This is especially true for those who hire others to take care of their equine companion. As a starting point , here are some simple questions to ask yourself about your equine companion as it relates to her manure:. Knowing about how much manure your horse produces in a given day is important.
If you already have a natural boarding track system in place, it makes this task and manure management a breeze. This may sound strange, but without seeing which horse actually left the pile, I can usually tell which one it came from.
The task of observing consistency may be more difficult in a larger herd, but it would be fun to give it a try. For example, it could be a reaction to a new supplement or they may have gotten out unexpectedly into a lush green pasture.
Depending on the horse, it can show up as a change in their manure. Funny … only a horse person would say poop is pretty. Pale poop could also be a side effect of certain medications like antidiarrhea medicine. Either way, if it continues, consult a doctor. If your stool is a little red, however, there may be no need to immediately fret. There are other, less serious reasons for this change in color. Foods like beets, cranberries, red gelatin, or tomato juice can turn poop red as well.
Greasy, stinky, yellow stool is typically a sign of too much fat. If your poop looks bright yellow, it could signify a condition called giardiasis , which is caused by an intestinal parasite in North America and the world. Typically, you can get giardiasis from contaminated water or exposure to a person with the condition.
As alarming as this seems, all it means is that the stool is less dense than the others that sink. One potential reason for this lack of density can come from an increased amount of gas or water, or even a high fiber diet. If this is the case, the other abnormalities previously mentioned, like slight constipation, might also be present. Constipation is defined as having less than three bowel movements per week.
There could be many reasons you experience this lack of pooping. Nerve issues in and around the colon or rectum may slow down pooping, as can problems with pelvic muscles. Conditions that affect hormones, like pregnancy or diabetes, could also be the culprit. Drinking lots of fluids, staying active, and managing stress can also help alleviate constipation. Talking with a doctor is the best course of action to find relief in this instance.
A green poop here or hard poop there happens to the best of us. The same goes for changes in color or consistency, or constipation.
Chronic constipation can obstruct the bowels, while chronic diarrhea can make it difficult for a person to absorb necessary nutrients from food. These foals will not show signs of fever or other illnesses, although they may eat manure coprophagy to help them populate their gut with bacteria. This is a transient condition that only lasts a couple of days. If you notice parasites, your horse probably needs to be dewormed. You may also notice parasites a day or two after your horse has been dewormed due to purging; this is normal.
Keeping tabs on his manure production and noting any changes in his droppings will help you to catch any potential health issues early on. September Read More. Newsletter Signup Newsletter Signup.
By Deb M. Eldredge, DVM. Odor Horses rely on bacteria in their gastrointestinal tract to help digest much of the forage and fiber they eat. However if the foal stops nursing and becomes weak or dehydrated, consult your veterinarian immediately. Wash the area with mild soap and water and coat it with petroleum jelly to prevent scalding.
Many foals have limb weaknesses or angular deformities at birth. These include knuckling over at the fetlock joint, weak pasterns in which the back of the fetlock touches the ground, knock knees, and crooked legs. Many of these conditions correct themselves with exercise.
If your foal is born with less than straight legs, your veterinarian can assess the situation and recommend a treatment. Some foals may be born with hernias defects in the body wall that allow part of the intestines to protrude under the skin. Hernias occur most frequently at the naval and scrotal areas.
Small hernias often correct themselves with time, and larger hernias may require surgical correction. Again, this is a situation that your veterinarian should assess and treat.
If your foal has entropion, gently roll the eyelid out and consult your veterinarian for the proper eye ointment or treatment that you can perform. Another infrequent problem in newborn foals is caused by an incompatibility between blood groups of the mare and foal. When the foal nurses and absorbs these antibodies, its red blood cells are destroyed.
Without prompt veterinary treatment, the foal becomes anemic and dies. If you suspect neonatal isoerythrolysis, prevent the foal from consuming colostrum until you can get a veterinarian to test for the condition. Orphan foals can result from death of the mare, inability of the mare to produce milk, or maternal rejection of the foal. Orphan foals can be raised successfully with some extra care.
As with mothered foals, you should make sure the orphan receives colostrum soon after birth. Thaw the frozen colostrum at room temperature. Microwaving or heating the colostrum can destroy the protective antibodies in it. In the absence of any colostrum, your veterinarian can give the foal a plasma transfusion or an oral colostrum replacer to get antibodies into its system.
The best and easiest solution for an orphan is to transfer it to a nurse mare. The nurse mare usually must be restrained or tranquilized for several days until she willingly lets the orphan nurse. Another solution is to let the foal nurse a milk goat. Whenever possible, teach the foal to drink from a bucket. This will save you many hours of lost sleep and time away from work. To teach the foal to drink from a bucket, coat your finger with milk and allow the foal to suck your finger. Gradually immerse your finger in the bucket of milk.
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