Preventing
Colic
While
horses seem predisposed to colic due to the anatomy and function of
their digestive tracts, management can play a key role in prevention.
Although not every case is avoidable, the following guidelines can
maximize a horse's health and reduce the risk of colic.
- Establish
a daily set routine -- including feeding and exercise schedules
-- and stick to it.
- Feed
a high quality diet comprised primarily of roughage where possible.
- Avoid
feeding excessive grain and energy-dense supplements. (At least
half the horse's energy requirement should be supplied through hay
or forage. A better guide is that twice as much energy should be
supplied from a roughage source than from concentrates.)
- Divide
daily concentrate rations into tow or more smaller feedings rather
than one large one to avoid overloading the horse's digestive tract.
Hay is best fed free-choice.
- Set
up a regular parasite control program with the help of your equine
practitioner. Utilize fecal testing to determine its effectiveness.
- Provide
exercise and/or turn out on a daily basis.
- Change
the intensity/duration of an exercise regime gradually.
- Provide
fresh, clean water at all times. (The only exception is when a horse
is excessively hot. Then it should be given small sips of lukewarm
water until it has recovered.)
- Avoid
medications unless they are prescribed by your equine practitioner,
especially pain-relief drugs (analgesics), which can cause ulcers.
- Check
hay, bedding, pasture, and environment for potentially toxic substances,
such as blister beetles, noxious weeds, and other ingestible foreign
matter.
- Avoid
putting feed on the ground, especially in sandy soils.
- Make
dietary and other management changes as gradually as possible.
- Reduce
stress. Horses experiencing changes in environment or workloads
are at a high risk of intestinal dysfunction.
- Pay
special attention to animals when transporting them or changing
their surroundings, such as at shows.
- Observe
foaling mares pre- and postpartum for any signs of colic. Also watch
any horses who have had a previous bout with colic.
- Maintain
accurate records of management, feeding practices, and health.
The
contents are copyrighted but may be copied,
on condition that the Equine Research Centre be
acknowledged for the use of its information.
The Equine Research Centre
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W
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