Let me start off by saying I'm waiting for a call back from the vet.
Recently switched his feed and has had diarrhea for a couple of days. I can tell he's lost a significant amount of weight in the last couple of weeks. Diarrhea is very watery. He's drinking and eating normally. Suggestions on what to do to help him while waiting on the vet to call me back? Do you suppose it would make it worse if I gradually changed his feed back to what he was originally eating?
I'm curious to know what you changed from and to in his feeding , and how soon after the change began did the diarrhea come on? You can add that into the details of your question. Until you hear back from your vet, it's best to withhold all feed since food is likely to aggravate the diarrhea.
Provide fresh drinking water at comfortable temperature to encourage him to take in fluids. He is likely to be dehydrated and this can become life-threatening pretty rapidly in a horse this age.
Because of the risk of serious dehydration you need to get the vet involved asap. Along with any meds, the vet can administer subcutaneous or IV fluids if necessary while the intestinal issue is being resolved.
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Add ...... I can't find a full listing of ingredients for the Nutrena feed, but I suspect it is the major cause of the diarrhea just because you went from a well formulated Senior feed to something I can't find information on. Some changes in feed content, like especially increases in soluble carbohydrates, will bring about major disruptions of the bacterial flora and inflammatory changes in the intestinal walls. I also think it is very possible that the initial weight loss was brought on by stress . A horse this age has compromised ability to deal with stressors. Between being moved to a new place, dealing with a new pasturemate, and then going through the change in feed, it would all make sense.
I would definitely start to switch back to the Senior feed asap, but I'd want the vet's input before doing anything, and to provide any needed medical management in the meantime.
It could be any combination of the feed change, farm change stress, or age. It could also be something more sinister. I would switch his feed back to the senior feed, not because of the diarrhea, but because a senior feed will be much better for your old horse, and he will keep weight on better since the nutrients are in an easier to digest formula. Your vet might want to do a blood test to check for anything else. I had one done in my then 26 year old when he started doing poorly, and the vet found an elevated white blood cell count, but could not find anything that would tell him why. We put him on antibiotics, and that's also when I started him on senior feed, and I saw improvements very quickly (he's 29 now).
It sounds like something more than just a feed change is going on especially considering the weight lose. Once seen by the vet and the acute stage is dealt with I would be inclined to switch back onto the original food, depending on the reasons for the switch in the first place. I would also get her onto a pre and pro biotic supplement to help with the digestion.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com While waiting for the vet I would allow water but no food. I kinda suspect an infection of some sort as a feed switch, while it can cause diarrhoea, wouldn't normally cause really watery poop. I would get a temp, pulse and respiration rate done so as you have that to hand for the vet as it will help give him a good idea of whats going on.
I hope he's ok and please let us know.
I would question congestive heart failure. Had 3 geriatric mules eventually succumb to it. One had the watery diarrhea and lived 6mths until I had her put down for an abcessed tooth. The others had CHF of the other side of the heart, and never had the diarrhea.
They can live for another 5 yrs with it, so its not a stat thing, but they do start losing weight and losing energy and you will know when its time.
Good luck to you
I have a 35 year old mare that gets Diarrhea every fall and in the summer when it is really hot and when anything stresses her out. What my vet tells me is to add Yogurt to her feed. I just go buy the plain cheep yogurt and add it in and she eats it right up. Yes she will still loose weight during this time but as soon as it passes she packs the pounds right back on.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com No there is no medical reason for this she is just a sensitive horse according to my vet.
