It is always a play in two acts: root cause research and symptom relief. Part one means analyzing, trying things out, keeping your nerve. Part two logically builds on part one, but can certainly be accelerated and supported by supplements.

So let's get to the bottom of it: what is this symptom all about, what can be done, and what does it mean for horse and owner?

The bad news first: The holy grail has not yet been found and there is no cure-all for watery stools. Because fecal water is only a symptom, not a disease – so the reasons behind it can vary greatly. Now for the good news: You can significantly alleviate the symptom or even fix it. Supplements that sanitize, protect and retain water in the gut can be an important step in this process. Combined with good husbandry management, empathy for the horse and a watchful eye for their behavior, you can usually get fecal water under control. Of course, stopping only the symptom is not the solution; you should also get to the bottom of the cause and fix it as best you can in the given husbandry.

**Watery stools often cause insecurity and concern among owners, which is why it is very important to educate them and raise their awareness of what they need to look out for in order to find out what is causing the problem. Only together with the horse owner and if necessary also the stable owner can the problem be solved in the long term.

What exactly is "fecal water"?

Fecal water is a brownish liquid that leaks through the anus. It is not to be confused with diarrhea, in which all feces are mushy or liquid. In a horse with fecal water, the feces are normal in shape and some of them are shed separately from the fecal water. If a horse has unexplained diarrhea, be sure to consult a veterinarian because of the threat of fluid and nutrient loss.

In a horse with fecal water symptoms, the absorption capacity of the intestines is reduced and fluid accumulates. Some of this is shed with the feces, but some is shed in batches independently. In the course of digestion, approx. 50-70 liters of water reach the large intestine with the feed mash of a 500 kg horse. This water should be absorbed there to 70-90%, which does not happen in a horse with fecal water. How much the absorption is disturbed can be seen in the amount of fecal water. In some horses it is only very little and is not noticeable at first. In others, there is more than just a trickle at intervals.

As already mentioned, watery droppings are not a disease, but only a symptom that can have many triggers and is a visible consequence of several causes. What does it mean? Let's take an example: Due to massive overweight, the owner of horse "Billy" is advised to go on a diet. Unknowingly, this is initiated too drastically and the amount of hay is greatly reduced from one day to the next. Not only the metabolism of "Billy" has to adjust to this change, but also the psyche of the animal. Horses are very strong creatures of habit. Suddenly not having hay available 24/7 can cause stress and hunger. In our example, this subsequently lead to gastritis. Horses suffer silently, so it is not recognized by the owner. Maybe "Billy" is not so rideable, but this is blamed on the bad mood, since "Billy" is now on a diet. As a result, there is a disbalance in the small and large intestines, which eventually leads to fecal water. This last symptom of a long chain of symptoms is now clearly visible to the horse owner.

You can see from this example how important it is to identify the first trigger and thus correct the entire chain of causes and not just the very last link in the chain.

What can be triggers for fecal water?

The triggers can actually be as varied as the horses. However, stress or metabolic problems and diseases are among the most common triggers.

What is stress?

In order to adapt and respond to changing environmental conditions, horses, and we humans, exhibit a physical and psychological stress response. This is triggered by stressors, which are external stimuli. Especially for the flight animal horse, a quick stress reaction usually decides over life and death: The bronchial tubes dilate to take in more oxygen. The heart beats faster and stronger, which increases blood pressure and improves blood supply to muscles. Ready for the escape! So stress is not bad per se, but essential for survival. But as is often the case, the dose makes the poison.

This also explains why horses are such creatures of habit. Any small change could mean danger and so that one does not always immediately run up the whole stress system, horses prefer no changes in their environment. Of course, each quadruped is different and depending on breed, experience or age, the stimulus level is sometimes higher or lower. By the way, the horse is not always aware of the stress. Especially changes in weather or feed trigger a physical and not a psychological stress reaction. Therefore, one must not always imagine a horse ready to flee when stressed. Every deviation from the normal triggers stress in the body. Sometimes more, sometimes less. This is nothing unusual and is the same with us humans. But how much this everyday stress is reflected in physical symptoms depends very much on the current condition.

So, the horse suddenly has watery stools. What has changed? Here is a small checklist for your cause research:

• The horse group: A move, a new horse in the herd, new rankings are being discussed or a friend has moved away.
• The barn: There have been changes to the barn building, new equipment/machinery is in unfamiliar places. There is a new source of noise, e.g., a tarp bangs loudly against a wall in the wind. Not enough rest areas and horses can't relax.
• The people: There are new staff members in the stable, a noisy group of children was visiting etc.
• The feed: There is different hay, the hay is contaminated, it has been grazed on, the concentrate has been changed in type or amount. Long breaks in feeding, little roughage, not enough quiet feeding areas. Water trough is not flowing properly or is unclean.
• The weather: Coat change, change in weather, severe heat or cold.
• The horse: Growth spurts, transition to senior with increasing discomfort, dental problems, rosace, hormonal fluctuations, pain (back, legs, hooves, etc.). Stress due to training. Parasite infestation or digestive tract diseases (colic, gastric ulcer, intestinal inflammation, etc.). Medication. Feed intolerance.

But even after the trigger has been found and eliminated, the fecal water usually remains. On the one hand, the body again needs time to adjust, and on the other hand, the unbalanced intestine is not immediately cured. A supportive intestinal rehabilitation can then usually bring the fecal water spook to the desired end.

What are the health consequences of watery stools for the horse?

As already mentioned, the watery stool itself is not a disease, but only a symptom. However, the fecal water can irritate the skin and lead to inflammation. Therefore, it should always be carefully washed off. Very severe fecal water can also cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. This can manifest itself in fatigue, exhaustion, or decreased performance, among other symptoms. A veterinarian should therefore be consulted in any case, as watery stools can also be a sign of a more serious disease of the digestive tract. Early diagnosis and treatment are of particular importance in order to avoid consequential damage.

What should be done if the horse has watery stools?

• As a first step, you can try to turn off obvious triggers: Can the horse eat enough roughage at rest? Are there visible stress triggers that can be reduced? Even if these were not the original triggers, adjustment can initially bring some calm to the horse's metabolism.
• Parallel to this, intestinal rehabilitation can already be started in the horse. Pre- and probiotics help to restabilize the intestinal flora. Probiotics are living microorganisms that can positively influence the intestinal flora and ensure healthy digestion. Prebiotics are indigestible dietary fibers that promote the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria. Supplementing with psyllium husks is useful, as they can bind fluid and protect the possibly irritated intestinal walls with their formed mucus. A healthy intestine also affects the immune system and should therefore be treated at an early stage. A consultation with a veterinarian is recommended in any case.
• If there were no obvious triggers, one should now begin with the detailed cause research. Keeping a diary is very helpful: What was fed, how was the horse ridden, what was the weather like, what was the horse's mood? The more the stable colleagues support and also keep a watchful eye on the patient, the faster a pattern can usually be recognized.