Question
I have an 18-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, just under 15 hands, that is retired from work due to an arthritic knee. More concerning than the lameness, though, is chronic diarrhea with no apparent cause for a duration of two years. He is heavier than he needs to be, with a body condition score of 6. Right now, he’s fed 2 lb (0.9 kg) of a no-grain pelleted concentrate, 18 lb (8.2 kg) of hay, and joint (MSM, glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate) and hoof supplements. He is a super-easy keeper. Can you help with the diarrhea and have a look at his diet as a whole?
Answer
I will address his diet first. Given your gelding’s need to lose weight, he does not need the calories provided in the concentrate. Therefore, I recommend switching to a ration balancer that will provide complete nutrition in a low-intake, low-calorie form. Ration balancers are formulated to provide protein, vitamins, and minerals for easy keepers and often have a feeding rate between 1-2 lb (0.45-0.9 kg) per day. Your local feed supplier should have ration balancers available; if not, have a balancer ordered for your horse.
Oral sodium hyaluronate and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids offer anti-inflammatory benefits that may help reduce pain and discomfort due to arthritis.
Synovate HA delivers high-molecular weight sodium hyaluronate to joints to help maintain key levels and prevent further losses. Synovate HA has research-proven value for horses in training to help maintain mobility and comfort during exercise. Horse owners have observed improvements in the horse’s comfort level and reduced stiffness with Synovate HA. Synovate HA can be fed in combination with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for additional joint support.
As a natural anti-inflammatory supplement, omega-3 fatty acids have shown positive results in equine joint studies and offers several other advantages such as strengthening immune function and reducing body-wide inflammation, including the digestive tract. EO-3 is a rich source of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA that could possibly be fed in place of MSM.
Correcting the longstanding diarrhea may prove more challenging, though Kentucky Equine Research has developed the hindgut buffer EquiShure, which has helped reduce the incidence of digestive upset in horses. EquiShure can help reduce the incidence of loose manure by neutralizing excess acid and stabilizing the hindgut environment. By creating a more favorable environment, EquiShure helps promote healthy microbes and improves overall digestive health and function.
The suggested amount of EquiShure to start with is 60 g (2 oz) per day, divided into two meals. Some horses may require a larger amount of EquiShure, such as 90-120 g (3-4 oz) per day, for optimal results. EquiShure should be fed at least twice a day to maintain a constant supply of buffer in the hindgut to work optimally.
At least 6 to 8 weeks of supplementation is recommend before assessing your horse’s response to EquiShure, but I would hope you would start to see signs of improvement within the first couple of weeks. Horses that have chronic issues may require at least 90 days of supplementation before showing signs of improvement.
