Horse pooping less in winter? Is it a sign of impaction colic?

A change in fecal consistency is not unusual when the seasons change. Weather can affect water & sugar content in all forages. As long as they are eating & drinking & acting normal, I would not be overly concerned. If you have not dewormed, this is a good time to do so using Equimax Gold, or Quest. If either horse continues with the soft stool, & especially if you notice any weight loss, please contact your veterinarian. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Your horse could have a mild colic or some other medical issue going on. I would watch him carefully to make sure he starts to eat normally, is drinking water, and passing stool. If he is rolling, looking at his sides, acting uncomfortable, and not passing stool he is likely feeling colicky and needs to see a veterinarian. Hope that helps!

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear about Ruby's troubles. When horses have difficulty passing stools, the first thing that comes to mind for me is either dehydration - like the horse isn't taking in enough moisture in the diet, or something neurological. We can sometimes also see small colon impactions when a horse is affected by salmonella bacteria, and this can lead to issues with rectal impactions too. If there is any history of illness outside of this issue alone, I'd be concerned. Also, depending on the horse, and the age, we can see cancers encourage obstructions as well. Either way, I would definitely have a veterinarian come out and take a look at Ruby. Sometimes abdominal ultrasound and also lab work will be indicated to look for abnormalities or illnesses. In the meantime, I don't see how bran mashing once a day (I usually do 2/3 of a scoop to start) would hurt to try and see if this helps to get things moving. I hope you find this answer helpful. Best of luck!

If she's not eating, she's eating painful, colicky, or both. Take a heart rate if you know how to do this--normal is 20-40 beats/minute. If it's higher than this, she's painful and needs to see a veterinarian. If she is rolling, looking at her sides, or not passing manure, she needs to see a vet as these are signs of colic. If you really think she's resting her hocks, then they are sore, and she needs xrays to see what kind of arthritis is going on and what steps you need to take to make her more comfortable. Hope that helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While not necessarily normal, this can certainly be seen during the winter months. If she is otherwise fine, I would not be too concerned about this. However, if she develops any other symptoms like decreased appetite or vomiting, have her evaluated then. Good luck!

Colic is a symptom of disease that typically occurs secondary to gastrointestinal disease. The primary concerns are displacement, strangulation or impaction. In a patient with colic and pigmenturia (discolored urine), you have to determine if the horse has kidney injury secondary to colic or if it is a separate disease process. If your veterinarian has ruled out displacement, strangulation and/impaction, a toxicosis could be considered. In the US, this can be seen with blister beedle toxicosis secondary to the horse ingesting blister beetles in the hay. The third possibility could be some for of myopathy or rhadomylosis (muscle breakdown). If Kinny is not passing feces, he may have an impaction. You should contact your veterinarian immediately to discuss repeat diagnostics including rectal exam, abdominal ultrasound, belly tap, and fecal exam (looking for parasites).

Hello. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sorry to hear that Betsy is having this issue. At 9 years old she is not old. Horses can live to be 30 years old!! She is a youngster! I suggest you get your vet out to check her. One of the most common reasons for diarrhea in a horse is intestinal parasites. She may need deworming. Other possibilities are: 1. bacterial colitis 2. stress 3. diet change 4. Potomac horse fever 5. toxicity 6. excessive sand build-up in the GI tract 7. enteroliths Don't leave diarrhea un-treated for too long - this can make horses dehydrated and that will cause more issues. Hope this helps. Best wishes.