18/10/2022
Top 12 Causes of Colic and How to Prevent Them
Equine colic cannot be prevented 100% of the time, but there are measures you can take to greatly reduce your horse’s chance of developing this painful condition. Most of these measures revolve around managing and feeding horses as naturally as possible
Here we list some of the top causes of colic, along with what you can do to prevent them.
1) STALL CONFINEMENT
Horses stalled more than 50% of the time are at increased risk of colic when compared to horses that have pasture turnout more than 50% of the time.
Increased stabling (more than 12 hours per day) has been shown to have noticeable physiological effects on horses. This includes decreased colonic motility, and decreased movement of digesta through the gut.
Stall confinement is also associated with wind-sucking or cribbing, which may contribute to an increased risk of colic.
The solution to this problem is simple: turnout. By allowing horses as much turnout time as possible, you will automatically reduce their chances of developing colic since both movement and grazing will help keep the digestive system functioning smoothly.
2) HIGH GRAIN/LOW FORAGE DIETS
Horses’ digestive systems are better equipped to process forage than concentrates. Research shows that feeding large amounts of grain or other concentrated feeds can increase a horse’s risk of developing colic.
When a horse is fed a high-grain diet, the digestive tract cannot process and absorb all the sugar in the feed before it reaches the hindgut. This can result in hindgut dysfunction and acidosis.
Twice daily feeding of concentrates is also associated with the secretion of large amounts of fluid into the small intestine which, in turn, leads to the absorption of fluid from the large colon. This can cause dehydration of colonic contents and impaction colic.
Feeding horses appropriately can reduce their risk of colic. If concentrates must be fed, feed smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day.
Also, ensure that the majority of your horse’s diet is grass/forage or hay. A horse should consume at least 1-2% of their body weight in forage daily.
You can submit your horse’s diet for complementary evaluation by our equine nutritionists to determine whether your horse is meeting their nutritional and feeding requirements.
3) INADEQUATE DEWORMING PRACTICES
In one study that surveyed 774 equine veterinarians, researchers found that horses receiving dewormers on a regular basis had a decreased risk of colic.
However, the research also showed that administering dewormers to foals can cause colic associated with intestinal obstruction from the rapid death of ascarids (parasitic roundworms).
The general consensus is that a regular deworming program will help to prevent colic in most cases. Check with your veterinarian to see which dewormers are recommended for your area and how often you should administer them.
When deworming your horse, it is a good idea to supplement your horse’s diet with probiotics to restore balance to the digestive tract.
4) SAND INGESTION
Horses grazing or eating off of sandy ground may ingest too much sand which can cause sand accumulation in the colon and colic.
To prevent sand colic, avoid feeding horses on sandy soil. Instead, feed them in raised feeders or hay racks.
Some research suggests adding psyllium, probiotics and prebiotics to the equine diet can help increase f***l sand output to decrease the risk of sand colic.
If you live in an area with sandy soil, consider a digestive health supplement containing prebiotics to decrease sand accumulation in the hindgut.
5) ABRUPT FEEDING CHANGES
Microbes in the horse’s gut acclimate to digesting certain types of feed and hay. When changes are made too quickly, a disruption occurs in those microbes which can lead to colic.
All feeding changes should be done gradually, over a period of 7-10 days. This goes for concentrates as well as changes in hay or pasture.
If you know that your horse is especially sensitive to any type of feed change, you can even prolong the transition to several weeks.
6) DEHYDRATION
Horses that don’t drink enough water are at higher risk of developing impaction colic. Since horses tend to drink less in winter, encourage drinking by providing a warmed water source.
This can be done with heated or insulated buckets or tank heaters. Keep in mind that horses cannot lick ice or eat snow and stay hydrated.
You can also soak hay cubes or pellets in winter to increase water intake.
It is always recommended to provide free-choice loose salt to encourage drinking throughout the year. A salt lick or salt block will not provide enough sodium to significantly increase water intake. Plain loose salt should always be available to your horse.
7) MOLDY FEED OR HAY
Mold in feed or hay can disrupt microbes in the horse’s gut and lead to colic. Some types of mold also produce toxins that can cause severe digestive upset. Therefore, never feed grain or any type of concentrate that has been exposed to moisture. If a feed smells off, it’s better to throw it out rather than risk colic.
The same goes for hay: if hay appears or smells moldy, do not feed it. Horses eating from round bales will typically leave any moldy parts alone. However, if their diet is more restrictive, they may eat hay they wouldn’t otherwise consume.
8) STRESS
Stress has also been known to cause equine colic. For horses, common stressors include:
Long transport
Stabling changes
Intense training
Increased stall confinement
Changes to the social environment
Herd dynamic
Though not every type of stressor can be avoided, keeping stress to a minimum is an important part of colic prevention, especially for horses with a history of colic.
9) LONG-TERM USE OF NSAIDS
Long term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) is a common cause of recurring and often low-grade colic. Because NSAIDs inhibit chemicals known as prostaglandins, their use can lead to decreased mucous production and a lower gastric pH.
In turn, prolonged use of NSAIDs can cause gastric or hindgut ulcers and recurring colic can be a symptom.
NSAIDs are meant to be used for short term pain management, not as a long-term solution. Phenylbutazone (bute) has the lowest margin of safety as far as side effects are concerned and should not be given to horses with gastro-intestinal disease.
If your horse is dealing with a chronic issue such as arthritis, talk to your veterinarian about pain management alternatives to NSAIDs. For horses with arthritis or joint pain, we typically recommend MSM powder and w-3 oil with omega-3 fatty acids as natural supplements to support healthy tendons, ligaments and cartilage.
10) DENTAL PROBLEMS
Dental problems can lead to poor chewing and maldigestion, which in turn, can cause both esophageal impaction (choke) and/or intestinal impactions. Horses should receive regular dental care, especially as they age.
For older horses with worn teeth, feeding softer feeds, such as senior feeds, can be helpful. If they have trouble eating hay, consider soaking it or feeding soaked hay cubes or chopped hay.
11) PREVIOUS HISTORY OF COLIC
Horses with a previous history of colic or colic surgery are more likely to colic again.
If this applies to your horse, it’s important to manage and feed them as naturally as possible.
Consider supplementing with a digestive supplement like Optimum Digestive Health or Optimum Probiotics to help keep the gut’s microbial population in balance and reduce the chance of recurring colic.
