Fecal water syndrome is a condition in horses where they pass watery or liquid droppings that can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Psyllium husks can help by absorbing excess water in the digestive tract and promoting the formation of more solid stools. They can also help remove sand and other debris that may be causing irritation in the intestines, which can contribute to the development of fecal water syndrome. Psyllium husks are often added to a horse’s diet as a supplement to help manage this condition and Basic Equine Nutrition can help provide this!
Understanding Fecal Water Syndrome
FWS in horses can be symptomatic of broader dietary issues with symptoms that can include…
- Hind legs and/or tail soaked in fecal matter
- Leg irritation due to fecal discharge
- Dermatitis around tail or legs
- Nervousness when defecating
- Stained stall area from fecal matter
- Abdominal bloating
- Concerns of colic
What Causes FWS in Horses?
It’s not well documented as to the reason behind FWS, however factors can include:
- Diet deficiencies
- Diet changes
- Forage or fiber issues
- Gut health issues such as gut dysbiosis
- Inflammation
- Poor oral health
- Stress
Any of the above can be an uncomfortable reality for your horse, which our Psyllium Husks Supplement can assist with!
Basic Equine Nutrition Psyllium Husks Supplement
As discussed on our Psyllium Husks Supplement page…
Regular feeding of Psyllium Husks can help minimize the threat of sand colic for horses living and feeding in sandy environments. Or, those previously susceptible to sand colic. Pure natural Psyllium Husk is a high soluble fibre. Actually, five times that of oat bran, and eight times that of wheat bran.
Psyllium is believed to work by stimulating intestinal motility. And, by agglutinating the sand (making it stick together), allowing the horse to pass the sand.
Our Psyllium Husks are intended to help with – not only fecal water syndrome, but also colic prevention and building a healthy digestive system for your horse.
Other Helpful Supplements to Optimize Your Horse’s Digestive System
Our Prebiotic Plus and the ProBio Max are two other supplements well-worth knowing about in order to help your horse with their digestive system!
Prebiotic Plus
Helps promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in horses’ intestine. They work with existing bacteria, by providing them with food, and by balancing and improving the environment in the gut.
ProBio Max
Each individual probiotic bacteria in ProBio Max is well known to help maintain or restore the natural balance of intestinal microflora.
Curious to know more? Basic Equine Nutrition is here to help, and happy to do so. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us here.
