ANIMAL CARE

8 tips to help avoid colic in horses

Last issue we talked about equine colic and how it is the number one cause of death in horses, with the take home message being there is no such thing as a non-serious colic.

Horses are predisposed to colic due to the function and anatomy of their digestive tracts. Even though we can’t prevent every colic case, there are some things we can do to decrease the likelihood of colic: 1) Establish a daily routine. Try to feed and exercise at the same time every day — this reduces stress.

2) Feed a high quality diet com-

prised mostly of roughage. Feeding too much grain can change the ph in the digestive system which can cause ulcers, increased gas production and other digestive problems.

A VET’S ADVICE

Dr. David Moss

Large Animal Vet

3) Divide daily rations into several smaller portions as opposed to one

large portion. Horses are made to eat small amounts all day long. This is sometimes difficult to do because we have lives, jobs and other things outside our horses.

4) Make changes to rations gradu-

ally. Changes to the intensity and duration of exercise should also be made gradually.

5) Provide fresh clean water at all

times. During winter months, horses need to be encouraged to drink more. This might mean putting water heaters in tanks or giving them more salt or electrolytes to encourage water intake. 6) Provide good dental care. If a horse is unable to chew his food properly, he is more likely to become impacted.

7) Provide a good worming pro-

gram. In vet school, they taught that 90% of all colics can be directly or indirectly related to worms. 8) Reduce stress. Changes in environment and workloads can increase the risk for intestinal problems. Pay special attention to horses when transporting them.

These are just a few of the things we can do to maximize our horses health and reduce the risk of colic. Benjamin Franklin’s axiom “ an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” is wise advice when it comes to colic.

Northside Animal Clinic

4715 W. Haven Road West Haven, Utah 84401 801-732-8387

Providing All Your Surgical/Medical Needs For Both Large & Small Animals

Dr. David L. Moss, DVM Dr. Andrea Russell, DVM