Health advice please

[kt with Hanni]

Hi,

Hannibal has had softer faeces than normal over last few months. I spoke to people who said as horses and ponies get older there faeces can become looser. I was advised to try pink powder which I can't see has made any difference. This morning I took him for a hack ( haven't for a few weeks due to my dad passing away) and he was keen, forward going as usual. I noticed however that he had 4 poos on the way and 3 were very runny. Prior to ride this morning he ate his breakfast and haylage as normal. When we returned he wouldn't touch haylage and had another runny poo. Took out to field and he lay down ( don't often see this) other than after the ride he's been fine. I'm wondering of the cause. If he doesn't eat dinner later ill know he's definitely off colour as he loves his dinner and will call the vet. Any ideas? What would you do? It's very strange as he enjoyed the ride and was normal ( except the loose stools) could it be the haylage? Although he's on recreational so should be lower in sugar? Or as we rode and hadn't for a number of weeks and everything moved through his system?

[Suby2]

My pony and my friends horse both got the runs on haylage even though they had been it it before and hadn't been affected. It seemed to be one particular batch that caused this. We haven't had a problem so far this year.

[dalesfan]

It could be the haylage,even within batches the quality and levels can vary. Has anything else about his feeding or management changed in the last few weeks? Is he drinking the same amount as usual, and is he passing the same amount of urine? Just trying to narrow down what could be going on. x

[kt with Hanni]

Thanks for replies. All bodily functions had been fine before today ( although faeces softer than his field mate whose faeces are dry pellet like droppings. His are more on the side of cow splats) I haven't seen him drinking yet today but will check him later again ( yard owner will call if concerned) I hope he is drinking as his runs will make him dehydrated. The haylage from countrywide has been variable. We've had to take a few bales back as mouldy but it seems Hannibal wont touch it when it's like that anyway. I put him on haylage due to his cough but now give him a mix of soaked hay and haylage. He's stopped coughing and doesn't need his steriods anymore which is great. Such a balancing act. You solve one problem and create another!

[Furiey]

I wouldn't put it simply down to old age. My oldest pony even at 36 did well formed poos same as he always had.

[jill]

Have you changed any part of his diet? Sounds like an adjustment to me, like they get when the grass is comong through (which it is by the way - could it be that?). MAybe the haylage is more variable than you realise. Personally I would get Yeassac rather than Pink Powder - PP has some probiotic in it but other stuff as well, which may not agree with him.

[kt with Hanni]

Only diet change is adding ' can't believe it's not cod liver oil' to help with condition. Ok may swap onto that rather than pink powder which doesn't seem to be helping. I guess it could be grass? Although I can't see that we have much as our fields are currently very flooded

[shan]

Can you feed him just hay for a few days & then you can rule out the haylage (or not!) causing it at least?
My old horse had gut damage and would get constant runny poos if he had anything slightly rich, but on rough/scrappy grass and hay he was fine

[Lulu]

Are you on sandy soil ? If so, do you feed pysillium regularly to avoid build up of sand in gut as that can make the water pass thru gut a bit quicker