Enteritis, colitis, displacements, impactions, and other problems in the small and large intestines can look much the same from the stall aisle. You see pain, a change in the manure, dullness, or fever. This chapter is meant as a map for owners. It isn't a treatment manual.
In the small intestine
Inflammation (enteritis), strangulating lesions, and problems in the ileum can cause severe pain and make a horse systemically ill fast. Treat them as emergencies.
In the large intestine
Colitis, impactions, displacements, and gas distension are the problems that come up most with the large colon. Causes run from feed changes and sand to infectious agents. Watery diarrhea with a fever is urgent.
Your part as the owner
- Know what normal manure and appetite look like for your horse
- Call early when you see pain, fever, or depression
- Follow your veterinarian's fluid, feed, and medication plans exactly
- Unless your veterinarian says otherwise, don't dose random gut products during an acute crisis
Once the horse has recovered, forage-first feeding and, if you choose, digestive nutritional support such as G-Tract may fit into a wellness plan. For more, see Diarrhea, Colic, and Intestines anatomy, or browse the hindgut support collection.
These statements are about nutritional support. ImmuBiome supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Owner questions
Is every bout of loose manure colitis? No. Your veterinarian can tell simple dietary soft manure apart from true colitis.
Should I keep feeding grain during diarrhea? Follow your veterinarian's feeding orders. Often that means a simplified forage diet.
Where do supplements fit? After the crisis is over, as nutrition. They aren't emergency medicine.
