Diarrhoea in horses can be dangerous and
difficult to treat. Most horse diarrhoea is short lived and causes little concern but
when the lining of the gut is damaged and serious infection sets in horses can
loose a lot of weight quickly and become permanently damaged. The most dangerous
cause of diarrhoea is salmonella infections.
Call your vet if: your horse is off colour and
has a temperature, if the diarrhoea persists for more than a day or two, if a
foal is affected at all.
Common causes: Stress/nerves. Sudden change of
feed, serious infections eg salmonella, worms, prolonged antibiotic use.
Treatment: A vet will first try and determine the
cause and attempt to remove it. It is very important that lost fluids are
replaced by giving fluids and drugs may be used which slow down the passage of
food through the gut. Probiotics are often useful to try and regain normal
bacterial populations in the gut. Horses affected should be fed good quality hay
and normally not allowed fresh grazing or succulent feeds.
Free veterinary advice helpline: 01243 773363 (UK)
Free veterinary advice helpline: 0044 1243 773363 (International)
Mobile veterinary advice line: 07734 240 709 (UK)
All numbers available 9am - 5.30pm UK time.
Out of hours try mobile number.
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