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Post by fetchthevet on Dec 19, 2009 21:53:33 GMT 1
Has anyone elses horses suffered from this since the drop in temp? My old boy has been really loose since its been frozen solid hes fine in himself and no other change other than the weather as he is 27 I worry about everything so will be calling into vets on monday for advice. Thankyou
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Post by arabmania on Dec 19, 2009 22:26:27 GMT 1
my first thought is to try and get more fluids into him. lack of fluids can cause runny poo's. quite often at this time of year our beloved neddies don't drink as much as we would like them to or they need to because the water is soooo cold brrrrr . i always add some hot water to my mares water at night to make it tepid. this encourages them to drink as they hate the ice cold feel of water. if this fails and you are still worried , maybe trying some sugar beet or fibrebeet soaked water may encourage him to drink. good luck and would love to hear how you get on.  modified to put hear instead of her lol! |
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Post by kafee on Dec 19, 2009 22:27:54 GMT 1
Yes, I noticed a cow like pat in the field today and then one of the yearlings lifted his tail and did another. He appears perfectly fit and healthy to me so I'm not worrying about it. I will keep an especially close eye on the situation though.
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oberon
Olympic Poster
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Post by oberon on Dec 19, 2009 23:04:30 GMT 1
This happened to my 23yo arab a few weeks ago. After completely freaking out about it, I bought a bag of Yea Sacc from Ebay for £12. Firmed him up straight away. I will now add it to the magic powder he gets from now on.
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Post by mandal on Dec 19, 2009 23:06:08 GMT 1
Is he out all or part of the time? Just wondering if it's anything to do with the grass.  |
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Post by KoLaTo on Dec 20, 2009 1:13:11 GMT 1
If anything, mine go the other way in this weather and droppings are too firm as not enough grass going thru them.
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Post by fetchthevet on Dec 20, 2009 7:40:14 GMT 1
Thank you so much guys feel better already! Hes out 24/7 mandal that was my thought too he still seems to munch on frozen grass right next to nice hay?? Off to inspect his tail and the field not very easy when everything is frozen solid!Shall have a read up on that yea sacc too as much as I like my vet I would really like to get through a christmas without seeing him!
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Post by jill on Dec 20, 2009 8:57:38 GMT 1
One of mine has this problem, I need to fetch her in to clean her up this morning (yuk), she has been getting looser gradually over the last week or so. Yeasacc sounds like a good idea, might get her some live yoghurt for now.
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Post by fetchthevet on Dec 20, 2009 9:14:24 GMT 1
Well they are not exactly cow pats but certainly runny. pipes have burst over night so back home filling water containers!
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Post by kafee on Dec 20, 2009 13:38:27 GMT 1
Hard luck on the burst pipes, conditions are hard enough without such addition problems.
I haven't found any more runny droppings, there were just those 2. Guess i was very lucky to find out who was doing them.
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Post by peppertop on Dec 20, 2009 14:27:38 GMT 1
My vet says its because they are taking in more water from the snow and wet grass. I have found yeasacc to help. Also making sure they get ad lib hay, to try and keep their fibre intake up.
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Post by mandal on Dec 20, 2009 14:37:49 GMT 1
peppertop that reminds me of my vet telling me not to allow Toby to eat wet grass as it could give him the runs. I never got to understand why he thought this.  I'd expect excess water to be excreted in the urine not in the faeces. Runny poo to me points to either some upset in the bowel speeding up movement or an increase in the concentration of food stuff in the gut drawing more water into it. Sunny cold weather seems to lead to an increase in the sugar content in the grass (increasing day by day if feezing continues) I think that's my favorite option after worms or change of feed/water source. |
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Post by peppertop on Dec 20, 2009 14:57:23 GMT 1
Mm I agree with you Mandal, doesn't make much sense. My pony was like this a few years ago in some really wet weather and thats what the vet said! I have to say that was the only change and when she was brought in to drier forage, she was much better.
I do wonder if the older ones struggle more with the change in temp etc, Like you say about the sugar content changing, I wonder if the older ones have a less efficient gut to cope with the change?
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ella19
Intermediate Poster
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Post by ella19 on Dec 20, 2009 15:38:53 GMT 1
only so much water can be absorbed by the gut into the blood and into the kidneys therefore the rest stays in the gut and comes out in the faeces.
Try seeing if your feed merchant stocks pink powder, it's brilliant stuff.
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Post by fetchthevet on Dec 21, 2009 18:38:35 GMT 1
spoken to the vet he said is probably the weather?? Given him a 5 day course of Norodine granules then will see him if no improvement he didn't seem concerned as he was well in himself advised ad lib dry hay and dry as possible bucket feed. thank you everyone for your advise and comments much appreciated.
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I'd expect excess water to be excreted in the urine not in the faeces. Runny poo to me points to either some upset in the bowel speeding up movement or an increase in the concentration of food stuff in the gut drawing more water into it. 