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Tips for Preventing Colic
The
number one killer of horses is colic. Colic is not a disease, but rather
a combination of signs that alert us to abdominal pain in
the horse. Colic can range from mild to severe, but it should never
be ignored. Many of the conditions that cause colic can become life
threatening in a relatively short period of time. Only by quickly and
accurately recognizing colic – and seeking qualified veterinary
help – can the chance for recovery be maximized.
While horses seem
predisposed to colic due to the anatomy and function of their digestive
tracts, management can play a key role in prevention.
Although not
every case is avoidable, the following guidelines from the American
Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) can maximize the horse’s health and
reduce the risk of colic:
- Establish a daily
routine – include feeding and exercise schedules – and
stick to it.
- Feed a high quality diet comprised primarily of roughage.
- Avoid feeding excessive grain and energy-dense supplements. (At least
half the horse’s energy should be supplied through hay or forage. A better
guide is that twice as much energy should be supplied from a roughage source
than from concentrates.)
- Divide daily concentrate rations into two or more smaller feedings
rather than one large one to avoid overloading the horse’s digestive tract.
Hay is best fed free-choice.
- Set up a regular parasite control program with the help of your equine
practitioner.
- Provide exercise and/or turnout on a daily basis. Change the intensity
and duration of an exercise regimen gradually.
- Provide fresh, clean water at all times. (The only exception is when
the horse is excessively hot, and then it should
be given small
sips of
luke-warm
water until it has recovered.)
- Avoid putting feed on the ground, especially in sandy soils.
- Check hay, bedding, pasture, and environment for potentially toxic
substances, such as blister beetles, noxious weeds,
and other ingestible
foreign matter.
- Reduce stress. Horses experiencing changes in environment or workloads
are at high risk of intestinal dysfunction.
Pay special
attention to horses
when transporting them or changing their surroundings,
such as at shows.
Virtually any horse is susceptible to colic. Age,
sex, and breed differences in susceptibility seem
to be
relatively minor. The
type of colic seen appears
to relate to geographic or regional differences,
probably due to environmental factors such as sandy
soil or
climatic stress.
Importantly,
what this tells
us is that, with conscientious care and management,
we have
the potential to reduce and control colic, the number
one killer of horses.
For
more information about colic prevention and treatment, ask your equine
veterinarian for the “Colic” brochure, provided by the American
Association of Equine Practitioners in partnership with Educational Partner
Bayer Animal Health. Additional colic information is available by visiting
the AAEP’s horse health web site, www.myHorseMatters.com.
Reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
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