Equine colic is a common disorder of the digestive system. The term colic means abdominal pain and the condition can affect various areas of the digestive tract for numerous reasons. It can happen in horses of all ages and types and varies from a mild bout of discomfort that eventually resolves itself, to something more serious that requires medical treatment or surgery.
Colic indicates a problem with the gut itself or other organs within the abdomen. There are many causes for colic, but generally they are related to the anatomy and the microflora of the horse’s gastrointestinal tract.
Common causes:
High grain-based diets
Moldy feed
Abrupt change in feed
Parasite infestation
Lack of water consumption leading to impaction colic’s
Sand ingestion
Long term use of NSAIDS
Stress
Dental problems
Signs to look out for:
Pawing at the ground
Sweating and increased breathing rate
Rolling without shaking off after
Stretching as if to urinate
Elevated pulse rate
Lack of appetite
Lack of normal gut noises
Looking or biting at the flank
Prevention of colic is essential and by following management techniques, the risk of a horse getting it can be reduced, but not eliminated. You should be familiar with the symptoms of colic to quickly identify the condition; taking into consideration your horse’s vital signs is very important.
Tips for Prevention:
Keep feeding and turnout routines as consistent as possible
Avoid feeding on the ground
Ensure a constant supply of fresh drinkable water
Use effective parasite control
Schedule regular dental care
Treatment depends on many different factors, most importantly what kind of colic your horse may have.
Methods for treatment:
Medication like Analgesics
Laxatives and lubricants
Deworming
Surgery
Alternative Prevention and Relief
For extra prevention,
Assure Guard Gold from
Arenus can aid in helping with colic. This patented supplement provides your horse with a constant influx of live microbes and psyllium to manage daily digestive health as well as chronic conditions like colic, sand accumulation, ulcers, diarrhea, and poor body conditions.
In addition to Assure Gaurd, Benefab® by Sore No-More®’s
Rejuvenate SmartScrim can also help with colic in horses to alleviate pain and inflammation and help stimulate oxygen flow. The sheet is made up of ceramic nano-particles and individually pocketed magnets that reduce recovery time, promote blood circulation, and increase oxygen flow. It emits FAR-infrared rays in conjunction with over 80 magnets poised over specific acupuncture points that keep muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments soft and relaxed. The light, flexible design provides ultimate ease of use for relief when your horse needs it most.
