colic | Horse Racing Free Tips

Specific Type Of Colic More Prevalent In Spring

Though colic can occur at any time of year, some gastrointestinal disruptions are more common in specific seasons. Spring, with its warmer weather and greener grass, brings with it a heightened risk of gas colic.

Gas colic occurs when a horse ingests forage that is high in sugar. Excessive fermentation takes place in the gut, which creates an abundance of gas. Horses can't burp, but they can flatulate in an effort to rid themselves of the excess gas. Because a horse's intestinal tract is about 100 feet long, it can be difficult for all the gas to escape. As the gas accumulates, it can stretch the intestinal wall and become painful.

A horse with gas colic may nip at his flanks, be withdrawn or lie down repeatedly. He may have lots of gut noises. Gas colic may clear on its own, but it's best to call the vet if a horse is suspected of having it – gas colic can cause the intestine to twist, which may require surgery to correct.

When called out for a gas colic, the vet will perform a rectal exam to rule out displacements or a blockage. Next, a nasogastric tube will be passed into the horse's stomach to give the gas an extra escape route.

A horse that doesn't have his gas colic fully resolved with the passing of the nasogastric tube may be prescribed an antispasmodic drug and a pain reliever. Once the horse is relaxed, he is often able to pass the gas.

The Lowdown On Lipomas And Surgery Survival

Colic is a broad term that is often used to indicate any type of abdominal pain, but veterinarians can often determine — or at least narrow down — what is causing the abdominal issue. One common cause of colic, particularly in older equines, is a strangulating lipoma.

A strangulating lipoma is a benign, fatty tumor on a stalk that can wrap around and strangulate a section of small intestine. There are no good markers to denote a horse that may be at risk of a lipoma other than advancing age. The only repair for this type of colic is surgery.

When the veterinarian has the horse on the table, he or she will prophylactically remove all of the lipomas found in the small intestine and small colon to prevent strangulation in the future. Older horses tend to be more stoic so may not show the intense pain they are in. For this reason, some strangulating lipomas are missed during vet exams.

It's imperative that if a horse is suspected to have a strangulating lipoma that he is sent directly to an equine hospital equipped to handle surgery. The idea that older horses don't handle colic surgery and anesthesia well is a myth, according to EQUUS magazine. Older horses have as good of a chance of survival after colic surgery as younger horses.

The Scoop On Eating Dirt

Many horse owners have been told that a horse that eats dirt is missing specific nutrients in his diet—but this line of thinking is outdated. Seeing a horse licking or chewing dirt is concerning as the ingestion of soil can increase the likelihood he will develop sand colic.

A horse fed the proper amount of a commercial feed formulated for his age and lifestyle should lack for nothing with regards to vitamins, minerals and nutrients; so ingesting soil isn't to “make up” for a deficiency in his diet. If a horse was lacking something in his diet severely enough to make him want to eat dirt, he would show other signs of the deficiency, including weight loss or a dull coat.

Horses typically eat dirt because they're bored. In a natural setting, horses graze nearly constantly—and that time spend chewing is good for their mental health. A horse eating dirt might be seeking the feeling the chewing motion brings, so offering him something like hay in of a slow feeder might give him something to pass the time. Increasing his workload (if possible) or giving him a playful pasturemate may also help ease his boredom.

Is Colic The Only Reason For Bacterial Changes In The Gut? Probably Not

It's long been known that the best way to prevent ulcers in horses is to make sure they have something to eat—preferably forage—nearly constantly. But what happens if feed and hay are withheld to not exacerbate a problem, like colic?

Drs. Jaclyn Willette, Dipti Pitta, Nagaraju Indugu, Bonnie Vecchiarelli, Meagan Hennessy, Tamara Dobbie and Louise Southwood found that the bacterial population of a horse's gut changes if he has been without food for at least 10 hours.

Chronic gastrointestinal disease leads to a decrease in variety of bacterial species in the gut of humans and cattle; the same is thought to be true for horses.

The bacteria in a colicking horse's gut is distinctly different from that in a healthy horse's gut. While this could be related to intestinal problems and inflammation that is leading to the colic epsiode, other factors could be at play, including withholding feed, which is an essential tool in managing a horse with colic.

The study team used eight mares for a crossover study that withheld nearly all feed for 24 hours and then allowed each horse free-choice timothy hay for 24 hours. The horses had access to water at all times.

The researchers found that bacteria richness and diversity were significantly lower 10 to 24 hours after the fast began. This limited bacterial population persisted for 2 to 12 hours after the horses were given access to hay. The horse's gut returned to normal 18 to 24 hours after the hay was reintroduced.

The team concluded that the effect of withholding feed should be considered when interpreting data on species and amount of gut bacteria in horses. Their findings may help locate markers that will lead to the development therapeutic interventions for horses that are colicking.

Read the study here.