Most horse owners have experienced at one time or another their beloved horses having colic, and with the autumn months now upon us, your horse will most likely be consuming more dry feed such as hay, which increases the risk of dry bowel and obstructive colic.
Usually, when colic is suspected, a vet is called out to give the horse a paraffin drench or an anti-spasmodic. The horse is walked around until he passes manure and commences eating and drinking with good gut noises being heard. Everyone breathes a big sigh of relief and no one is the wiser as to what caused the problem.
Most colic events are usually from poorly designed diets or management. Overly anxious horses are at risk in certain circumstances because they can stop eating and drinking for significant periods. This creates opportunities for feed to be ingested with minimal fluid, causing compactions of feed as it is too dry to pass through the gut easily.
Greedy horses can do the same as they can gulp down feeds into a nervous and tight gut, with the same outcome of pain and spasms occurring. Horses with a history of digestive upsets are also at risk.
Symptoms of colic
Most horses display some combination of the following symptoms:
- Frequent pawing: Horses with colic often exhibit behaviour that indicates pain or discomfort, such as pawing at the ground repeatedly.
- Rolling or lying down: Colicky horses may repeatedly roll on the ground or lie down and get up frequently. They may also stretch out on their sides in an attempt to alleviate the pain.
- Sweating and increased heart rate: Horses experiencing colic often sweat excessively, even when the weather is not warm. They may also exhibit an elevated heart rate, which can be felt by placing your hand on their chest.
- Restlessness and agitation: Colicky horses may show signs of restlessness, such as constantly moving around their stall or paddock, kicking at their belly, or looking at their sides.
- Loss of appetite: A decreased, or complete loss of appetite, is a common symptom of colic in horses. They may show disinterest in their usual feed or hay.
- Absence or decreased passing of manure: A horse with colic may exhibit reduced or no passage of manure. They may strain to defecate or pass only small amounts of dry faeces.
- Distended abdomen: In some cases, colicky horses may have a visibly distended or bloated abdomen. However, this symptom may not always be present, especially in mild cases.
Less common causes of colic can include enteroliths (a large calcium/mineral stone caused by excessive consumption of minerals) tumours, or foreign items that have inadvertently ended up in the horse's gut. Worm damage, particularly from bots, is another cause.
A twisted bowel, or telescopic bowel, often can end the life of a horse as it is very difficult to correct these problems once the situation has turned from bad to worse.
It's important to note that these signs of colic can vary depending on the severity and underlying cause of colic. If you suspect your horse may have colic, it is crucial to contact a veterinarian immediately for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Prevention
A well-designed natural, whole-food diet, with natural foraging, is the best to help prevent Colic in your horse. Herbal support is advised for horses that are prone to general digestive upsets and/or are anxious (particularly chamomile – a natural anti-spasmodic and aids comfortable peristalsis). It is important to make sure hay is both palatable and able to be chewed well - checking your horse’s teeth helps in this process.
Magnesium is a good supplement to give your horse regularly. McDowells Mag-A-GG contains a combination of Magnesium oxide, brewer’s yeast, chamomile, and dandelion specially formulated to assist in muscle relaxation and nervousness.
Keeping your horse’s gut filled with appropriate roughage and water is essential. Fasting can be very dangerous in some situations, and a horse should never be without food or water for more than 12 hours.
Our Equigesta-Pre also can be beneficial as it stimulates the growth and activity of good bacteria and promotes beneficial intestinal microorganisms. It can also assist in the normal healthy recovery of damaged stomach lining.
Competition and travel stress create a high risk of colic in horses - so measures must be taken to ensure that your horse’s diet during travel and water intake is kept up. Again, chamomile and nervous system herbs are ideal, as well as the Bach flower rescue remedy is very useful.
Our Perform-A-Calm is formulated with herbs that have traditionally been used to nourish and calm the nervous disposition of horses that seem to be overly anxious in their home or when introduced to new stimuli.
McDowells Colic Recovery Program
Apart from the aforementioned products, McDowells has formulated a specific program for Colic in horses whilst waiting for veterinarian consultation and diagnosis. The mix of herbs in our Colic Recovery are used to ease spasms in the digestive system and soothe the intestinal lining. The program also consists of chamomile to aid recovery of colic, assist with the nervous system and act as an antispasmodic.
Whilst we can’t protect our horses from unforeseen reasons for colic, or eliminate the need for a vet, we can do our best to keep our horse’s digestive systems and nervous systems healthy with a whole food, natural diet, and good management practices, to aid in minimising the risk of possible colic.
