Treating and Preventing Equine Sand Colic

Horses living in sandy environments are at a high risk for developing sand colic, a condition that affects one out of ten horses each year. You'll notice a drastic change in behavior in a colicky horse - pawing, scratching, biting, tail swishing and rolling. The horse will be experiencing abdominal pain and will try to deal with it in strange ways. If you notice excessive rolling around, then try to tie the horse up and prevent this from occurring, as it may result in a twisted organ! Diarrhea is also a sign of colic in some horses . If you suspect colic, then give the horse some fresh water and investigate a feces sample for clues.

The danger is that large sand deposits can cause irritation in the system and inflammation of the colon or intestinal tract. Over time, imagine the horse's colon as a knapsack of sand, pulling downward but corralled around the other organs, eventually twists or pivots under the weight. In addition to impaired mobility and colic pain, the horse will suffer a reduced absorption of water and nutrients through the blocked intestinal walls.

If the horse is already displaying chronic signs of colic, then you may want to take the horse right to a veterinarian. There, they will check the abdomen with a stethoscope to listen for colon contractions. A more expensive procedure used to detect sand colic, known as a radiograph, may be performed in some cases, which will show sand deposits as bright components in a clinical x-ray. For extremely ill horses, exploratory abdominal surgery can be done.

To prevent colic in horses, it's recommended that you feed the horse three to four meals per day and feed in a stall with a dry floor mat, rather than directly on the ground. Avoid coarse hay and add two or three scoops of psyllium pellets per day or per week, depending on your horse's status. Psyllium is a laxative that helps form a sand-attracting gel, moving foreign objects out of the system with ease. You can try a Walmart brand form of "Equate," which is like Metamucil, and is a vet-recommended cheap alternative to the $20 per bucket of psyillium on the market. Be sure the horse has six to eight gallons of water per day and daily rigorous exercise to prevent sand colic.