A change in the pasture
access either by decreasing the allotted grazing time or a
significant change in acreage or eliminating grazing is associated
with a higher incidence of colic. There also seems to be some
indication that a horse that spends a significant amount of its
time in a stall has greater chance of colic. However, a known
number of horses (e.g., race and saddlebreds) have very little
turn out time and seem to do find with good horsemanship.
As horses can become
creatures of habit, any significant change in their level of
activity is associated with a higher incidence of colic. This is
most likely due to the fact that these horses become so accustomed
to a routine that changes cause an alteration of their digestive
tract subsequently resulting in colic. It might not be a bad idea
to exposed horses to various routines when in training to prevent
such occurrences.
Some studies have shown
Thoroughbreds to have a higher rate of colic than other breeds,
which was most likely due to the fact that more Thoroughbreds were
included in the study. It should be also noted that a large number
of racehorses, i.e., Thoroughbreds, are stabled every year and
don't seem to have any more colics that a barn full of Quarter
Horses.
Deworming (giving an
anthelmintic) your horse on a regular basis is associated with a
decreased incidence of colic. Both daily dewormers and regularly
scheduled deworming (i.e., quarterly) have been proven to prevent
colic caused by an unusually large worm burden. It should be noted
that colic has also been associated with a recent deworming in
parasitized horses and with incorrect administration (over dosing)
of some dewormers.
Horses that have had a
previous episode of colic are more likely to experience another
episode of colic than horses with no history of colic. It does not
matter if the colic was treated via medical or surgical treatment.
Horses that have a history of a previous abdominal surgery, even
when that surgery was not for colic, have a higher chance of
developing colic than horses that never had an abdominal surgery.
This is most likely due to the fact that these horses often
develop abdominal adhesions, which may restrict the movement of
the intestine.
In summary, what can the
horse owner do to prevent colic. There are several good practice
tips that one might consider:
-
Develop a good pasture
and allow horses to obtain most of their nutrients this way
-
Ensure turn out time
for stable horses even if only for an hour a day
-
Feed the best quality
hay and grain that you can find
-
Avoid feeding fads and
stick to the basics
-
Plan ahead for diet
changes and make them slowly. Don't make diet changes with other
stressful events, e.g., shows, moving, etc.
-
Reduce the parasite
infestation of your horse
-
Feed small frequent
meals
Remember that a simple
colic can become a serious manner in a short period of time. If
you think your horse is experiencing colic, contact your local
veterinarian at once.
