Some horses develop semiformed feces when first introduced to lush pastures, alfalfa hay, or a temporarily stressful situation (eg, trailer ride, racing, showing, visit to a veterinary hospital). This change in fecal consistency is not of medical significance as long as the horse is healthy in all other regards, but owners may be concerned. It is important that horses with diarrhea have a physical examination and appropriate laboratory tests to exclude infectious causes and to determine whether treatment is required. Usually, the fecal consistency returns to normal when the horse adapts to its new diet or the stressful situation resolves.
OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER
Intestinal Diseases in Horses and Foals
Overview of Intestinal Diseases in Horses and Foals
Diarrheal Disease in Horses
Salmonellosis in Horses
Potomac Horse Fever
Clostridia-associated Enterocolitis in Horses
Colitis-X in Horses
Coronavirus in Horses
Parasitism (Gastrointestinal) in Horses
Sand Enterocolopathy in Horses
Recurrent Diarrhea in Horses
Infiltrative Colonic Disease in Horses
Miscellaneous Causes of Diarrhea in Horses
Foal Heat Diarrhea
Bacterial Diarrhea in Foals
Viral Diarrhea in Foals
Miscellaneous Causes of Diarrhea in Foals
Weight Loss and Hypoproteinemia
Gastrointestinal Neoplasia in Horses
Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Horses
NSAID Toxicosis in Horses
Small-intestinal Fibrosis in Horses
