- aplusequinemassage
June is Equine Colic Awareness Month.
Do you know the signs of colic in your horse?
-Not passing manure
-Excessive laying down or rolling
-Lack of appetite
-Low/no gut sounds
-Frequently looking at or biting their sides or flank
-Increased sweating and increased heart rate
-Standing with neck stretched out
-Excessive pawing
If you see these symptoms, call your vet immediately. Every case of colic should be taken seriously because it can be hard to tell a mild one from a serious one in the early stages.
What are some ways you can help prevent colic from occurring?
-providing clean, fresh water at all times
-ensure your horses have adequate salt intake (salt blocks are not designed for horses!)
-increase turn out (movement promotes the transit of food through the GI tract)
-make any feed changes gradually
-feed a high quality forage-rich diet that is balanced
-reduce excess stress (intensive training and competition schedule, abrupt changes to horse's environment or routine, confinement in a stall, long trailer rides, low position in the herd/more competition for food and water)
-avoid long term use of NSAIDs
-deworm your horse
-support gut health with a pre or probiotic
