Ration balancer and diarrhea

[Black_Points]

I started my 3 horses (15yr, 21 yr, and 21 yr) on Pro Elite grass ration balancer about a month ago. It wasn’t called Pro Elite then. I think it was Advantage something but they changed the packaging and name and maybe the formulation.

Before using this balancer, I was using Blue Seal Sunshine Plus. In the last few weeks, all three horses have started having soft manure (not cow like, just not as dry as usual). They are also releasing liquid that is running down the back legs and onto the tail making quite the mess.

Wondering if anyone else has seen this or if anyone else is using the new Pro Elite Grass Balancer. Just trying to figure out what might have brought on the diarrhea. I’ve started them all on Equiotic in the hopes that it will help. I’m doing a month trial with Equiotic 1x/day and NO Pro Elite Grass Balancer. Hoping this experiment will give me some insight.

Mary
previously in western NY, now in the North Country of NY

[JB]

Pro Elite Grass Balancer changed (because of the Pro Elite merge with Progressive) to ProElite Grass Advantage over the Summer. The formula didn’t change much because they were already similar, but some amino acids increased, and maybe a few trace minerals increased as well.

It’s possible your store just had such slow turnover they didn’t start getting the new. There’s nothing inherent about the new formula that would cause diarrhea.

But you’re changing 2 things at once - adding the Equiotic, and removing the PE. If things clear up, you won’t know which, if either (because maybe it’s all just coincidental) made the change.

[Pico_Banana]

Interesting. I recently started my horse on the Pro Elite Topline Advantage and while her manure was normal, she’d have squirts of liquid. I think this is called loose fecal water. I backed her down to a half ration and it went away. When I brought her back up, it came back for a little bit and it seems now to mostly have gone away. In the meantime, I wrote to Pro Elite to ask if they’d seen this problem. They didn’t say yes, but they said that they had the best results when it was used as a top dress on other food. They also suggested that I try Grass Balance instead.

I had the same problem with the HorseTech High Point pellets, which I tried based on recommendations from this board. With that, no matter how slowly I transitioned her to a full ration, I couldn’t get rid of the loose fecal water, even with adding in misoprostal on top.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

My horses are on the ProElite Grass Advantage. Used the old formula ProElite Diet Balancer prior to that. I’ve not seen any loose manure or excess water on either. All three of mine are on it - different breeds, different sizes.

[Black_Points]

@JB

Pro Elite Grass Balancer changed (because of the Pro Elite merge with Progressive) to ProElite Grass Advantage over the Summer. The formula didn’t change much because they were already similar, but some amino acids increased, and maybe a few trace minerals increased as well.

It’s possible your store just had such slow turnover they didn’t start getting the new. There’s nothing inherent about the new formula that would cause diarrhea.

But you’re changing 2 things at once - adding the Equiotic, and removing the PE. If things clear up, you won’t know which, if either (because maybe it’s all just coincidental) made the change.

JB you are so right about not knowing which change made the difference if the diarrhea goes away. I sure hope it does and if so, I will probably just keep them on the equiotic but may try going back to the Sunshine Plus.

[Black_Points]

@Pico Banana

Interesting. I recently started my horse on the Pro Elite Topline Advantage and while her manure was normal, she’d have squirts of liquid. I think this is called loose fecal water. I backed her down to a half ration and it went away. When I brought her back up, it came back for a little bit and it seems now to mostly have gone away. In the meantime, I wrote to Pro Elite to ask if they’d seen this problem. They didn’t say yes, but they said that they had the best results when it was used as a top dress on other food. They also suggested that I try Grass Balance instead.

I had the same problem with the HorseTech High Point pellets, which I tried based on recommendations from this board. With that, no matter how slowly I transitioned her to a full ration, I couldn’t get rid of the loose fecal water, even with adding in misoprostal on top.

Pico, thanks for your reply and what I first used was called Topline Advantage and was recommended by my vet. Interesting that you backed down on the amount and that helped/solved the problem. I was feeding the recommended amount of 1 lb/day and mixed with Blue Seal LS. I had been feeding the LS for years with no problem so I really think the Pro Elite caused the problem.

Mary