found an odd thing today... please help

[equestrian3241]

I was out grooming my horse Splash today and while I was brushing his tail I noticed something under his tail/ around his dock area. It looks like drips of a really pale yellow/off white liquid (it was dry when I discovered it but it definatly looks like it was runny). I'm guessing it leaks out when he... well.... let's just say when "nature calls" I've never noticed it before and it has me kinda worried. There has been no change in died, he has a good supply of water at all times. The weather has been getting hotter lately though, could the heat have something to do with it? He is not having diareah or anything like that, he just has weird whit-ish drips! Should I call the vet?? Please let me know if you have had any experiance with this, any advice/opinions are appreciated! :)

[Horsesaddle]

i would give the vet a ring hope it does get sort it out :)

[becs]

does it look like it actually came out of his anus - are there trails leading that way? or is it each side / around? if the latter, then maybe it's just dried sweat - my cob has dried, flaky white bits if he's sweated a lot (though never noticed them under his tail).

Have you noticed it every day? eg if you clean it up (with baby wipe?) does it recur? could it be a parasite leaving a trail?

otherwise sounds like could be mucus leaking out, perhaps with his pooh, - are his poohs nomally formed? just wondering do horses get irritable bowel syndrome? other bowel conditions can cause excess mucus too, so best to speak to vet if it recurrs.

hope you sort it out soon, keep us posted.

[equestrian3241]

it does look like it is coming out of his anus, and yes it does re-occur after I wipe it up. his poo is totally normal. any more help would really appreciated!

[becs]

Could it be worms of some sort / their leftovers? have searched thro' my 2 serious horsey health books to no avail, I'm afraid. They mentioned pinworms causing rectal irritation, but I guess you'd see the worms / eggs and surely he'd be rubbing his bum everywhere?

perhaps he has some sort of cyst / infection just inside his rectum, that leaks out from time to time? if it keeps happening, I'd let the vet poke around there...