What is colic?  Colic is a gastrointestinal disorder caused by a digestive upset.  There are three common colics: Gas Colic, Impaction Colic and Twisted Gut.

Do you know the signs of Gas Colic?  A horse with gas colic has sharp, but brief and intermittent pain.  They ten to swing their head from side to side as the pain moves in the same direction.  The horse may stomp his feet, look angry or aggrevated and even pin his ears, he may even roll his eyes as well as seem unusually distracted.  Gassy rumbling sounds are often produced from his stomach as well.

Do you know the signs of Impaction Colic?  This type of colic will cause a subtle, gradually appearing signs of discomfort; them may seem dazed, not having their normal responses to stimuli.  They may look at the side where the pain is generated and they may even lay down at a time when he usually does not.

Do you know the signs of a Twisted Gut?  This type of colic is accompanied by worsening pain, they may appear extremely uncomfortable and very restless over a very short period of time.  He may have excessive sweating and they may fail to respond to simple pain relieving medication such as Banamine (flunixin meglumine), which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to control inflammation associated with colic and muscle pain.

If your horse exhibits any of these signs, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian.  Now I will share with you some colic fighting precautions that I have learned. 

If any way possible, give your horse access to hay at all times, if you can feed him hay before grain, this has been researched and some believe that this will lower the risk of colic than of horses that receive their grain first.  The horses digestive system functions best when it continually is processing fiber, so when feeding grain, it is best to ration to three feedings per day in small amounts.  If you feed to much grain, or heavy carbohydrates this may overstress the small intestine causing it to overspill undigested carbohydrates into the colon and cecum.  This can ultimately kill the bacteria that aids in digestion triggering a release of dangerous toxins that can result in colic and sometimes laminitis.

Make sure when you are feeding grain, that the grain is fresh.  If the grain remains in the bottom of the container for several weeks, mold can grow and can cause digestive issues.  Do not supply more than two weeks worth at a time and keep the containers cleaned out before reloading.  If you have grain remaining and it still is fresh and mold free, put the new grain on the bottom with the older on top.  Another trigger to colic is dehydration, so you must maintain a clean fresh water supply for your horse each day.

Sand can also be a digestive problem.  Horses will ingest sand with hay or grain that is fed from the ground as well as grazing in sandy pastures.  Sand is heavy so it tends to settle in the folds and pockets of the large intestine, then it just stays there.  Since sand is abrasive, it can severely damage the lining of the gut causing impaction or blockage.  So how do you stop this if your horse stays in a pasture full of sand?  First of all, feed the horses from a bucket that is not easily tipped over and put up a rack or hay net so they do not eat their hay off of the ground.  Place a catchall underneath the grain tub or hay rack, so when they pick up their remnants, they are picking them up from something other than a sandy floor.  You can also feed a natural psyllium fiber bellet to help reduce sand colic.  Psyllium is a seed husk, which is a natural soluble fiber.

Another key to preventing colic are regular dental checkups.  Sharp edges, decayed teeth, abscessed teeth can prevent him from chewing his food properly, which can result in your horse colicing.  My recommendation, along with my horses vet, is a once a year dental examination and float.

We love our horses, and as long as we provide the necessary care for them, we will not be dealing with colic issues.  Reducing the horses risk by managing proper digestive health is an imperative part of being a horse owner.  Watch your horse carefully, if you board your horse, make sure the barn is adequately staffed to watch your horse on a daily basis. Always call your equine vet if you are unsure in any health risk situation.