Colic Prevention and Relief Tips

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.