Page 97 - Speedhorse June 2020

Good management strategies can help keep colic episodes to a minimum, including strategic deworming protocols and dietary management.
issues like equine metabolic syndrome or Cushing’s disease, pasture may not be a possible option, or at the very least, the horse should wear a grazing muzzle during turnout.
Other possible links were found in this study: Horses fed probiotics seem to have a higher incidence of recurrent colic, the reason for this unspecified. Horses with stereotypic behaviors that were fed apples or carrots seemed to have a reduced incidence. The researchers cautioned that both these issues need further investigation before drawing conclusions.
Previous research has also identified intestinal parasitism as a cause of recurrent colic, and so deworming strategies continue to be important to intestinal health. It is best to have your veterinarian run a fecal egg count once or twice a year to tailor an individual parasite control program for each horse. Horses stabled in stalls or paddocks that are mucked out daily are least at risk for ingestion of infective parasitic larvae. Those on pasture are at highest risk, particularly if out with other horses. In addition, it is also known that horses need access to clean, unfrozen water as well as quality forage in order to keep their intestinal tract working in tip-top shape.
Horses that have had abdominal surgery are more prone to a repeat colic episode, often due to adhesions (scar tissue) in the bowel
following abdominal exploration and intestinal manipulation. Chronic NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like phenylbutazone or flunixin meglumine are known to induce stomach and/or colonic ulcers, which contribute to colic. NSAIDs also contribute
to increased intestinal permeability that can create “leaky gut syndrome” and systemic inflammation. Another cause of chronic colic is persistent ingestion of “sand” when hay is fed on the ground or dirt is consumed in over- grazed pastures. And, of particular significance is the fact that high-grain diets are fermentable and can lead to painful gas colic, which could progress to a more serious colon displacement.
Good management strategies can help keep colic episodes to a minimum. These include:
• Strategic deworming protocols in
collaboration with your veterinarian and
based on fecal egg counts
• Dietary management that maximizes high
quality forage and minimizes grains
• Providing feeder systems that protect against
sand and dirt ingestion
• Maximizing lifestyles to which horses
evolved – freedom of movement, plenty of exercise, and herd interaction when possible
These tactics are key to successful management of every horse, and in particular those with recurrent colic.
VETERINARY VIEWS
To help keep colic episodes to a minimum, deworm your horse based on fecal egg count, maintain high quality forage
and provide feeders to protect against sand/dirt ingestion, and offer a lifestyle that includes lots of exercise and herd interaction when possible.
Horses with daily pasture access have a greatly reduced incidence of recurrent colic.
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