Mineral Oil for Horse Colic

Colic is the number one killer of horses and refers to a condition in which they are unable to pass food through the digestive tract. This can be caused be a food impaction, torsion of the intestine, or from a severe parasitic infection. Colic is a life-threatening emergency and must be treated immediately. Mineral oil is used to help horses lubricate their intestinal tract in order to facilitate the passage of impacted bowels; however, is not helpful in the treatment of twisted or torsed bowels.

  1. Causes

    • Common causes of colic include the ingestion of dirt or sand during feeding, overfeeding, parasitism, sudden changes in feed, moldy or spoiled feed, the ingestion of non-food items such as stones, sticks, twine, etc, and twisted bowels.

    Symptoms

    • Early symptoms of colic include indifference to food or water, slightly elevated temperature and sleepiness. As the condition progresses, so does the pain. Horses will become restless and begin stomping their feet, nipping at their sides and swishing their tails. As the pain level increases, horses may become frantic and begin biting at their sides, lying down, getting up, and rolling to relieve the pain. Many will become sweaty and strain to defecate. It is imperative to prevent the horse from rolling as this is what causes the bowels to become twisted, worsening the condition.

    Mineral Oil

    • Mineral oil should be administered at the first signs of colic in order to have the best chance to yield positive results. Owners should immediately contact their veterinarian if colic is suspected and begin walking the horse to help alleviate the pain and keep him from rolling. It is important to note that walking the horse while waiting for the vet is good, but over-walking the animal will simply weaken it and lessen his chances for survival if surgery is required. Mineral oil will be administered by a veterinarian, via naso-gastric tube, to prevent the accidental inhalation of the oil.

    Treatment

    • Up to one gallon of mineral oil will be given to a horse experiencing mold, overfeeding, or impaction-induced colic. The mineral oil, in combination with a laxative and antibiotic, will work to lubricate and remove the impaction while restoring normal gut motility. This combination of treatments is highly effective in removing the underlying cause of the colic and has few side effects.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Prevention of colic is paramount to keeping your horse healthy. Do not overfeed your horse. Feed quality grain and hay products, keep him on a regular worming schedule and remove as many foreign bodies from grazing areas as possible. If you are in a remote area that makes it tough to get veterinary care, talk to your vet about self-administration of mineral oil. He will most likely teach you how to properly administer mineral oil so that you will have a good chance of saving your horse's life in the event colic strikes.