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Mild recurrent Colic
Colic, loosely defined as abdominal pain from any cause, is very common in horses. It’s one of the most significant disorders a horse can suffer as it’s often very painful and some cases are life threatening. While the cause is often not identified impaction, overproduction of intestinal gas, infection, hindgut acidosis, twists, and displacement of the colon are frequently to blame.
Most horses that suffer a bout of colic will recover, often without veterinary treatment, and go on for years without a return of the condition. However, a smaller number of horses develop signs of colic again and again, sometimes seemingly related to changes in the weather or their feed, stabling, teeth, cribbing or weaving, or some other factor such as worming. Finding and eliminating the cause of these episodes is often difficult and frustrating for owners.
The veterinary examination of a horse with recurrent colic can involve a number of procedures, usually beginning with
Prevention of recurrent colic depends on the factors related to the horse’s discomfort. In cases where no obvious cause is identified, management changes may be helpful. Based on our current knowledge of colic prevention, horse owners are encouraged to maximize the health of the hindgut, where fermentation occurs.
Useful strategies include ensuring the horse always has access to clean water; maximizing turnout time; and basing the diet on ad lib good-quality forage, with grain or concentrates added only if it is necessary to support the energy demands of exercise, pregnancy, lactation or growth.
Diet changes should be made slowly to support hindgut health and feeding a research proven, time release hindgut buffer may also be beneficial for preventing hindgut acidosis and subsequent changes in the microbiome.
For more information on colic go to Colic Episodes, Colic Risk Factors, Small Intestinal Colic, and Large Intestinal Colic.
