| Watery Manure Piles; Manure stains on the wall |
Diarrheah can be caused by parasites; Viral or bacterial infection; Colic; or Serous disease. |
Have your vet check fecal sample for parasite eggs. Take horse’s temperature; carefully monitor attitude and appetite. Avoid feeding grain; substitute grass hay for alfalfa. Call vet if temperature is higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, horse is depressed or in pain, or diarrhea persists longer than 24 hrs. |
Hard, dry fecal balls (possibly coated with sticky yellow mucus); less manure than normal. |
Intestinal impaction or blockage; decreased appetite and intestinal slowdown; or decreased water intake and dehydration. |
Check horse’s vital signs; monitor attitude, appetite, and manure output. Offer fresh water (warm if it’s cold outside); monitor intake. (8-10 gallons per day is normal.) Call vet if vital signs are elevated, horse is uncomfortable, or he refuses food and water. |
| Uneaten food |
Something’s wrong with feed; or horse is ill. |
Carefully check feed for mold, weeds, etc. Check horse’s vital signs; monitor attitude, appetite and manure output. Call vet if vital signs are elevated, lack of appetite persists, or you notice other abnormalities |
Long, trench like marks in bedding. |
Horse has been pawing – a colic alert. |
Check vital signs; monitor attitude, appetite (offer only a bite of food), and manure output. Call vet if vital signs are elevated, pawing continues, horses refuses food, or seems depressed or lethargic. |
| Bedding piled against wall. |
Horse was cast, or rolling due to colic pain. |
Examine for injury; check vital signs; monitor attitude, appetite, manure output. Call vet if horse’s vital signs are elevated, he tries to roll, or appears uncomfortable, depressed, or lethargic. |
| Soaked bedding. |
Mare is coming into heat; horse is urinating excessively or playing in water. Could be a behavioral problem or serious disease |
Watch mare for signs of heat (squatting, winking vulva, squealing). Monitor water intake, appetite, and attitude. Call vet if increased water intake persists for 5 days, or decreased appetite or depression noted. |
