My mid-teens large pony has been plagued with diarrhea for about a week now. At day 4 I took a temp (99) and checked for dehydration - she's very well hydrated and taking in ample water.

 I called the vet and he said "let's wait & see." I took her off pasture and she's getting only hay and her usual 1/4 lb of oats/grain per day.

 Day 6 and the diarrhea is getting worse, rather than better. Very loose, looser than cow manure, very soupy, but not like "dirty dishwater." Slightly projectile in that I have to wash her tail and legs and the stall walls daily.

Vet came out on day 6 and took a fecal sample (negative for parasites) and drew some blood. Still waiting for the results on an in-house panel. Still, he's not too worried.

My observations:

1)She's still bright-eyed, eating & drinking well, though a little less "independent" than usual. Usually she's the herd "gaurdian" always on the alert. Now, she's not so interested in what's going on around her. But not totally unaffected. She is complaining that she's been confined to a stall

 2)I am not her favorite person (she's my daughter's pony and adores her - me, she just tolerates) but her attitude toward me has changed, she doesn't appear to dislike me as much as usual....

3) She is about 14h and has always been an "air pony" in that she's too easy of a keeper. Big fat belly, really too fat. She has dropped at least 50 lbs since the middle of October. Through her barrel she looks good considering should could afford to lose that weight. But she's all caved-in in the flanks and through her hind quarters. I can palpate her point of hip and her upper pelvic bones (behind the loin) very easily. (Vet says don't worry, that's typical when their bowels are emptied of bulk like this) I am concerned that my vet is not concerned enough.

He isn't worried because there is no fever, she's well hydrated and the diarrhea isn't the consistency of water (but it's the consistency of a thick soup!) He didn't want me to give her yogurt (which I am told will help replace the good bacteria that is being washed aways with the diarrhea) because he says the lactose isn't good for her.

He hasn't suggested any kind of treatment. He's still in a "wait & see mode." He believes she simply ingested something in the pasture that "didn't agree" with her and it simply has to run its course.

My question: how long does it take to "run its course?" Am I being too worried? Can it take longer that a week? Should I not be overly concerned when there is no fever, she's still got a good appetite and looks alert?

He's supposed to call this afternoon with the blood test results. If the panel comes back normal, then what? 

Thanks for any insight or ideas...

Here is a link-

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=2338

Give probiotics and some electrolytes.  And wait and see.

ps.  don't post when yer tired.

this is an instance where i wouldnt wait much longer...this horse needs a thorough blood work up.

they can dehydrate and get their electroylytes out of balance with prolonged diarrhea.

with the weight loss, something is obviously wrong.

Always be interested in what the bloodwork finds...but I'd place money on it all being within normal levels....I would bet your horse has lovely bout of gastroenteritis....which is pretty much a big word for a nasty upset GI tract....likely due to eating something out of the norm, but can also sometimes be caused by stress, and even sometimes it just "happens"...usually the bacterial flora in the gut (yes, good bacteria live in the gut and when they get out of wack...diarrhea is your result) gets out of order in some direction or another (too much, too little, the wrong kind) and the body uses diarrhea to try to flush it out....usually the easiest course of treatment is a round of antibiotics and a probiotic to get the good bacteria going again....usually with sick animals you "generally" dont really have to worry until THEY start to worry (stop eating, lethargic, etc)....a lot of times a case of gastroenteritis will clear itself without treatment...

you know when you usually eat boring baked chicken and bland things for a while...then decide to splurge on mexican food...then you have the resultant evening in the bathroom...but you are usually good within a day or so...same thing...only imagine all you've EVER eaten was baked chicken....your stay in the bathroom would be considerably longer....same thing....only I hope your horse isn't splurging on chili rellenos ...

Great information, thanks.

Her blood work (in-house routine panel) came back relatively normal. He said her white blood cells were slightly elevated but not enough to signal an infection. Her albumin level slightly skewed, he said due to the diarrhea (expected). Her electrolytes slightly low - (again expected).

He mentioned that there could be the presence of a cystic parasite (I am not sure of this terminology because we went through a lot of different things. ) He said this type of parasite doesn't always show up in a fecal test. He wants to treat her with Panacur 5-day Power Pak.

Last night, she defecated and it was like a spigot. She stood as if she was going to urinate, and a stream of feces shot out about 2 -feet. Not completely liquid but close to it. Then a few minutes later she tried to urinate and the stream lasted less than 10 seconds...

I had a thought - I am wondering if something in her hay is doing this. I have been increasing hay as pasture is dying. I bought my hay from the same guy I have purchased it from for the past 4 years. It looks & smells fine.

But, this all came about when I started cutting back on pasture & increasing hay. She also has very loose stools everytime we travel (she gets hay in the trailer and hay at the show grounds, etc) - I always attributed the loose stools in the trailer to nerves. I took her off pasture completely with the onset of the diarrhea and put her on as much hay as she wanted - the diarrhea got worse....

None of the others horses are affected.

She now looks like a starvation case. He neck is thin, butt is atrophied.

My thought:  Take her off the hay, increase her grain ration to get some nutrients in her, add electrolytes and probiotic and give her hay stretcher or alfalfa cubes, or beet pulp. Some substitute for the hay - if she starts to improve then I will know it's something in the hay? I am going to bounce this course of action off my vet this morning and see what he thinks. Next course of action is to pack her up and bring her to another vet. My current vet is the only one in for 100 miles...

I am sick with worry. This is my daughter's horse. She has had to bury her elderly pony and then an elderly mare within the last five or so years. This is too much for a kid to withstand!

Ok, vet is not too encouraged by my hay theory, but he said go ahead and try, it won't hurt. Who knows.

Here's an article on the cystic parasites he was talking about....

http://www.horsetackreview.com/article-display/1342.html

 I am going to do the Panacur Power Pak starting today.

This morning, it's short watery squirts, like firing a water pistol. Brown water - no substance to it,  but only tiny amounts. She's bright, alert and eating, but mad about the no hay thing. I have to wait until the grain store opens to get the hay stretcher....

poor dear!

Go to the TSC or feed store and get Advance/arrest ( yellow and white packet)- non medicated eletrolyte and thickener. You should also get the animal form of peptobismol.

She need to have a gut rest. No hay OR grain for 24 hrs. just water and eletrolytes.Then add some feed back to her slowly. I wouldn't give her grain anymore until she firms up. I deal with sick calves all the time and this can work espcially if she isn't running  fever.

Sounds like she is dehydrating and once it really sets in, your in trouble. She'll likely need IV fluids at that point.

We have used the human pepto with great results.  It's the bismuth that is the active ingredient.  Of course like everyone has said you have to watch out for that dehydration.

JacciB

Human Pepto works quite well.  Cut the end off a large syringe and give it like deworming paste.

Probiotics and electolytes.

Also, take her temp twice daily.  Some will have fever at night but not in the morning or vice versa.

I hope she improves soon.  Please keep us posted.

The "wait and see" needs to end. This pony is clearly deteriorating! 100 miles is a walk in the park for peace of mind. Call the second opinion vet, detail the events, set an appoinment and go! I would take with me a day by day listing of occurrences, much like you have done on this sight. I worried for 6 weeks with a large pony mare and a vet diagnosed "urinary tract infection." After meds and no improvement, with low grade temp and blood still in urine, I transported her to an equine hospital. Within 60 minutes she was diagnosed with a tumor wrapped around her urethra. I could actually see it on the screen. We took her home, spent the afternoon together, and she was euthanized that evening. She would have suffered longer had I not been proactive.

Brenda

I suggested the animal version because its sold in gallon jugs, more for your money.And you might need to quanity.

Afternoon update - My vet is not supportive of adding electrolytes or probiotics yet. This is bothersome to me. Because the Need for these things are not the CAUSE of the diarrhea, they are result. He doesn't want to change too many things at once because it will be harder to determine the cause.

I am not sure I am in agreement here, I am equally concerned about treating the symptom (diarrhea) as discovering the cause of the symptom. However, the blood panel did reveal normal kidney function and he was not alarmed at the electrolyte levels.... so I am going to follow his advice to a point. BUT I am going to insist on another blood draw on Monday to make sure those levels are still ok.

On the hay, I really wanted to pull her hay from her, and the vet was fine with that (but didn't really think the hay was the culprit). But on the other hand, again, any abrupt changes in diet will only exacerbate the present situation. So I am not so sure I want to do that. I did buy a bag of Dengie - which is more digestable than hay. I will very slowly wean her off the hay and onto the dengie to see if that helps.

Two more observations: last night she tried to urinate but only evacuated about 1/2 c, - just a few seconds. Overnight there were ample wet spots in the stall, so I am thinking that the diarrhea is causing inflammation and she "feels" like she has to go when she doesn't maybe?

Also, she is doing little squirts of clear liquid now and again from her rectum. She raises her tail either to pass gas or to move the bowels, but a brief & light squirt of clearish liquid is all that comes out.

I am considering taking her to another vet, but we are expecting some foul weather tomorrow, driving rain with gusts up to 40 mph. I am not too keen on driving in those conditions...it may have to wait until Monday. Just as long as she doesn't go down hill any more....

On the plus side: this morning there were only two or three ummm-piles (for lack of a better word - maybe "puddles"?) Cleaned up the soup, washed down the walls and the butt. When I checked on her at 1PM there was only one more puddle. So I am seeing less frequent evacuation. Could that indicate something positive is happening, or is she just running out of ammunition?

notfromtexas - I am in 100% agreement with you. It doesn't make sense to not put back what is being depleted. I am going to call him again tonight and discuss this. I have electrolytes on hand - the probiotics will be a problem as my local tack/feed store doesn't carry anything like that. I will have to order via the internet.

I was going to give her yogurt, another vet prescribed that once several years ago. Current vet said, don't give yogurt as they can't digest the lactose...  so what else can I give to replace the good bacteria while I wait for the UPS guy?

They may or may not.  It depends on the horse. Just like people. Some people get diharia and some don't when going out to eat.

I would still feed her hay. Just from a different supplier. Wife has given Kaopectate before to a horse with this problem. Just make sure you get a couple of bottles. Vet is right, something has got her dig. system all out of whack. I wouldn't due to much either. Hay and water with some electrolytes. Hope your horse gets better. I worry too if one of mine isn't feeling or acting right.