Why is my horse having trouble passing large, impacted manure?

Question

My horses manure is charge in size and has trouble passing it. Sometimes I have to go in and scoop it out. Pet's info: Farm Animal | Horse | Female | 17 years and 7 months old | 1800 lbs

Eryn Taormina, DVM · Accepted Answer

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!

Why is my horse having trouble passing large, impacted manure?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

Why is my mouse's eye swollen, cloudy, and has pus?

My pet is breathing hard, not eating, and lethargic. What's wrong?

My pet has red spots all over. What's causing them and what to do?

My small pet is limping and can't bear weight. Should I see a vet?

My dwarf hamster has a shut eye and is limping. What should I do?

My degu lost teeth after an accident. How can I feed him soft foods?

Share