#PROJECTILE DIARRHEA SKIN#

Acute VS Chronic DiarrheaĪcute diarrhea occurs over one or two days but is often resolved independently. Acute diarrhea occurs suddenly but is often short-lived, whereas chronic diarrhea persists for several weeks or months or is recurring. It often gives off an offensive smell.ĭiarrhea can be classified as acute or chronic.

#PROJECTILE DIARRHEA SKIN#

The latter could even result in skin scalding. The fecal excretion can be projectile or involuntary leakage down the hind legs. Diarrhea most commonly results from dysfunction in the hindgut rather than the stomach or small intestines.Įquine diarrhea can present differently with various levels of stool softness and water excretion, ranging from non-formed (cow-pat) stools to liquid defecation. Horses have a unique and complex digestive system. However, untreated chronic diarrhea with excessive water loss can result in serious complications such as colic. In prolonged cases of diarrhea, the root cause is usually treatable. Often, diarrhea is transient and resolves itself within a few days. While not as common, diarrhea can also be a symptom of something more serious such as inflammatory bowel disease or cancer (i.e. Bacterial or viral infection can also cause this symptom to develop. Wondering why your horse has diarrhea? Typical practices such as changing feed, stall confinement, and high grain consumption can contribute to the onset of diarrhea. However, up to 50% of cases of diarrhea go undiagnosed. It can result in imbalanced electrolyte levels and impaired water absorption throughout the intestine.īecause of the physiology of the horse’s colon and cecum, fluid loss with diarrhea can quickly reach harmful levels, leading to dehydration and other health problems.Įquine diarrhea is a symptom and not a disease in and of itself. It is typically a sign of infection or dysbiosis in the hindgut.ĭiarrhea is defined as the excessive and frequent defection of loose or liquid stool. Diarrhea is a common problem in horses as it can be a result of many different causes.

Projectile diarrhea