Diarrhea & Fecal Water in Horses

Diarrhea in horses

Diarrhea is a change in defecation. In this case, the feces have a liquid or mushy consistency and the defecation takes place more frequently than usual. Normally, the feces of our horses should have a solid and molded consistency, hence the term horse apples. 

Diarrhea is not to be neglected in horses under any circumstances, as it can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance and this could lead to serious health problems.

Fecal water in horses

Watery stools  are when the horse's droppings are normally solid, but a watery fluid is secreted at the horse's anus. This fluid is called fecal water and can range from clear water to a slimy consistency. 

The reason for the secretion is fluid in the intestine, which trickles out through the horse's intestinal movement. This can occur before, during, or after the settling of feces or gas, but also in between. Therefore, fecal water is not the same as diarrhea. 

Watery stools often occur in conjunction with digestive disorders, especially when there is disturbed feed processing in the large intestine. Disturbed intestinal flora or excessive fermentation in the colon can lead to increased production of liquid feces. Inadequate digestion of carbohydrates, especially fructans, also plays a role in the development of fecal water. Fructans are complex sugars found in certain grass and forage species. Therefore, fecal water occurs clustered during the period of grazing on or off. It is important to note that watery stools are not a disease in their own right, but a symptom. 

Causes of watery stools & diarrhea

Both diarrhea and fecal water are common problems in our horses. These can have many causes:

• Feed change: A sudden change in the feed ration or the introduction of new feeds can lead to digestive problems. It is important to make feed changes slowly to allow the horse's gastrointestinal tract to adjust. Here, it is recommended to mix the conventional feed with the new feed at first. Gradually, the proportion of the new feed can be increased. 

But the quality of the feed also plays a role. If the feed is of poor quality or even spoiled, this can also result in digestive disorders and cause diarrhea or fecal water.

• Malnutrition: Malnutrition in horses does not automatically mean emaciated and scrawny. It can also lead to overfatness. However, if a large part of the nutrient requirement is not covered over a longer period of time or if there is an excess of certain nutrients, diarrhea or fecal water can be the result. A lack of vitamin B in the daily feed ration, for example, contributes to a deterioration in feed conversion. This leads to diarrhea if the deficiency persists for a long time.

• Sand ingestion: excessive sand ingestion by horses can lead to diarrhea. This usually happens when no roughage is given on sand paddocks and the horses search for and ingest the smallest plants on the sandy ground.

• Parasites: Severe inflammation of the stomach and intestines can be a result of massive worm infestation, which can lead to diarrhea or fecal water. Regular deworming is important to prevent parasite infestation and is a must nowadays.

• Infections: Bacterial or viral infections can cause diarrhea. Examination by a veterinarian is required to determine the exact cause and initiate appropriate treatment.

• Dental problems: Dental problems are often the cause of fecal water or diarrhea in horses. If the teeth are no longer able to perform their function of crushing feed with a rich structure, this will result in digestive problems and subsequent diarrhea or watery stools. Therefore, a regular dental check is indispensable.

• Stress: Stress can affect digestion and cause diarrhea. Stress factors such as transport, change of stall or training should be minimized. Stress is also one of the main triggers of fecal water. Increased attention should be paid to how the horse interacts with its peers. Both hectic or panicky horses and introverted or lethargic horses can be affected by stress.

• Feed intolerances: Some horses may be sensitive to certain feeds, which can cause diarrhea. It is important to check the feed composition and identify possible allergens.

• Gastrointestinal diseases: Diseases such as gastric ulcers, colitis, gastritis, colic or intestinal inflammations can lead to diarrhea and watery stools. This can be caused, for example, by lack of roughage or too long feeding breaks.

• Equine Cushing Syndrome: With the so-called Equine Cushing's Syndrome similar to diabetes, the blood sugar level rises and horses have increased thirst. If horses drink in large quantities, the excess water is not always absorbed by the feces or runs unhindered out of the intestine. 

• Poisonings: Poisoning by poisonous plants when riding, at the show, in the paddock or in silage or hay, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, treated seed corn, paints or varnishes but also dead rodents in the hay can cause diarrhea in the horse.

• Medication: Diarrhea can also occur as a side effect of the administration of medications. These include, for example, NSAIDs, which are anti-inflammatory drugs, or antibiotics.

• Lack of exercise: The horse's exercise also plays a major role in digestion. If a horse is not sufficiently moved or provided with enough exercise, the fluid stored in the intestinal wall collects in the intestine and has to be discharged in the form of fecal water.

Treatments for diarrhea

If you recognize a diarrheal disease in your horse, you can take direct action and initially feed only hay and water . Avoid carrots, apples and too much fresh grass. Inform a veterinarian immediately if the diarrhea occurs suddenly or does not improve after a few days. If the stomach calms down after a short time, feeding yogurt/kefir can help regulate the intestinal flora. 

Again and again positive experiences with homeopathic remedies are reported. However, homeopathic remedies must be adapted to the respective horse. Therefore, no general recommendations can be made. It is best to seek advice from veterinarians or veterinary practitioners.

Treatment of watery stools

As described previously, watery stools are not a disease in their own right, but a symptom. This means that in order to stop the symptom of water y stools, the cause responsible for it must be treated. Of course, you can support your horse and influence the consistency of the feces to a certain extent. However, if the cause does not change, the watery stool will not disappear completely. 

Home remedies that can provide relief for our horses in the case of watery stools include brewer's yeast, psyllium husks or various herbs that have a soothing effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Since horse pastures are mostly rather species-poor, they possess therefore only a small content of natural herbs. These are very important for a balanced diet and a healthy gastrointestinal tract for horses. Therefore, support your horse with selected, natural herbs and promote a healthy digestion. However, a change in feed can also be responsible for watery stools and exacerbate the symptom. The horse should therefore be closely monitored.

It should therefore be obvious that the causes of fecal water are treated as quickly as possible and completely. Since untreated fecal water can causelasting harm to ourhorses. Skin inflammations (dermatitis ) can occur due to the constantly running fecal water on the horse's legs. Therefore, regular cleaning is very important in case of fecal water. It irritates the horse's skin and makes the coat stick together unpleasantly. The affected areas - anus, hind legs and tail - should be cleaned gently with lukewarm water and, if necessary, with suitable shampoo. Accordingly, one should not wait too long, but soon consult a veterinarian.

Prevention of diarrhea and watery stools

In order to prevent diarrhea or fecal water from occurring in our horses in the first place, particularly good management is necessary. This is what we can do to prevent diarrhea and fecal water:

• Regularly check the worm status of the horse
• A regular dental checkup
• Hay in many daily rations is sufficient to avoid long feeding breaks
• Avoid stress 
• If necessary, let feed changes take place exclusively slowly
• Provide sufficient clean drinking water, which should not be ice cold
• Provide sufficient exercise for the horse
• Ensure a balanced diet
• Changes in the horse's daily routine should not happen every day