Connie's digestion???

[leannwithconnie]

I wasn't too sure if I should post this in the vets or the feeding section but I'm hoping someone may have come across this problem before and be able to recommend a supplement or something for Connie.

Every Autum/Winter when the grass dies off and they have to move onto hay she starts with runny poos...well I am saying runny poos but really the droppings are quite normal but there is then some liquid that comes out too.. [yes sorry to be so graphic]

It has alway in he past settle down eventually but this year it hasn't. This despite my spending money on Protexin again as this seemed in the past to help things get back to normal.
I am reluctant to buy any more supplements just yet until I am sure what I am dealing with and have now arranged for a Pooh sample collection be sent off to see if this can throw any light on what is wrong. I must say that Connie seems well in herself so I'm trying not to get too worried just yet but I'm thinking that maybe she has some worm damage which occurred long before I owned her...she was 6t when I bought her from a dealer and I know very l;little if anything of her past owners etc.
The yard she is kept on has a strict worming programme for all the horses and worm counts have come back as good so I'm sure her current worming programme is fine.

Any help/suggestions you have will be greatly appreciated.

[harleydales]

Harley had a major liver problem as a 6 year old and since then his poo has been very variable - sometimes fine, sometimes runny, and sometimesas you describe. We don't know what happened to his liver, it just stopped working as it should and he lost a lot of weight and was very listless (maybe he had Lyme!!!). Could have been a previous worm burden as a youngster, or ragwort ingestion, again as a youngster before he went into good hands.

Change of grass, change in the season, frost and excitement all affect his poo!!

To be honest, I don't do anything about it, just keep cleaning his tail. It doesn't seem to affect his performance or weight or anything.

You could have Connie blood tested for liver enzymes just to be sure there's nothing amiss to put your mind at rest?

[leannwithconnie]

Thanks Jane...I suppose a liver test should be the next thing to have done.

[harveydales]

Do you mean she does normal poos and a bit of brown liquid comes out at the end (appologies for being so graphic). I am fairly sure this is quite normal for certain horses. Quest has always been like this but not Harvey or Winnie. I seem to remember reading a similar post on another board and it was thought to be perfectly OK, nothing to worry about. If Connie is perfectly OK in herself apart from that then I wouldn't panic.

I know Winnie had worm damage as a youngster and his poos are always on the loose side but he doesn't have the liquid problem.

[leannwithconnie]

Jan 19, 2009 15:49:34 GMT -1 harveydales said:

Do you mean she does normal poos and a bit of brown liquid comes out at the end (appologies for being so graphic). I am fairly sure this is quite normal for certain horses. Quest has always been like this but not Harvey or Winnie. I seem to remember reading a similar post on another board and it was thought to be perfectly OK, nothing to worry about. If Connie is perfectly OK in herself apart from that then I wouldn't panic.

I know Winnie had worm damage as a youngster and his poos are always on the loose side but he doesn't have the liquid problem.

Yes thats right Pam...the liquid squirts out and down her legs and bum [AS she is a grey she gets into a terrible mess.]
It has been normal for her too inthe past but this time it hasn't settled down.

[Daftmare]

Sounds the same as Emmas pony Buttons! Every time we change the hay supply! I use Global Herbs Diareze and its fantastic sorts it out really quickly then I put her on half dose till I have finished the tub.

[leannwithconnie]

Thanks for that Daftmare... I will give that a try if the settlex which she is on from feedmark doesn't work [and it doesn't appear to be yet]
The poo sample came back negative for worms and salmonella

[harleydales]

That's encouraging then Leann.

[Daftmare]

This may also be interesting to you but I find with Buttons if I soak her hay really well she is less likely to get runny poo than if I only soak it for 20 mins. I try and soak it for an hour. Maybe if it is wet through its more like grass to digest. Just a theory of course

[leannwithconnie]

Feb 8, 2009 12:49:18 GMT -1 Daftmare said:

This may also be interesting to you but I find with Buttons if I soak her hay really well she is less likely to get runny poo than if I only soak it for 20 mins. I try and soak it for an hour. Maybe if it is wet through its more like grass to digest. Just a theory of course

Sorry only just seen this reply...Yes someone else suggested that to me tooo.
She is still the same really and the Settlex doesn't seem to have had any effect.
Will give that a try.

[zeldalithgow]

What about something like slippery elm, you can mix it with live youghurt - 1 tablespoon slippery elm to 2 of youghurt twice a day either in a feed or syringed straight into the mouth

[leannwithconnie]

Slippery elm??? Thanks Zelda.
At the moment things are not too bad and seemed to have settled done a little bit. Will keep this one up my sleeve in case of a relapse.

[zeldalithgow]

Some info about slippery elm Leann health.howstuffworks.com/slippery-elm-herbal-remedies.htm

[leannwithconnie]

Thanks Zelda!