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Discussion on Diarrhea at the shows
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Member:
carol64
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Posted on Monday, Sep 14, 2009 - 7:13 pm:
My gelding has had chronic diarrhea which I have discussed many times on this board and we have finally got it under control with diet management (grass hay only and oats). He is solid up until we go to an overnight show. He doesn't have a problem until the 2nd day and then it starts in with bad, runny stuff that lasts most of the day. Makes showing showmanship very difficult and causes everyone anxiety! Is there anything we can give or do for him to help this situation?
Thanks!
Carol
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Monday, Sep 14, 2009 - 7:48 pm:
Is his food exactly the same and fed at the same time as when he is at home? If so, he could be having "show nerves" - just excitement from being in a new place with other horses around. And, if you get anxious/nervous he can sense it and this could also be adding to his anxiety level. Does he go to a lot of shows, or just a few a year?
I would try to keep everything as near normal as possible, and try and keep your nervousness level low. I'd even try carrying water from home if possible. You can also give him Pepto Bismol if all else fails. I'm not sure on Imodiom; maybe someone else knows if it is safe and will work on horses.
If he doesn't go to many shows, I'd try and get him to more shows, even if it's just to stand around and watch. And, if he has a friend you can take, it might also help. Of course, then he might call out during his classes! No winning sometimes.
Good luck! Don't get too close to him with your showmanship clothes on!
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Member:
vickiann
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Posted on Monday, Sep 14, 2009 - 8:00 pm:
In my experience, some horses respond to any stress (such as a show) with loose, runny stools.
If that is how they are made, you likely will not be able to change this.
If you don't like cleaning the butt and legs, you ought to consider putting this horse into a situation that is less stressful.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 15, 2009 - 7:32 am:
Hello ann,
We give dosages for some over the counter anti-diarrhea medications in the article on Diarrhea Overview. Be sure to read, understand, and follow the cautions in the article. One thing I do not know is if these medications would be approved under your showing discipline.
DrO
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Member:
rtrotter
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 15, 2009 - 9:11 am:
Ann,
I had a similar problem with my race mare up until about a month ago. In my area I have a problem getting consistent hay that meets my quality standards. So I switched then to Triple Crown Safe Starch Forage (Chopped timothy and Orchard grass plus all the vitamins a minerals a horse needs). She gets what she readily eats and it has averaged out to about 10 lbs a day, plus she is on pasture and gets about 6 lbs of Triple Crown Complete and 6 lbs of whole oats with soybean oil ( 3 equal meals a day).
She has not had one episode of diarreah and for the first time in 2 1/2 years has normal stools every day. She used to have such loose manure that I thought she was getting dehydrated just from passing the manure. She also gets water in her food at all times.
Because the Forage is so portable its easy to take with you. I also make sure no matter which track she races at she stays on the same schedule of getting fed every 6-8 hours. I have also seen how feeding her 4-5 hours before she races calms her down. This might be something you want to try because in the long run it also cuts down on the amount of hay which results in less manure.
Rachelle
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Member:
vickiann
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 15, 2009 - 9:31 am:
I have given Pepto Bismol to a couple of horses but no longer recall the dosage that my veterinarian suggested.
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Member:
dsibley
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 15, 2009 - 9:34 am:
So strange how taking mine OFF oats cured him and putting yours ON helped yours!
My reining horse gets extremely anxious at shows. Her anxiety results in mild colic. I started giving her Neigh-Lox about three days prior to show, during the outing, and for a day or so after we return home. It made a huge difference. Also feeding almost free-choice grass hay while at the show seemed to help...just keeping something in her stomach.
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