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  Discussion on Quest caused loose stool?
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Member:
rockin

Posted on Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 - 11:14 am:

Dr. O,

Last Saturday (the 9th), my mare was dewormed with Quest. I was not aware that my new barn used this type of paste as a part of their deworming programme, and my mare hasn't had it before coming here. She had it (although I didn't know this) the first week that she arrived and had loose stool then as well, but I assumed that this was due to a feed change and nerves about being at a new barn.

About 2 or 3 days after being dewormed this time, Rockin started to pick at her hay. She usually cleans up very quickly, but I didn't worry too much because the bale that they were feeding was of a poorer quality than usual, so I just assumed that it wasn't as tasty.

She continued to pick at the hay increasingly during the week, until Friday evening. I let her out of her stall. They had been in due to extreme cold that day, but that is not unusual here for this time of year. She rolled twice in a row (she can get over on both sides without getting up, so this was a bit unusual). I noticed her kick at her stomach with her hind legs once or twice, but I was unsure if this was because of me blow drying her tail or not.

I put her away that night and came out early yesterday (Saturday). She was outside, rolling a fair amount and kicking at her tummy a bit, and not eating well but still wanted to eat. At about 8 AM I gave her 60 cc's of pepto bismol and walked her, and within 45 minutes she was eating slowly but comfortably and not rolling/kicking at her stomach anymore.

I gave her another dose of pepto bismol last night at around 7 PM because her stool was still quite loose and she was looking a bit listless. She wasn't attempting to roll or kick at her stomach, though. This morning her stool is firm again, she is perky and her appetite has returned to normal.

So... based on that information, does it sound like it was the Quest that caused the loose stool and sore tummy? If so, why would it do so? I can't say what the specific dose was, other than that they said that she only got the dose recommended on the tube. Should I remove her from their deworming programme and use a rotating programme of my own without Quest paste?

Also, if the loose stool comes back in the next day or two, should I give the pepto again or have the vet out?

Thanks again for the advice!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Feb 18, 2008 - 6:20 am:

Hello Erin,
Horses get colicky every day and horses are dewormed with moxidectin (Quest) everyday. So answering the question of did your horse get colicky from the Quest is impossible to answer. It could easily be coincidence.

One of the established causes of problem with moxidectin use is when horses have large numbers of encysted larvae that other dewormers do not control well. Killing large numbers of such larvae can cause a colitis that would have colic and loose stools as components.

Considering there are no other dewormers as effective as moxidectin and its very large safety range I would consider its use again, particularly with the consideration that the problem you experienced may indicate it is doing some good. A transient bout of loose stool without other symptoms can usually be waited out but I normally recommend that mild colics lasting longer than 15 to 20 minutes be treated by the vet.
DrO
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Monday, Feb 18, 2008 - 12:30 pm:

The first horse Vet I used (he is retired now) believed that if a horse got a case of colic post- worming, it was caused by the effectiveness and a the large die off as described by Dr. O. And further, he suggested waiting for 2 weeks and then worming the horse AGAIN with the same product. Somehow, I never dared to do that. Have had a horse with a mild colic post worming with Zimecterin Gold, and some diarrhea following other wormers, and a friend of mine had a case of colic post Quest gold, but she had also given him the full tube although he was a small horse. The horse was just fine after one dose of Banamine. I believe Quest wormer is an excellent product and use it as recommended by Dr. O's worming program. This has worked wonderfully for my horses, with good health, much less colic incidence, and a cessation of a longstanding watery butt problem with one of mine.
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