Emily Steele, DVM

With spring on its way, we all start to think of seasonal care for our horse:  vaccines, dental exams, fixing fences, etc.  But, there is one important task that remains constant throughout the seasons: colic prevention.  Colic means "pain in the abdomen" or in other words, a belly ache.  In the horse, a belly ache can be caused by everything from a little excess gas to a life-threatening intestinal twist or blockage.  Changing from hay to grass, traveling to shows, and changing temperatures are all spring events that increase the likelihood of colic.  One of the most common questions I am asked when treating a colicking horse is "How could I have prevented this?"  While not all colics can be prevented, there are many steps you can take to decrease the chance of colic and improve the overall health of your horse.

 One very important step is parasite control.  It is likely that for as long as people have owned horses, parasites have been a major source of colic.  There are several different species of intestinal parasite, all of which use the horse's internal organs during a large part of their life cycle.  Intestinal parasites can cause colic by irritation of the gut wall, cutting off blood supply to sections of the intestinal tract, and can even cause blockage of the tract with their sheer numbers.  Parasites are also very adept at evolving and have the ability to become resistant to dewormers if exposed to the same one month after month.  In fact, there are now documented cases of resistance to every type of dewormer available on the market.  Unfortunately, no new types of dewormer are on the horizon.  Some horses have better natural defenses against parasites than others; therefore, we now recommend that all horses have a fecal exam at least once a year to evaluate the horses in your herd.  This simple exam only requires one fresh horse apple per horse and can be performed by your veterinarian.  The exam will identify the amount and type of parasites present in your horse.  Parasite experts state that 20% of horses in a herd are normally responsible for 80% of the herd's parasites.  Once identified, a horse with a low number of parasites can be dewormed less frequently and those with a high number can be dewormed more often.  Horses will always need some dewormer to prevent colic, but fecal exams can decrease the frequency of deworming for most horses in a safe manner and therefore slow the development of resistant parasites.  Call your veterinarian to develop a parasite control schedule for your horses.

 Another cause of colic in horses is improper dental care.  Horses have teeth that continually erupt throughout their life and are worn down by constant grinding of their food.  Grinding all food into small particles is necessary for normal digestion of food in the horse.  In the wild, the constant grinding of rough grasses keeps horses teeth in normal wear.  However, horses in captivity are often fed much richer, softer feed and very commonly develop sharp edges on their teeth.  These "points", as they are commonly called, inhibit normal grinding motion and can actually cause pain in your horse's mouth by rubbing on its cheek and tongue.  In addition, some horses are born with abnormal dental conformation and have increased difficulty grinding their food.  Improper grinding causes the horse to swallow larger, coarser food particles.  These food particles can go on the cause irritation and blockage in the intestine, which in turn, lead to colic.  The American Association of Equine Practioners recommends dental exams 1-2 times per year to ensure that your horse's teeth are in good condition.

 Sand is also a very common culprit in equine colic.  It is ingested when horses graze in sandy areas or eat off the ground.  As it passes through the gastrointestinal tract, sand can be extremely irritating and in some cases, can cause a blockage, also known as an impaction.  Once formed, sand impactions can be very difficult to pass and often require surgery.  A good way to check for sand in your horse's diet is to place manure in a clear, plastic bag with water.  If excess sand is present, it will quickly sink to the bottom of the bag.  Horses can be given psyllium supplements to help remove sand and prevent colic.  In addition, in the fight against sand, it is equally important to prevent sand ingestion by feeding horses off the ground or in tubs.

 An easy but often forgotten technique to prevent colic in horses is to make sure they are consuming enough water.  To properly digest and pass manure, your horse needs proper hydration.  From 40⁰ below in the winter to 105⁰ in the summer, all horses need clean, fresh water available all the time.  Forgetting to clean or fill the water tank or not checking the water heater in the winter can lead to dehydration and colic in your horse.  Water tanks can also become electrified if they are touching an electric fence or if you have an electric fence that is not properly grounded.  If you are concerned about your horse's hydration status, an easy test you can do is the pinch-test.  When pinching the skin on a normal horse's neck, the skin will snap back into place.  A dehydrated animal's skin will take several seconds to go back into place.

 What you feed your horse can also help decrease their chances of colic.  The horse's gastrointestinal system is designed to ingest forage continually and slowly digest throughout the day.  When horses are fed only a couple large meals a day, their gastrointestinal tracts have difficulty coping with a large quantity of material and then a subsequent lack of food.  In addition, feeds high in starch such as corn and molasses can upset the gastrointestinal tract.  The inflammation and gas caused by such feeding practices can greatly increase a horse's risk of colic.  Feeding frequent, small meals with low starch feeds and/or free-choice hay are a great way to promote a healthy gastrointestinal tract.  Some feed companies are now developing feeds designed to augment a forage-based diet rather than to replace forage with grain, which is an excellent step in working towards improved, safer diets for our horses.

 Finally, horses are very sensitive to change.   A dramatic change in training, feeding, or environment can be enough stress to cause colic in the horse.  Therefore, it is important to make all changes as gradually as possible.  During these times of stress it is especially important to monitor your horse's feed and water intake and overall behavior.  In addition, your veterinarian can provide products that help to protect your horse's gastrointestinal tract during times of stress.  If you do notice any change in behavior or hydration, one of the most important steps you can take to prevent a more serious colic is to call your veterinarian.  By treating early and appropriately, many potentially serious colics can be avoided.