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  Discussion on 10 months of diarrhea and I've read/done everything
Author Message
New Member:
bluegate

Posted on Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 - 5:55 pm:

Sorry to add yet another post on diarrhea, but I'm desperate. I downloaded the diarrhea overview 4 months ago and feel like I've been online researching daily and my whole life revolves around what I find in the stall each morning. Today I joined and am posting in the hopes that someone has a suggestion.
The horse is a 23 year old 850# Arabian gelding. I started noticing weight loss and "cow patties" last fall. The vet upped his senior feed for weight. Then because of the loose stool we did the 5 day panacur. Then a couple of weeks later, Diagel. Diagel made him very sick for 2 days, but within a week, good poop. Several weeks later I was able to go out of town for two days because he was better - only gone for 4 feedings and when I got back - watery stool again. [I think the sitter probably used more water in the feed than I do because of fear of his choking - but I can't understand why this would change him back to diarrhea almost overnight] - so probably a coincidence].
So... it all went downhill again and since then I've tried various things like Stomach soother, less feed, more feed, no grass, more grass, timothy cubes, beet pulp, Safe Choice. His cultures are negative and although he is very thin -like a "2" -he seems happy and active.
At this point he is on 2# senior feed twice a day and compressed orchard grass,then grazing on dry lot with eaten down fescue.I am currently forced to [slowly] switch him over to TC forage w/low starch because I can no longer get the compressed grass ...he has very worn molars and cannot eat our regular fescue. I tried powdered probiotics, now starting paste. Nothing seems to change the watery stool. Gave pepto last month, which made it worse [if possible]. Have also given a course of Bio Sponge.
I feel pretty overwhelmed and confused by all the possible available aids for this problem. I am hoping to get his runs under control by winter! thanks for reading. I welcome any comments and/or advice!
ps. It almost seems that he has gotten worse since we started helping him. I would be thrilled to go back to the "cow pattie" days!
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 - 10:04 pm:

Oh boy.

I feel for you because I went through this for years with my paint horse.

Did absolutely everything to help him over the years.

Management changes that took place prior to his eventual recovery:

Using Triple Crown products.

A one year course of using QUEST wormer at a dosage as recommended in Dr. O's program.

Finding a farrier who finally fixed the pain that he was constantly in due to his feet. With some horses I wonder if pain can create enough stress to cause the problem.

My boy has always been sensitive to any dietary change or any kind of stress -- physical or emotional

Hot weather always seemed to make his problem worse also.

Did your Vet check for salmonellosis?

Horses may have a negative result and if I recall they used to have to test clear for this 5 times in a row to be considered clear of that problem.

My guy did have that problem along the way and wonder if it can cause some temporary or long term damage and sensitivity to their digestive system.

I don't guess that I will ever know for sure what fixed my boy but as I said, I tried every known remedy for years before the problem ceased.

He will still act up a bit if the grass grows a lot suddenly, if he eats a bunch or weird weeds, or if he has some kind of pain issue going on somewhere physically, but nothing chronic any longer like he was for years and years before what seemed like a spontaneous recovery.
Member:
babychop

Posted on Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 - 11:45 pm:

Have you tried Neigh-Lox? I have a 5 year old TB with similar issues. Omeperazol only worked while he was on it and the Neigh-Lox is fairly inexpensive and seems to calm the symptoms, his stool isn't watery anymore. Kentucky Performance Products. It's worth trying, it may be a band-aid but it's working for my boy.
Member:
babychop

Posted on Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 - 11:49 pm:

Ooooh, my vet also thought it might be salmonellosis - if you can get a fresh sample to the vet that hasn't hit the ground (which would contaminate it) he/she can have it tested. I've also tried ProBio-K, etc. the Neigh-Lox really helped.
New Member:
bluegate

Posted on Sunday, Jul 17, 2011 - 7:38 am:

thank you, Vicki and Andrea, for writing with support & suggestions. It helps a lot to hear from owners who have been through this.
Even if I can only find a "band-aid" it would be great to slow things down. Would love to be able to stop buying diaper cream and power washing his stall walls!
He has been tested for all "bugs" and parasites and there was no salmonellosis, but I will ask my vet about a re-test.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Sunday, Jul 17, 2011 - 10:14 pm:

They can shed the salmonellosis off and on. My boy tested positive when he had "the squirts" and we quarantined him for weeks and treated with gentimycin as tests indicated it would be a good choice.

After many weeks, he tested negative but the next test was positive. After following extreme measures to prevent exposure by my other horses and spending hours cleaning up and hand walking him, I just sat down and cried!

This illness may be more prevalent than we think and it certainly is no fun.

I went through YEARS of having to wash this horse's hind end and legs.

Some things helped to some degree such as psyllium that does dry up some of the excess liquid. Probiotics perhaps somewhat.

But the ingredients that were present just prior to his final change of course are described in my prior description.

Be vigilant about diet, parasites and any kind of stress.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 18, 2011 - 8:04 am:

Welcome Bluegate,
The reason for your confusion is that you do not have a good diagnosis, or even a tentative one that I can see. As a result treatment is hit or miss and prognosis unknown. I would avoid reading diarrhea treatment ads as most have nothing to offer anyone, and the rest are not likely to be helpful until you know what's wrong.

What is the best thought on why your horse has diarrhea at this time. Often the combination of history, physical exam, laboratory results, and in this case treatment effects can lead to a smaller list or even single possible cause. Often to nail it down to a single cause requires more intensive testing like GI endoscopy or rectal mucosal biopsy.

What is the current best thoughts on why your horse has diarrhea? Without a diagnosis I suggest you start at the beginning of the list of empirical treatments in the Overview article and work down them one at a time as directed in the article.
DrO
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