What is it?
Free Faecal Water Syndrome (FFWS) describes the occurrence of water being passed from the rectum, alongside faecal matter. This free water can be passed before, during or after defaecation. The water may also be passed independently of faeces altogether.
Is it a problem?
FFWS can be seen in otherwise healthy horses in good body condition. The issue may reflect subtle changes in the intestinal health without any outward signs of ill health, such as weight loss or lethargy.
The passage of water from the rectum can however cause the following problems:
What causes it?
FFWS is believed to be multi-factorial, in other words there are lots of potential reasons that may contribute towards its occurrence. So far, research has failed to definitively categorise the relative significance of the various factors that have been implicated. The following factors that may have an impact include:
The above list is not exhaustive and it is very important to note that the contributing factors are very individual specific. For example, the condition can be seen in a dominant bay mare that is fed hay. In fact, one study showed that 20% of horses with the condition were in fact fed hay. Different studies have also thrown up conflicting data. For example, some have implicated dental care and parasitism as potential factors, whereas others have shown them to have no link with FFWS. More research is clearly required before we fully understand this condition.
Some horse can develop habitual drinking to an excessive level. Water intake in affected horses can be measured if water is provided in buckets. The average water intake for a horse is 5L/100kg in 24 hours, however this can be affected by exercise, climate and quantity of dry forage vs grass that is being fed. Water should NOT be restricted in cases of FFWS – if you are concerned about the quantity of water your horse is drinking please consult your veterinary surgeon.
How can it be treated?
There is no single treatment or preventative strategy for FFWS in horses. However, management changes can improve the condition and these follow the basic principles of optimising gut health:
The impact of grazing amount and type remains unknown in relation to this condition however, turnout on lush spring/early summer type grass should be avoided.
Supplementation of the diet may be warranted in these cases. There is good rationale for including a diet that is supplemented with pre/probiotics, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae (live yeast). This enables proliferation of the friendly bacteria that the horse’s hindgut requires for normal, healthy function. The inclusion of a fluid/toxin binder such as Bentonite or Psyllium also makes good sense in such cases. Bentonite has been shown to decrease excess fluid in the intestine and also act as a ‘mop’ for any toxins present. Psyllium also has the ability to absorb fluid and is a good source of fibre to promote healthy gut function and reduce the passage of free water.
