Q: My horse has diarrhea, should I be worried?

A. The first question really is - Does your horse truly have diarrhea or just loose manure?

Loose manure is characterized by feces which are unformed in consistency but will form a pile when dropped (cow flop manure). Loose manure is often associated with a rich diet, such as a diet high in alfalfa hay or green grass. Usually, this type of manure is of no concern as long as the horse is acting normal (eating, drinking, energetic, and has no fever). However, if the horse is acting abnormally or is not on a particularly rich diet, the reason for the loose manure should be investigated. Loose manure for an unknown cause is not considered a medical emergency, but you should call our office for further instructions.

In the horse, true diarrhea, characterized by watery feces with increased frequency and/or volume, is unusual. The causes of diarrhea in the horse are numerous and complex, often posing a diagnostic and treatment dilemma. Severe dehydration and life threatening shock is always of concern when a horse is experiencing diarrhea, therefore it is considered a medical emergency and you should contact our office immediately.

In parts of our practice area, mainly north of Trenton, Potomac Horse Fever is a common and serious cause of diarrhea during the summer. This disease can cause diarrhea, fever, colic, dehydration, laminitis/founder and possibly death. If your horse lives in or travels to a problem area, you should vaccinate against this disease.

However, the number one reason for both loose manure and diarrhea in our area is sand gastroenteritis.

The first test we run is for sand. This is a test you can and should learn how to do. To check your horse for sand, begin by placing approximately two cups of manure in a gallon Ziplocâ bag, fill the bag ¾ full of water, zip the bag shut (tight) and shake it up until the manure dissolves. Then hold the bag up by one corner so that the opposite corner is the lowest point of the bag. Watch to see if sand settles in the low corner. It may help to gently tap on the side of the bag while doing this to dislodge bits of sand that may be attached to manure debris. If you find greater than ¼ teaspoon of sand in the bottom of the bag this is significant. Even if sand is present in the intestinal tract, there may not be sand present in every sample of manure you take. Therefore, if you find no sand, the test should be repeated up to 3 times, or until you find sand. If your horse does have sand, please contact the office and we will advise you on treating this problem.