Hints to help avoid Colic in your Horses

[seerfarm]

With the cooler weather quickly approaching, it also seems to be a highten time for Horses to Colic. I thought it would be a perfect time to refresh our memory on some wonderful information to help reduce those risks to our Horses.

I have included a long list of what I think are some pretty good practices, that can help in that fight. This information was gathered from 3 seperate surveys, and as posted in the Thoroughbred Times.


1. Make any dietary change as gradually as possible. The biggest surprise in the Texas survey was that a recent change in hay gave a horse higher odds of developing colic than any other factor.

Farm managers have long recognized that changes in the quantity or type of a horse's concentrate ration need to be done gradually in order to avoid digestive upset. But when it comes to hay they figure, well, hay is hay.

This study, however, confirmed that a change in the quantity, type, or quality of forage in the horse's diet needs to be made with just as much care. Various types of forage or different cuttings even from the same field are nutritionally distinct and are not interchangeable in the horse's diet. Changing forage sources may change the gut's pH and force adjustments in the population of microflora essential for processing roughage that colonize the horse's large intestine. Making an abrupt change in hay supplies can cause colic as easily as an abrupt change in grain or supplements.

When a horse prone to colic needs to leave the farm for breeding or other travel, send as much of its current hay and grain ration along as is practical so that changes to new feedstuffs can be made as gradually as possible.

2. Emphasize roughage as much as possible. Speaking of hay and forage, the closer it is to 100% of the colic-prone horse's diet (assuming the horse has not had a bowel resection), the better off the animal will be. The horse's digestive tract is designed to extract energy as volatile fatty acids from fiber-rich roughages such as grasses and legumes via fermentation in its hindgut. While racehorses may need as much as 50% of their total ration as carbohydrate-rich grains to have sufficient energy for their work, the colic-prone horse generally does best when grain is minimized or even eliminated from its diet.

3. Feed hay before grain. Horsemen have long feared the consequences when a horse finds a way to gorge on grain. They may be less aware, however, that when horses eat hay right after a large grain meal, they may be setting themselves up for exactly the same problem.

If the bulky forage pushes undigested grain (carbohydrates) into the hindgut, it upsets the gut pH the same way as when a horse stuffs himself on grain. As the gut pH changes and becomes more alkaline, some of the bacteria living there die. The balance between good and bad bacteria in the microflora begins shifting. The result may be diarrhea, gaseous colic, laminitis, enteritis, or other health crises. The higher the proportion of grain to hay in the horse's total diet, the more likely this problem is to occur.

Feeding at least a portion of hay before feeding any grain can reduce the likelihood that undigested grain will get pushed through the stomach and small intestine too quickly. It may also help reduce the tendency of some horses to bolt their feed, another factor that can increase the risk of colic. Reducing the amount of grain fed is an even better solution.

4. Feed many small meals rather than two larger meals. Another solution to the problem of undigested grain reaching the hindgut is to split the horse's daily ration into several meals. Horses have a relatively small stomach, so several small meals spread out over the course of the day are easier on the colic-prone horse's digestive tract than a large breakfast and dinner, especially if those meals are heavy on grain. Keeping the horse's intestinal tract more or less continuously full may minimize the potential for intestinal twists.

Depriving the horse of food for more than 12 hours can lead to irritation of the intestinal lining. As the hungry horse begins to anticipate food, the increased secretion of stomach acids and bile lowers the gut pH. These gastric juices begin to eat away at the intestinal lining, which can lead to ulcers. The horse's irritability and pain in the early stages of this ulceration process is sometimes interpreted as colic.

5. Substitute fat-based energy sources for carbohydrate-rich energy sources. One way to reduce the amount of carbohydrate-rich grain in the horse's diet is to substitute some fat as an energy source. Studies in both Texas and Kentucky have demonstrated not only that horses are able to digest and use the energy in fats, but also that fat energy appears to give them a slight aerobic edge. Since fat contains 2.25 times more energy than carbohydrates or protein, adding 5% to 10% fat to the horse's overall diet allows a farm manager to reduce the amount of grain a horse receives by up to 25%.

A daily feeding of up to one cup of liquid vegetable oil or two pounds of heat-stabilized rice bran will accomplish this, but make the substitution of fat for carbohydrates gradually over a period of several weeks to minimize digestive upset. (Also be sure to rebalance the minerals in the horse's diet, if necessary, when making this switch.) Since fat is easily digested and less likely to add to the gut's acidity than other concentrated energy sources, feeding fat may help horses with ulcers or those that must be on high-concentrate diets.

6. Provide top-quality feedstuffs. This is always a good idea, but farm managers need to be particularly fussy about the quality of the chronic colicker's rations. Buy concentrates from mills that have a regular testing program for mycotoxins that can wreak havoc on the horse's digestive system. Then store and rotate stocks of feedstuffs to minimize the possibility of spoilage.

While whole, unprocessed grains have a long shelf life, do not store processed feeds for more than three months during cooler winter months and for more than a few weeks in hot, humid weather. Avoid less digestible, stemmy, poor-quality hay, which can contribute to impaction colic. Seek hay dealers who contract with producers who take measures to keep weeds out of their fields and who use cutting and conditioning practices that minimize the potential for mold or blister beetles.

Use caution when feeding the chronic colicker from round bales. Feeding round bales free choice in pastures increases the potential that the horse with a sensitive gut may ingest moldy hay. Also, the potential for impaction colic increases if a greedy horse eats too much free-choice dry hay without taking enough trips to the water tank.

Although there are no definitive studies on any relationship between different types of hay and the incidence of colic, fewer problems are reported when feeding alfalfa, timothy, orchard grass, and brome than with other hays. The type of hay is probably not as important as its quality. Moldy or dusty hay of any kind may cause health problems. Both overly mature, coarse, fibrous hays and very fine textured hays can contribute to impaction colic when horses do not chew them properly.

7. Feed on a regular schedule or feed on no schedule at all. Reducing the incidence of colic often means reducing stress. When horses are accustomed to a regular feeding schedule and a meal arrives late, the waiting makes them anxious. As stress hormone levels rise and digestive juices begin to flow in anticipation of feeding, the potential for digestive upsets increases.

Feeding schedules often have more to do with human than equine needs. If maintaining a regular feeding schedule is difficult, choose to be consistently inconsistent. As the horses become accustomed to being fed over a range of time rather than at a precise hour, a late meal will not cause anxiety. Feeding smaller amounts at more frequent intervals may also help the horse that stresses over twice-a-day grain rations. For stabled horses, consider automatic feeders that can deliver small amounts of grain or pellets throughout the day.

8. Provide ample turnout and minimize stall time. The Texas study found that horses pastured with free access to a plentiful water source, stalled less than half the time, and receiving no exercise other than ambling around their pasture had a low risk of colic. Provide colic-prone horses with as much turnout time in a large paddock or pasture as possible and minimize stall time. If the horse is overweight, keep pastures clipped short, turn the horse out with a grazing muzzle, or use a large dry lot to control grass intake.

The study findings suggest that colic-prone horses in heavy work may do better with a regular exercise routine. For example, daily gallops may be less likely to set the horse up for colic than a hard workout followed by several days of stall rest. Daily hand walking or time on a hot walker may help some horses. Good record keeping (see sidebar, "More ways to cope with chronic colic") can be an invaluable guide to what works best for an individual horse.

9. Provide a reliable source of clean, drinking water free choice. Horses typically drink six to ten gallons of water daily depending on the temperature, the kind of feedstuffs they are eating (grass is 90% water), and their workload. Stalled horses drink the most water within a few minutes after eating grain or within an hour after eating hay. Without ample water at these critical times, they are at risk for dehydration and impaction colic.

When temperatures drop in the winter, horses tend to drink less, and cases of impaction colic tend to rise as a result. Warming the horse's sole source of water can increase winter water intake. In two Pennsylvania trials during cold weather, ponies drank 40% more heated water than cold water when offered one or the other. When the ponies were given a choice of either warm or cold water, they tended to choose the cold water but they drank much less water than they did when offered warm water alone.

Use buckets rather than automatic waterers to monitor the water consumption of stabled colic-prone horses and keep them filled. Horses that drink insufficient water may be tempted by the addition of fruit-flavored drink mixes, apple juice, or a few drops of peppermint flavoring. Avoid pasturing the colic-prone horse where water sources are difficult to reach or tend to become muddy or scummy, discouraging consumption.

10. Follow a regular parasite prevention program. Parasites have been blamed in many cases of colic. Large masses of roundworms can cause impaction colic. Migrating larvae can damage blood vessels and decrease the blood supply to the gut. They can also block renal or bile ducts. Parasite damage to gut walls makes it harder for the horse's digestive tract to work efficiently, contributing to both colic and malnutrition.

11. Observe animals carefully for several days following administration of any medications, including dewormers. If a heavily parasitized horse is dewormed, there is concern that massive quantities of dead or dying worms may increase the risk of various types of colic. Some dewormers have been implicated in problems, particularly when administered in higher than recommended doses.

Antibiotics can upset the bacterial balance in the hindgut. Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories such as flunixin meglumine (Banamine) or phenylbutazone can damage the intestinal lining, making the horse more prone to colic. Whenever the horse is ill or has received medication of any kind, farm staff should be particularly alert for recurring colic. If possible, keep all other changes in the horse's diet or environment to a minimum.

12. Observe animals carefully during seasonal changes or weather changes. Pastures experience a flush of growth in spring, again in fall, and when rain finally ends a dry spell. At these times, fructan or plant sugars accumulate in the grass in amounts that are similar to those in a starchy, high grain meal. If undigested sugars get pushed into the hindgut, the end result may be colic or laminitis.

Monitor the chronic colicker's grazing carefully at these times. Limit grazing to early morning hours since fructan production increases from midday into the afternoon hours. Colder weather often means decreased water intake and an increased potential for impaction colic. Some researchers feel that any drop in barometric pressure (signaling a weather change) produces lower water intake. Again, if weather or other environmental factors are changing, avoid making other changes that might stress the horse in any way including diet, housing, or exercise.

13. Observe animals carefully when there are major changes in their environment or social units. Stress, again. The colic-prone horse may be more reactive whenever the simplest thing in its environment changes. Loss of a favorite companion to weaning, moving to a new pasture, changing tracks, or changing an exercise routine can set them off. Minimize changes or make them one at a time for the colic-prone horse. Reducing stress also helps reduce the incidence of ulcers, another health factor that increases the likelihood of colic.

14. Keep teeth in good condition. Dental problems can lead to poor chewing. The horse's feed does not get mixed adequately with saliva (which starts the digestive process) before it is swallowed. Inadequately chewed food can cause the horse to choke and is harder for the horse's digestive tract to process, leading to impaction. If the horse's digestive tract has already been compromised by previous bouts of colic or by resectioning, this can be a serious problem.

15. Avoid feeding hay off the ground or turning horses out in overgrazed paddocks, especially on sandy soils. Heavy sand settles onto the bottom of the intestinal tract where it can cause irritation and, eventually, persistent diarrhea or colic. When horses are fed hay on sandy soils, they ingest sand as they scavenge for the last tasty leaf bits. Overgrazing pastures on sandy soil contributes to the same problem.

To check for sand, put a few balls of fresh manure (brush off any adhering dirt) into a quart jar, add three to four times the same volume of water, and shake it into a slurry. Allow the mixture to settle a little, then pour off two-thirds to three-quarters of the water. Repeat the process several times until the water becomes relatively clear, and observe if there is any visible sand at the bottom of the container. A stool sample with visible sand is cause for concern.

16. Consider probiotics for the chronic colicker. Maintaining the microflora, a strong population of the right bacteria in the horse's hindgut, is critical for proper digestion. The ability of an older horse's gut to maintain a good population of bacteria on its own may be compromised. Any kind of stress, from transportation to a change in companions, can upset the pH of the hindgut and kill or stress the bacteria there.

Researchers are divided as to whether adding probiotics (live cultures of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus), yeasts such as Sacchronmyes, or digestive enzymes really benefits the microorganism population in the horse's gut. Proponents maintain that including these beneficial bacteria in the horse's daily feed may give the colic-prone horse some additional help. Farm managers may want to administer live cultures orally as a preventive measure after an event that can stress the gut, such as deworming, antibiotic treatment, or foaling.

Keep in mind, however, that any effect they may have will not be immediate. Beneficial bacteria in the gut double approximately every 30 minutes, so it can take three to 21 days for the population to change and adjust to a new feedstuff or to return to normal levels after an event that decimates their numbers.

[Carri]

Seer, would you be willing to analyze my "horsekeeping" and see if you see any gaps in what I am doing? I am always willing to learn. I would love to have feedback from everyone else. I am wondering because Cricket coliced this week, and Opie is very prone to colicing. I would love opinions on what I could do differently.

This is our daily schedule:
7 am morning feeding

9 am ride 4-5 days a week. Lessons 2 days a week, 1 jumping, 1 dressage. Usually about a 2 hr ride each time, but not a hard workout.

11 am stalled w extra hay

12 noon- 2 pm Opie outside w his best friend, a TB gelding

2 pm afternoon feeding

2pm - 4 pm Cricket and Miley outside

7 pm evening feeding

Feed:
Opie gets 1 sc am, 2 sc afternoon, 1 sc pm Triple Crown Sr, and gets 2 flakes of hay thrown to him at each feeding plus when he goes in his stall after riding.

Cricket gets 1/4 scoop Perform Safe (Seminole) pellets and 1 flake of hay at each time Opie does.

Miley gets the same, but eats 1/4 scoop Safe and Lite (Seminole).

Supplements:
Daily: Electrolytes, Strongid C2x daily, Super 14 (coat supplement), GLC joint supplement and MSM, and Cricket gets Quiessence.

They also get SandClear 1 week of each month, and probiotics when dewormed.

Opie is also on allergy shots.

One thing I cannot change is the amount of turnout time they get, but they do get plenty of exercise daily. On days we don't ride, we take them out to hand graze in the big field across the street.

So, with colic being such an issue, what holes do you see in my program?

ETA: Also, they get VX and wellness exam 2x a year, Oct and March, so the vet was just out and their teeth look great.

[seerfarm]

Carri, are you noticing that colic episodes tend to pop up or begin in the afternoon hours?

[GreyDot]

Seerfarm, thanks so much for posting that - I've never seen so much useful information on colic prevention in one place! I hope you don't mind if I print it and post it at our barn.

[seerfarm]

Not at all GreyDot...it is here for everyone!

[SpotADots4Me]

Thank you SeerFarm!!! This is a fantastic post and I wonder if we could make it sticky if it already isn't. Its a must-read for everyone

[BarnBum]

Thank You

[kanoo32]

Originally Posted by Carri

Seer, would you be willing to analyze my "horsekeeping" and see if you see any gaps in what I am doing? I am always willing to learn. I would love to have feedback from everyone else. I am wondering because Cricket coliced this week, and Opie is very prone to colicing. I would love opinions on what I could do differently.

This is our daily schedule:
7 am morning feeding

9 am ride 4-5 days a week. Lessons 2 days a week, 1 jumping, 1 dressage. Usually about a 2 hr ride each time, but not a hard workout.

11 am stalled w extra hay

12 noon- 2 pm Opie outside w his best friend, a TB gelding

2 pm afternoon feeding

2pm - 4 pm Cricket and Miley outside

7 pm evening feeding

Feed:
Opie gets 1 sc am, 2 sc afternoon, 1 sc pm Triple Crown Sr, and gets 2 flakes of hay thrown to him at each feeding plus when he goes in his stall after riding.

Cricket gets 1/4 scoop Perform Safe (Seminole) pellets and 1 flake of hay at each time Opie does.

Miley gets the same, but eats 1/4 scoop Safe and Lite (Seminole).

Supplements:
Daily: Electrolytes, Strongid C2x daily, Super 14 (coat supplement), GLC joint supplement and MSM, and Cricket gets Quiessence.

They also get SandClear 1 week of each month, and probiotics when dewormed.

Opie is also on allergy shots.

One thing I cannot change is the amount of turnout time they get, but they do get plenty of exercise daily. On days we don't ride, we take them out to hand graze in the big field across the street.

So, with colic being such an issue, what holes do you see in my program?

ETA: Also, they get VX and wellness exam 2x a year, Oct and March, so the vet was just out and their teeth look great.

No mineral supplementation.........especially this time of year when grazing is going to be getting sparse and since in your case Carri you have limited turnout, I would recommend a mineral supplement.......

[Carri]

Ah, forgot to mention, they get Equalizer daily, which is a vitamin/mineral supplement, and have Himalaya mineral blocks in their stalls. Sorry!

Seer, Cricket's colic started mid-morning, and Opie tends to begin in the evening hours, and he starts by not eating his dinner, which is my first sign it is going to be a long night...

[pvf]

Carri this is just my suggestion and I could be wrong but I would give them free choice hay or at least increase there hay amount. JMO

[Carri]

Marsha, Opie is getting 8 flakes a day, and does not finish it feeding to feeding. I am afraid of the ponies getting fat, they are both a really good weight right now! I could increase Cricket a little, they both clean their hay up really quickly. Will more hay effect their weight?

[pvf]

we have always given all of our horses free choice hay. They aren't underweight but they seem to know when they have had enough. Also, they kind of pick at it instead of inhauling there food they take there time. I would think that with all the exericse they are getting that they would be fine with it. Like I said it was just a suggestion, and I'm not an expert. To be honest I've only ever delt with colic when I helped a friends horse. None of mine have ever gotten it.

[Carri]

That is really impressive, Marsha, you are definitely doing something right!
I have hesitated to up the ponies' hay because they inhale it, but maybe you are right, if they know it will be there, maybe they won't think they have to.

[pvf]

We do that with the ones that come in the barn too. They get hay/grass outside but when they come in there is hay in there stall all the time. Sometimes 4 slices of hay will last them 3/4 day cause they are full. and other times they eat more but they seem to like it when they have it all the time. I think its more natural cause horses are grazers and I was told that if there system is working more often but not so hard they do better (I probably didn't explain that very good).

Or another way to look at it.. Its better for us to eat small amounts of food but frequently then if we only eat a couple of meals and stuff ourselves. ok I know I feel better when I do the first one instead of the last.

are horses get there grain (the ones that get it) after they have eaten at least some hay.

I'm sure that Seer can give you some other suggestions.

[seerfarm]

Well, like PVF I am a big fan of Hay...at 8 flakes with no grazing available, I would up it.

That was part of my asking when they were showing colic signs. Two things I would do, if it were me in your situation.

First, give probiotics daily. Break up the daily amount by of 15 grams for a big horse to 5 in the am and 10 in the PM. And the 10 grams for a pony to a 5 gram AM and 5 gram PM.

During there 2 hour out time I would provide the extra hay...as I am sure that most days they are just walking around slowly and stretching a little but mostly probably just resting.

I know that Opie is out with a TB...you may have to get with his owner if there is going to be an issue with the hay being out during this time.

[Carri]

The TB he goes out with is pretty thin, so I imagine she would be thrilled if I gave extra hay. Especially now that the bermuda grass is dying off, their grazing is about gone so I was planning to start throwing hay out during their turnout time anyway. Last winter I spread it around to make them walk around some while they are outside.

Sorry for monopolizing the thread, Seer!

[seerfarm]

No apology Carri, that is what it was here for...I also once the grass dies off place a bunch of hay piles. It keeps them moving, giving a bit more of a grazing atmosphere and keeps the big hay bellies off.

[pvf]

Seer I think that this thread would be very helpful to lots of people. And you have everything layed out so nicely. I think it should be made a sticky!

[scrapchick]

Great one, Seer.

We just went to a founder clinic. The vet said an interesting thing, that for the first 3 days after the first frost, the fructose in grass becomes tremendously high and puts horses at risk, and to limit, if possible, grazing for the three days after first frost. Interesting.

[PaintsQH]

Sticky
Great info Jules. Im very fortunate to not have any colic problems. Many years ago I had a POA who got colic every other week it seemed. He was paste wormed regularly, but come to find out he would get a worm colic (strongyle) so I had him on daily wormer and never had a problem again. Only had one sand colic in over 20 yrs of horse ownership. My Mustang gelding would flip his feed bucket over and picked up some sand. He is still alive and kicking (25yrs old)and is a therapy horse at an Equestrian Challenge place. That was a shocker for me since he was scared of his own shadow and very strong headed. He is a barn favorite there.