Kate Hore RNutr(Animal). R.Anim.Technol. Head Nutritionist at NAF
Why you should invest in their Digestive Health?
It may not be a subject we always want to talk about, but let’s discuss droppings!
The health of your horse's digestive tract is inextricably tied to his overall well-being, with over 70% of their total immunity coming from there. At this time of year, as the spring grass grows, management regimes may be changing and work increases, it is a common digestive disturbance in the droppings, but what should we look for?
Just as diamonds are famous for their 3 C’s, droppings can have 3 C’s too – Count, Colour and Consistency.
Count
Every day, horses leave about the same number of droppings. Knowing what is normal for your horse is important, as changes, either way, could be a sign of an internal problem. Mares and geldings typically pass around eight to twelve droppings per day, with stallions and foals passing more. Horses fed a higher percentage of dried forage will produce more droppings than horses fed grass.
Too few droppings can result from simply eating less, particularly less fibre. However, if droppings stop altogether, or there are signs of colic, then there is a risk of an intestinal blockage and your vet should be contacted immediately. An increasing number may be due to diarrhoea, microbiome disturbance, stress or excitement.
Colour
The colour of your horse's droppings is most affected by its diet, which should be on a scale from green to brown. At this time of year we typically see the brownish colour of the preserved forage, winter diet, and droppings, turn much brighter green with fresh grass.
If a yellow colour is noticed it indicates mucous from the gut lining and suggests the passage through the gut has slowed. Make sure to monitor the horse very closely, and increase their water intake by soaking forage and feeding NAF ElectroSalts. Discuss with your vet if it persists, or if the mucous is obvious.
If red is seen, indicating blood in the droppings, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Consistency
An important indicator of digestive health is the consistency, so closely monitor for changes, especially at this time of year, when changes can be marked due to the high water content, and increased sugars, of Spring grass.
Droppings should be formed, glossy, balls, and a change to much looser droppings, with little definition, indicates hindgut dysbiosis (microbiome upset), and is a cause for concern. Severe issues should be discussed with your vet, but milder and short-term changes may be resolved through dietary support.
Targeted Nutrition
For any sudden changes, a concentrated course of NAF Instant Biotics is recommended. This provides a complex of prebiotic MOS and FOS working synergistically with live probiotic yeast to help the horse stabilise hindgut function. To maintain digestive health, not just through the Spring flush, but right through the season, supplement with daily NAF GastriAid. By supporting their digestive system you are providing the best possible support to overall immunity, and so helping to keep your horses fit and healthy through the longer days of summer riding, and beyond.
