What is colic?
Horses are very susceptible to colic. During a colic attack, the horse suffers severe abdominal pain and cramping, and can even die. Colic is therefore very dangerous for your horse, and the symptoms must be recognized quickly. Colic is caused by problems in the gastrointestinal tract. In many cases, it's a case of "spasmodic colic" or "gas colic" caused by a buildup of gas. These forms of colic can generally be treated at home in the stable or by a veterinarian. With some walking, supplemented with painkillers and intestinal relaxants. But sometimes the problems are more serious, requiring surgery in a clinic. Always contact your veterinarian if you suspect your horse has colic!
How do you recognize colic?
Colic is often an acute problem, and a horse experiences significant pain from one moment to the next. You can recognize colic by one or more of the following symptoms:
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Sweating
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Roll over, lie down and get up again
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Restless and sometimes anxious to even aggressive behavior
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Groaning and not wanting to eat or drink
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Kicking, biting and looking at the belly
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Stand with your legs extended or spread out
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Scraping with the forefeet
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Fleming
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Diarrhea, passing gas
Sand colic
In colic, the cause is usually attributed to gastrointestinal worm or tapeworm infestation, and excessive sand ingestion is not considered. However, excessive sand ingestion is a significant, perhaps even the most significant, cause of colic. The horse produces thin, watery manure and spends a lot of time lying on its back. Despite the mild symptoms, sand colic is a serious condition, from which horses frequently die. Sand colic is most common in horses that spend a lot of time in bare, wet pasture, often in late winter and early spring.
How do you know if your horse has sand colic?
Stir a few manure pellets into a bucket of water. If a lot of sand remains at the bottom after emptying the bucket, this could indicate sand colic. Treatment with a painkiller works quickly and relieves the horse's pain, but because the sand remains in the intestines, the colic regularly returns. Pharmahorse Psyllium or SandClear are often used to remove the sand from the intestines. These are psyllium powders that form a gel in the intestines. This carries the sand along with the intestinal contents, and the horse expels it with the manure.
How can you prevent sand colic in your horse?
The best way to prevent sand colic is to ensure the horse doesn't ingest sand. This means providing sand-free hay and, above all, providing the horse with plenty of grass in a pasture. If excessive sand consumption occurs, drastic measures are necessary, such as having the horse wear a grazing muzzle when in the outdoor arena.
Cramp colic
Colic often occurs due to changes in diet and weather conditions. Gas buildup and worm infections can also cause colic.
Constipation colic
Horses with constipation often stand up straight as if they need to urinate. However, often no urine comes out, or only a small amount. These horses also often look at their belly, scratch the ground, or lie down flat.
A veterinarian can diagnose a blockage through a rectal examination. This blockage is usually located in the left portion of the large intestine. Most blockages are caused by eating a large amount of straw combined with reduced exercise. Straw blockages are resolved by administering a laxative (paraffin) to the horse's stomach. This is done using a tube inserted through the nose and esophagus into the stomach.
Because the blockages are often located at the back of the intestinal tract, the paraffin needs about 10 hours to reach its destination. In the meantime, it's important to keep the horse pain-free by administering painkillers and providing it with sufficient exercise (lunging, horse walker). The horse should fast until paraffin-laced manure appears. Water should always be available.
How can straw clogging be prevented?
Horses that regularly experience straw blockages are better kept on flax or sawdust. If this isn't possible, it's wise to regularly feed the horse laxative feed (mash with added oil) and give it plenty of exercise.
The cramps usually disappear after 10-15 minutes of walking and defecation, and the horse is then pain-free again. If the colic doesn't subside within 15 minutes, it's wise to consult your veterinarian. After examining the horse, they can administer an antispasmodic.
Colic due to a change in position of the intestines
Intestinal changes are the most dangerous form of colic. They can occur in both the small and large intestines. A change in intestinal position can cause segments of the intestine to become blocked, causing the intestine in front of it to die and become inflated and unable to empty. Eventually, the stomach can also become full. Because a horse cannot vomit, an overfull stomach will rupture, inevitably leading to death. Horses may fall, roll, panic, and harm themselves. A horse in severe pain will also ignore its handler and can therefore pose a danger to its surroundings.
Eventually, some stomach contents may eventually be seen leaking through the nose, or the horse may appear very bloated. The horse can also quickly go into shock and possibly die.
What does the treatment for change of position consist of?
A change in position with an occlusion can only be remedied by surgery in a specialist clinic.
A torsion without occlusion can in some cases correct itself with laxatives, exercise and bowel stimulants.
Changes in position can't always be prevented. However, general advice is to deworm the horse regularly, check its teeth, and always provide it with sufficient exercise. A balanced diet is also important, of course.
Which products can I give to my horse with colic?
Colosan
Colosan is a natural, registered veterinary medicine for gastrointestinal disorders in horses. It 's essential for treating colic, gas, and constipation. It has antispasmodic and carminative properties, and provides fast relief. It's a must-have in every first aid kit. Do you suspect your horse has colic? Give Colosan for relief and consult your veterinarian.
It works quickly and effectively, allowing you to provide first aid while waiting for the vet. Because it's a registered veterinary medicine, you can be sure it's safe and effective.
Sand Clear
Sand in the intestines can negatively impact digestion. Sand Clear not only helps remove sand but is also enriched with prebiotics and other ingredients to further support healthy digestion. Prebiotics promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. They also help remove accumulated toxins from the gastrointestinal tract. The oregano oil in Sand Clear has antibacterial and antifungal properties and also supports healthy microflora. Horses that spend a lot of time in paddocks and bare or dry pastures can ingest too much sand. But too much sand can also enter the body in a lush green pasture or when eating roughage. Therefore, it is important to regularly support the removal of sand from the intestines.
Psyllium fiber
Psyllium is a nutritional supplement that you can mix with your horse or pony's daily feed. Psyllium fiber has a proven effect on the removal of sand from the intestines. When psyllium fiber comes into contact with intestinal fluid, it turns into a sticky gel. This gel attracts sand and dirt and then carries it out of the intestines.
Preventing colic
Colic has many causes, and unfortunately, the timing of its onset isn't always predictable. However, there are a few tips to help you prevent colic as much as possible:
Allow your horse to gradually get used to changes in diet and rhythm.
Is your horse moving from pasture to stable or vice versa? Or do you have different feed or a new daily routine? Make sure you give him a few weeks to adjust to the changes. Horses' intestines are sensitive and react to every change. For example, grass contains much more water than hay. And the nutritional value is also very different, especially in spring than in autumn. A gradual adjustment prevents many intestinal problems.
Provide plenty of roughage
Horses naturally eat small amounts of fiber-rich feed for three-quarters of the day. Therefore, spread the feeding of roughage, such as hay and roughage mixes, throughout the day and night as much as possible. Digesting roughage takes a long time and releases a lot of heat in the intestines. This also keeps your horse warm much better on cold days than, for example, concentrates. Concentrates are certainly necessary as a supplement, but the foundation of good health with a low risk of colic lies in a regular distribution of roughage.
Make sure your horse has healthy teeth
Constipation colic often occurs when excessively large portions of food can't pass through a narrowing in the intestinal tract. Chewing thoroughly largely prevents this. Feed your horse good, high-fiber feed. This can be in the form of muesli and other feed mixes.
In addition, ensure as little stress as possible and have a fixed daily structure as much as possible.
Always give your horses plenty of time to eat and have each horse's teeth checked regularly by an expert.
Give your horse enough exercise and variety
Horses are also naturally accustomed to plenty of gentle exercise. Gradually grazing and moving throughout the day keeps the intestines active and prevents constipation. Therefore, plenty of daily exercise is important for a horse's health. Exercise, combined with sufficient roughage, ensures continuous movement in the intestines.