers. I guess we started with the cheaper treatments and worked up. Never scoped, but with the attitude change it’s obvious he had been hurting.

I’ve also read on here that a bout of diarrhea can flush out too many gut microbes for the gut population to recover, so the loose stool cycle can self perpetuate. Idk if there’s any science behind that.

[dog_amp_horsemom]

jonem004 - what did you treat the hind gut ulcers with?

[CELook]

I have this issue off and on with my gelding. I think as with all things, it depends on what the underlying issue is. For example I tried BioSponge, but it didn’t help though I know many people have great luck with it.

Currently I am doing a double dose of Probios powder 2x per day, it takes about 2-3 weeks to see a difference, but I think it is helping. I tried other probiotics (ie Manna Pro Opti-Zyme) which hasn’t worked as well as Probios.

I think doing a SandClear treatment as someone else suggested is a great place to start.

[tipzythegreat]

My gelding has had off and on runny manure in the 3 years I’ve owned him. Cow patty, down the leg style sometimes to perfectly formed manure balls other times.

I keep him on the smartdigest (probioitcs and prebiotics) and if it ever “flares up”, I give him some probiois and ulcer guard. He doesn’t have a fever when it flares up and the vet wasn’t concerned. Doesn’t tend to last for more than a few days when I get after it.

[gahorseygal]

Thank you! This gives me a great place to start. I just picked up some Probios to start on. If I don’t see an improvement in the next month I may call my vet before trying something else.

Can y’all give me some info about Sandclear? We are on mostly clay soil, is this still an issue?

[jonem004]

@dog&horsemom

jonem004 - what did you treat the hind gut ulcers with?

Oh man, it’s been a while. I’m going to say ranitidine is what my vet gave me? I’ll call Monday and check. He got it 3 times a day, pills is his feed.

What ar ended up working was Nexium clear minis hidden in apple slices. Only had to do those once a day and after about 2 weeks it was obvious he was feeling better. There’s a big long thread
about it here. https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/horse-care/9650940-esomeprazole-nexium-for-equine-ulcers

I read that while I was pricing gastrogard and for the cost it seemed worth a shot. Ymmv, but it worked for us.

[imaginique]

My gelding had the same issue. I’ve been treating him with doxycycline for lyme disease and it suddenly cleared up. There are probably as many causes and treatments as there are horses with the problem.

[Simkie]

I did all the things for my mare, with few results. Finally gave up because it didn’t seem to bother her. But when I moved her across the country, it went away overnight, never to return.

Looking back, I’m super suspicious that there was a low level bacterial contaminant in the well that bothered her but no one else.

If I were to do it again, I’d test the water. Maybe not the first thing, but before I went to far down the rabbit hole.

[gahorseygal]

@Simkie

I did all the things for my mare, with few results. Finally gave up because it didn’t seem to bother her. But when I moved her across the country, it went away overnight, never to return.

Looking back, I’m super suspicious that there was a low level bacterial contaminant in the well that bothered her but no one else.

If I were to do it again, I’d test the water. Maybe not the first thing, but before I went to far down the rabbit hole.

This is a good idea. We are on a well.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

The mare I lease has had some of this the last few weeks when she had no problems all winter. I tend to attribute to quality (or lack thereof) of pasture she has access to in turn-out.

[gahorseygal]

@Groom&Taxi

The mare I lease has had some of this the last few weeks when she had no problems all winter. I tend to attribute to quality (or lack thereof) of pasture she has access to in turn-out.

We have good grass - tested it a few weeks ago.

However we do have pear trees in the pasture. Could it be because he likes to eat the pears?

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

I would think too many pears could possibly be at least part of the cause.

[cruisecontrol]

Hey there OP!

My gelding had the same issues and we started with
Full bucket - no results
Panacur Power pac - helped for 2 days then back to runs
Succeed - worked for a week then nada
Biosponge - worked for a week and was a pain to get him to eat
Transfaunation - 3 day process and no change in diarrhea

Took away all hay and switched to ration balancer (Hallway pure and simple plus)
reintroduced coastal 1 flake a day with feed (no alfalfa)

I have suspicions about the well water as he is still “soft” some days especially when I work him on the hotter days but it has mostly cleared up from the watery mess it used to be.
His magic potion now is 1/2 quart of ration balancer with an Omega supplement. It was not a fun time but if you can solve it using any of the pre/probiotics but I might ask my vet they may know if something is happening in your area as well.

[Monarch]

I have had a horse on lay up who’s manure was loose at best and at times like cow patties tried just about everything I knew to do and everything my vet suggested to no avail.
A few weeks ago vet suggested 2 oz of safflower oil once a day for two weeks then 1 oz a day for maintenance.
So far it has been helping. Horse has been improving daily.
Do not know if it will help your horses situation but it is an inexpensive thing to try if nothing else works for your horse. I understand the fustration.
M

[Stretchy]

We have one who gets the runs anytime he gets more than 50% of his diet as hay (orchard grass/oat etc). Green grass clears it up which is the opposite of what we would expect. We tried Full Bucket, Power Pac, do psyllium every month, Ration Plus etc. Tested clear of worms. The only thing that works is Biosponge.

[gahorseygal]

The Probios seems to be doing the job at the moment. I appreciate everyone’s responses as it gives me something to come back to if anything changes!