It’s no secret that we’re big believers in the importance of gut health for horses at Poseidon Equine. But how do you know if your horse has poor gut health? Where to start? There are some simple things to look out for which can indicate a lack of good bacteria in the gut, and the impact this is having on your horse’s overall health. Here are five of the top signs that may mean your horse is having trouble with its gut and digestive system.
1.Poor quality of manure
If you’ve noticed your horse has a poor or inconsistent quality to their manure, this could be a sign. Whether it’s hard, dry manure or loose manure, these can be linked to a gut which isn’t functioning well, and a symptom of broader health implications.
2.Anxious behaviour
You may have heard of the link between the gut and the brain in humans, and the same goes for horses. If your horse has poor gut health, this can sometimes present itself as anxious behaviour, bad temperament and signs that your horse is in pain. Some of our customers have even found that horses they’ve owned for years, which they had just decided were a bit grumpy by nature, have had a much more relaxed and calm temperament after gut health issues were addressed.
3.Hoof condition
If your horse has dry, brittle hooves, you need to think holistically about how you treat them. So often, poor gut health leads to brittle hooves, as a sign the horse is not making enough biotin via the good bacteria in its gut. Primary keyword phrase: signs of poor horse gut health Other phrases and synonyms: loose horse manure, anxious horse So rather than just reaching for topical applications, explore your horse’s gut health first, and your horse’s hooves will thank you for it.
4.Girthiness
A large part of a horse’s digestive system and hindgut is in the girth area, so if they’re suffering from inflammation or discomfort in this area, it can lead to girthiness. If every time you go to do up your horse’s saddle girth they complain and shy away, they’re probably in pain and don’t want you any near that part of their body. For good reason! Speak to your vet about the kind of discomfort which may be leading to your horse’s ongoing girthiness.
5.Struggling to put on weight
If you’ve got a horse which is struggling to put on weight, no matter how much you feed it, and generally seems to be in poor condition, an unhappy gut is often the case. When a horse’s gut is lacking in the helpful gut bacteria which convert fibre to energy, it means they won’t be able to fully access the nutrition of the feed you’re giving them, and they’ll continually fail to thrive. If you have a horse which is showing any of these signs, speak to your vet about your concerns, or contact us directly and we can advise on what might help your horse recover and get back to good health.
