15/01/2025
𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜
We’ve had a few cases of sand impactions in the last few weeks. It is more commonly seen in summer when horses are kept on sandy bare pastures. Laminitis prone animals are especially susceptible as they are kept on poorer pastures.
Risk factors include insufficient roughage in the diet and the sand and mineral composition of the soil.
Clinical signs include colic, diarrhoea, weight loss and poor performance.
Colon displacements may occur as a consequence of the sand impaction leading to more aggressive colic symptoms, reduced droppings and decreased intestinal sounds. Sand sounds may be heard on the ventral (bottom) of the abdomen. It is difficult to differentiate between sand colic and other impactions.
Horses usually improve with pain relief and signs can last weeks.
Sand in the faeces may be observes by adding water to six f***l balls in a bag or re**al glove and allowing the sand to settle to the bottom. While some sand will always be present if more than 1 teaspoon is present it is considered excessive.
These colics are most often treated medically but surgical intervention may be necessary if pain is uncontrollable or medical treatment becomes prolonged. These types of impactions more frequently require surgery compared to feed impactions. Medical treatment includes removing the horse from access to sand, rehydrating and using laxatives. While it’s not known how effective it is, Psyllium hull can used in the treatment at much higher doses given through a stomach tube and in the prevention of sand impaction when added to the diet. (Once to twice daily for two to three weeks, then one week off) . Other prevention methods include adequate roughage, not feeding from the ground and providing extra when pastures are insufficient along with adequate exercise.
