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Causes
Colic or gut pain is the problem to which 'equine flesh is heir' but often it
is not serious and recovery is quick. A great fear has built up around colic
because it can become very serious indeed, very quickly, and surgical
intervention needed, hence the advice to always call a vet if colic is
suspected.
Worm damage in blocking blood supply to the guts is one major cause and the
other is just down to the design of the horse's digestion system which
requires a fermentation process to take place in the hind gut which builds
up gas;
Over eating especially dry feed that should be given wet such as sugar beet.
The ingestion of sand while eating short grass from a sandy paddock or field
(often called Sand Colic) Eating grass cuttings and sudden changes to feed
given and routine. Stress, constipation,fatty tissue in the gut and hard work
too soon after feeding.
Signs Mild:
Reluctance to clear up feed, passing fewer droppings, signs of pain such as
looking round at the belly area and may be kicking at it. Severe:
Lying down and rolling, sweating and fast shallow breathing. Evidence of
severe pain with groaning rolling and sweatiing. Swelling of the abdomen
Treatment CALL A VET IF MILD SIGNS CONTINUE FOR MORE THAN A FEW (20)
MINUTES
Calmness in both yourself and anyone else near a horse with colic is
essential. Remove any unnecessary people. If it is lying down remove any
objects near the horse on which is might injure itself if it thrashes about.
To
prevent rolling, which can cause the much more severe twisted gut, try to
keep the horse walking about and find a place such as a near by paddock where
it can get down more safely if necessary.
Do
not attempt to feed a horse with colic and unless you are very good at giving
a drench it is best not to attempt it as it can go the wrong way and cause
more damage very easily.
Prevention
The
causes speak for themselves so a good, regular worming programme is
essential, as is a good regular diet. The opportunity to get hold of feed
materials for themselves must be rigorously guarded against. Where grass is
on sandy soil precautions should be taken to clear the gut regularly of any
sand build up. A horse prone to constipation and/or stress should have the
underlying causes attended to and steps taken to reduce these problems.
PEGASUS HEALTH PRODUCTS THAT CAN HELP
Antacid Mix a
herbal mixture containing Asafoetida which is an Indian herb used to
calm indigestion which on it's own it is not very palatable but if an owner
is competant at giving a drench it can be administered mixed with warm water
as soon as mild signs of colic appear. Otherwise the mix can be given in
the feed of horses that are colic prone if all the other steps at prevention
are taken too.
SandAway pure
psyllium husks are a useful regular addition to the diet of horses kept on
sandy paddocks and for those prone to constipation. The husks fed damp form
a gel in the gut which eases the passage of stuborn matter and fed dry absorb
water from gut contents and so aid over loose bowel movements.
StressBan a
powerful Ayurvedic herbal formula designed to optimize calm on a daily
basis. It is very good at reducing the fizz while not affecting the
sparkle. Some horses find the feeling of well being enduced makes them more
energetic in the first few days of introduction, so it is best to find a
quiet time in the schedule for introduction.
StressBan+ is
a concentrated Ayurvedic formla designed to optimize calm for the one off
situations such as travel or the show ring. It can also be used as an
electrolyte after hard exercise as it brings the system back to normal very
quickly and can optimize stamina. |