Treatment
As diarrhoea often occurs as a result of a change in the diet, many horses recover very quickly without the need for treatment. Horses suffering from more severe diarrhoea will need an assessment by a vet and may need to be hospitalised in order to reverse effects such as dehydration. Initially, the main aims of treatment are to replace fluid that has been lost through the faeces and to try to make them more formed so they take longer to pass through the intestine. Treatment generally includes fluid therapy (oral or intravenous, depending on the severity of dehydration), electrolytes, probiotics and pain relief. However, if the initial cause is still present, then it will be difficult to get the diarrhoea to stop.
A panel of diagnostic tests should be carried out to identify the reason for the diarrhoea, including some or all of the following:
Blood sample — to assess vital organs. Faecal sample — to look for parasites and bacteria.
Ultrasound examination of the abdomen — to look for abnormalities in the gut and surrounding organs.
Abdominal fluid sample — to look for bacterial infection, inflammatory cells and cancerous cells in the abdomen. Gastroscopy — to visualise the lining of the stomach wall.
Intestinal biopsies — to make a further assessment of a piece of the intestinal wall. Hopefully the results of these tests will identify the initial cause so that the most appropriate treatment or combination of treatments can be started.
Sometimes a diagnosis may not be found through testing and surgery may need to be performed to open up the abdomen and visualise all of the intestines, known as an exploratory laparotomy. Further samples can then be taken of parts of the intestine that were not able to be reached before. Unfortunately, some causes of diarrhoea cannot be treated and euthanasia may be the only way to prevent further suffering.