Horse-Feeding Nutrition for Colic

Symptoms

• Symptoms vary by the degree of pain that the horse is experiencing. The most common symptoms include restlessness, frequently lying down and getting back up, and thrashing on the ground. Symptoms may be as simple as displays of slight discomfort such as pawing and pacing, or as severe as excessive sweating, rapid breathing and swollen eyes. No matter what level of symptoms a horse is demonstrating, you should call your veterinarian immediately.

Causes

• Colic can have a variety of causes including twisting of the intestines, parasites, damage of an abdominal organ or diet. Diet-related types of colic include gas colic, impaction colic, sand colic and spasmodic colic.

  Gas colic occurs when a horse consumes an excessive amount of lush grass or hay, and gas builds up in the intestines. Impaction colic is caused by eating too much grain, lush pasture or foreign materials, or by not having enough water in the diet. This then causes blockage in the intestine. Sand colic happens if a horse is often fed on the ground or develops a habit of eating dirt; dirt particles then form a blockage in the intestine. Spasmodic colic is caused by a change in a horse's diet, environment or activity level that results in increased amounts of bowel movements and abdominal pain.

Prevention

• Colic is easier to prevent than it is to treat. Maintaining a healthy diet is essential in preventing colic.

  Regular dental care is also important in minimizing the threat of colic. If a horse's teeth are not kept in good repair, the horse won't be able to properly chew and digest his food.

  When buying a new horse, learn about her medical history. A horse that has had colic in the past is more likely to have it again.

Water

• Keeping a horse hydrated is an important way of minimizing the risk of colic. Horses will drink between 30 and 50 quarts a day depending on their environment and activity level. Horses on dry feed require more water than horses feeding on grass. Horses that are exercised regularly will also require more water than those that aren't. Make sure your horse consistently has water available to ensure that he doesn't become dehydrated.

Feed

• The amount of grain and hay that a horse should be fed is often calculated by a percentage of her body weight and multiplied by a percentage of her activity level. Horses that are exercised frequently will require higher-energy feed such as barley, corn or oats, while horses that are not often worked will become overfed on such feed. Horses that are pasture-fed often do not require as much hay and oats (if any at all) as horses that are kept in a stable. Understanding an individual horse's feeding requirements and avoiding overfeeding is the most effective way to prevent colic.