2007-02-06 08:15:32 · 9 answers · asked by Twila G 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Coprophagy, or the ingestion of fecal material commonly raises great concerns in horse owners and handlers. To the uninformed, the behavior appears disgusting and maladaptive. In the foal, however, this is an integral component of growth and development and is therefore not considered abnormal, rather essential.
Regarding coprophagy, owners are typically concerned with the possibility of an increased load of parasites or intestinal worms on the foal's system. Foals, however, usually eat only fresh stools. An incubation period is necessary for parasites to become infective and as a result the fresh stool is unlikely to be contaminated. Nevertheless, a regular deworming program is always recommended.
While this behavior is normal in young horses, it is not in the older horses. Coprophagy in adult horses can be related to an inadequate diet; low in protein or fiber. Treatment would be to address the horse's diet by augmenting the amount of roughage and protein. Apart from nutritional causes, horses practicing stool eating are usually enclosed in box stalls or have recently undergone a change in their daily routine. Increasing the amount of daily exercise may also aid to rectify coprophagy in the adult horse. While it is better to remedy this behavior, control of it may also be achieved by muzzling or cross tying the horse.
Depending on the age of the horse, coprophagy can be considered either a normal or abnormal behavior. Awareness and appreciation of the benefits of coprophagy in the foal is key to understanding and accepting this as a normal behavior. While it may remain repulsive to the uninformed, to the foal's owner, coprophagy should be a desired behavior and not discouraged. Coprophagy is, therefore, an advantageous and essential behavior that aids in maximizing the health and development of foals...
2007-02-07 02:14:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Foals need to eat the mare's droppings to get the enzymes needed to get their own system going, but the only time I've ever seen a full grown horse eat manure was it was just God-darn hungry. Their stomach is designed to be digesting for the best part of the day, and the horse I saw do this was in a stable, only with access to the meals provided by humans - though nutritious, were far too infrequent for poor horse's stomach acid production.
And yes to the other answers, it could well be mineral/vitamin deficient, too.
2007-02-06 15:44:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Horses can tell who has been where and how they are feeling through the chemicals in their droppings. If your horse is healthy, it could be that he/she is curious about the other horses. If it is eating its own droppings then it could be that it's just eating the minerals or feed that didn't get digested. If you feed corn to them, they will eat that out of their waste since it isn't digested fully and it will digest the second time around. It's wierd, I know, but it's not something to be worried about.
2007-02-06 08:32:55 · answer #3 · answered by missknightride 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Either its not getting enough roughage or vitamins and minerals. Always have free choice hay available and some type of salt and/or mineral block. However this is a very natural thing for young foals to do. Just make sure you keep the mother wormed so the foal does not get infected through the feces.
2007-02-06 09:57:15 · answer #4 · answered by Horsetrainer89 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Horses and rabbits have similar digestions and rely on certain "good" bacteria to break down the food they eat. Rabbits regularly eats their cecotrops (night feces) to regenerate the bacterial levels at the front of the digestive tract. So will a horse. Without this bacteria, it doesn't matter how much they eat, they can starve to death.
2007-02-06 08:57:52 · answer #5 · answered by Blue Giants 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is just not getting enough of something, wheter it be minerals, vitamins, or grain/hay. Horses normally avoid eating their own droppings.
2007-02-06 10:01:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vitamin Deficiency most likely. Or vitamins to be gained form whatever is left in the droppings.
2007-02-06 08:19:44 · answer #7 · answered by SavingCats 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's not getting somethig he needs. Does he have plenty of hay? Mineral block? Getting plenty of feed? Make sure he gets all his nutrients and supplements and he should stop.
2007-02-06 08:24:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To get extra protean, they don't get enough the first time so they just re eat it.
2007-02-06 08:27:52 · answer #9 · answered by gym_girl55 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋