Diarrhea is a signal that some unwanted item has been ingested mistakenly by the body. It is characterized by excessive defecation, slightly loose or watery stools. The condition normally emerges because of an improper electrolyte absorption by the intestinal linings. However, there are possibilities that a body has contracted the bacterial or viral infection and the toxins produced inside the body are damaging the internal linings of the intestines. Hence it is extremely important that diarrhea is treated quickly to help the body from further losing essential elements like protein or plasma.
Symptoms Of Diarrhea
Major symptoms of Diarrhea in horses include –
- Dehydration
- Excessive watery stools
- Abdominal Pain
- Weakness
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Gut grumblings
- Edema
- Weight Loss
- Fever
- Dull eyes
- Rough coat
what Causes Diarrhea in Horses
Any imbalance in the body can trigger diarrhea as a symptom of the underlying disease. Some of the most common bacterial infections that cause diarrhea in horses are –
- Salmonella bacterial infection
- Potomac Horse Fever
- Clostridial Infection
- Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Toxicity
- Neoplasia
- Ingestion Of Sand
- Parasitic Infection like worm infection
- Toxicity from certain plants
- Drug toxicity
Treatment
Diarrhea treatment depends on the type of infection that has been infested by the body. On the onset of the symptoms, the horse is given electrolyte therapy to rehydrate the body. Once the body gets enough strength, anthelmintic and antibacterial treatment is started depending on the type of invasion. Though mostly diarrhea gets cured on its own as the body heals itself from the toxins, some cases need medical intervention. Furthermore, in some cases, an intestinal biopsy may also be conducted to check the functioning and abnormalities in the intestines.
