Prevention is better than cure: 6 tips for preventing colic in horses

What exactly is colic?

But first, what is colic? Colic is a common condition in horses characterized by (severe) abdominal pain. It can have various causes, such as gas buildup, blockages, sand, or even a twisted intestine. It can range from mild to severe cases and often requires immediate medical attention. Colic can be life-threatening for horses. So the rule of thumb is always: take it seriously!

The symptoms of colic can sometimes give you a clue as to which type you’re dealing with. This can be helpful, because some types of colic are more acute than others. So even though there’s a lot of overlap, we’d like to explain which specific symptoms are typically associated with which type of colic. But remember: if in doubt, always call your veterinarian first.

Gas colic

This condition is caused by gas buildup in the intestines, which results in pain and discomfort for the horse. In itself, gas buildup in a horse is quite normal and not a problem. It only becomes a problem when there is an excessive amount of gas in the intestines.

Possible causes of gas colic
1)  Incomplete digestion of starch and sugars in the large intestine. When a horse consumes too much of these, they cannot be fully digested in the small intestine. The undigested portion then flows into the large intestine, where an imbalance in the bacterial flora can occur. This leads to several problems, including colic (but also an increased risk of laminitis, for example).  Concentrates with a high starch and sugar content are a risk factor, but sugar-rich grass or hay can also cause excessive gas formation.
2) Gas colic can also be a sign of another underlying cause of colic, such as a blockage in the intestines, which can also cause a normal amount of gas to accumulate.

Symptoms of gas colic
These include restlessness, kicking at the abdomen, and excessive rolling.

Intestinal obstruction

A horse's digestive tract has several narrowings, which can lead to blockages.

Possible causes of impaction colic
1) Eating large amounts of straw, coarse-stemmed hay, silage, or other bedding material.
2) It can also be caused by a lack of something he or she isn’t getting enough of: water. If your horse cannot access water—for example, because the water trough has broken without you noticing, or has frozen—this can have serious consequences. To compensate, your horse may absorb so much moisture from the intestinal contents that the fibrous mass in the intestines becomes too dense and hard, and cannot flow smoothly through the narrowings of the intestinal tract.
3) Dental problems. If your horse is unable to properly chew roughage, the risk of blockages increases.

Symptoms of impaction colic
No or very little manure, reduced appetite, and restlessness.

Change in position for colic

This is a severe form of colic in which the intestines become twisted, cutting off the blood supply. As you can imagine, this causes severe pain and damage.

Possible causes of intestinal obstruction
A key feature of a horse’s intestinal system is that most of both the small and large intestines lie “loose” within the abdomen. As a result, sections of the intestines can become twisted around each other, a condition known as “intestinal obstruction.”

Symptoms of positional colic
The symptoms of positional colic can include all of the symptoms listed above, ranging from mild to very severe. Specifically, restlessness and sweating are particularly common. This form of colic is so severe that you should call a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Treatments for displacement can include medication, flushing fluid, or, in some cases, even surgery. The chances of success are generally highest when the displacement has not been present for very long. That is why it is so important to contact a veterinarian immediately if colic occurs.

Intestinal colic

Spasmodic colic is a type of colic in which the intestines exhibit spasms and uncoordinated movements.

Possible causes of colic
This may be a reaction to changes in feed, housing, training, or stressful situations. Worm infections can also be an underlying cause; for example, it frequently occurs in conjunction with a severe tapeworm infection.

Symptoms of colic
Restlessness, kicking at the abdomen, increased heart rate and breathing

Sand colic

This type of colic is caused by ingesting sand. You’ll notice this especially if your horse is grazing on a bare or very wet pasture, or in a sandy paddock.

Causes of Sand Colic
If your horse is still out in the pasture, there’s a good chance it’s ingesting a lot of sand while grazing. The grass is often short, and even if it’s a bit longer, the pastures are wet, and the grass blades often come up root and all. On top of that, the grass that’s still standing provides little fiber, which doesn’t help intestinal function. If your horse is in the paddock, it will often eat from the ground: even if it gets its hay in a rack or net, whatever falls on the ground is often picked up as well.  In addition, he or she may drink from shallow mud puddles, which also contain sand. From all these sources, it gradually accumulates in the digestive system. A little sand is normal, but if it builds up over time (this can take weeks, months, or even years), it can have serious consequences: colic and intestinal damage.

So it’s important to regularly check whether your horse has sand in its intestines. You can do this using items you find in and around the house. It’s important, however, to do it the right way and at specific intervals, and to interpret the results correctly. Want to know how? We’ll teach you in this blog!

Symptoms of sand colic
Loose stools, reduced appetite, and general signs of discomfort, as well as weight loss and diarrhea.

4) Sufficient exercise
By exercising your horse regularly or ensuring that your horse has sufficient freedom of movement, you stimulate blood circulation and digestion, and prevent boredom and stress. Exercise keeps the digestive system active and prevents food from stagnating in one place. Furthermore, it promotes healthy blood circulation, which is crucial for the absorption of nutrients and oxygen. This helps reduce the risk of colic by ensuring efficient processing of nutrients and oxygen. We understand better than anyone that providing more exercise (and preventing boredom) isn’t always easy to do. That’s why we’ve put together some tips in this blog about exercise and keeping your horse active in the winter.

5) Sufficient water
Sufficient water is vital for horses. A horse can survive for nearly a month without food if necessary, but just 48 hours without water can already cause signs of colic and other life-threatening consequences. Did you know that an average-sized horse drinks about 20–55 liters a day? Water plays an essential role in digestion and regulating body temperature (thermoregulation) in horses. So always make sure your horse has access to clean, fresh drinking water.

6) Preventive sand treatment with psyllium
Most cases of sand colic occur in the fall and winter. Depending on your horse’s risk factors, it is recommended to administer a preventive treatment once every 1, 2, or up to 3 months, because sand is a real “silent killer”: it builds up little by little. A preventive sand treatment helps prevent sand from having the chance to accumulate. For our own horses, we do this monthly with Vitalbix PsylliumMash. The big advantage? PsylliumMash ensures that horses actually enjoy taking psyllium. It consists of 50% psyllium seeds and 50% mash with no other additives. You can therefore give it to any horse with confidence! There’s much more to say about preventing, recognizing, and treating sand colic… we’ve compiled 15 tips for you. So do yourself and your horse a favor, and read them here!

None of these tips is a miracle cure or a guarantee that your horse will never suffer from colic. But the more tips you can put into practice, the better it is for your horse’s well-being—that much is certain.