01/19/2021
COLIC WEATHER!!!!
Severe temperature swings (hot to cold can cause horses not to drink), internal parasites (f***l floats don’t always show encysted parasites, you must rotate dewormer due to worms becoming resistant to some brands, and a heavy worm burden can cause colic when dewormed— causing a blockage or releasing toxins!), enteroliths (intestinal stones that can be caused by diet — California has high calcium to phosphorous in our Alfaalfa hay), viruses or bacteria (such as fever or illness can cause a horse not to drink or diarrhea can easily cause dehydration), sand (eating off ground or not being fed enough can present as a painful diarrhea colic without regular Psylium treatments monthly), entrapment or displacement type colic (where intestine moves somewhere it should not - sometimes from something like a fatty tumor or lipoma, looping over kidney, or other with some resulting in that ‘twisted gut” or surgical colic), gas (from changes in feed, not moving, cribbing), poor dental care or advanced age (no yearly dentals causing wave or other, or losing teeth with age not chewing well — large fiber passing in manure not properly chewed or needing hay pellets), rapid change in diet (changing type of feed too fast or getting into the wrong feed - ie getting out at night and eating carbohydrate based diet like chicken feed can become life threatening fast if not immediately treated), or many more causes!!
PREVENT COLIC!
Know your horse! How much does he drink, what does he eat, how much manure does he pass, what does his manure look like, what is his normal behavior, what is his normal heart rate/ respiratory rate / temperature, how fit is he for his job and how often is he exercised?
PROVIDE good quality hay, clean water, a salt block, regular dental care, vaccines, hoof care and exercise.
Check your horse daily. Add electrolyte (paste or powder — see Adeptus brand
Or standard table salt for no sugar for
Metabolic cases) at times of stress, weather change, or manure change (dry/ mucus/ loose). Treat underlying conditions. Have a relationship established with a veterinarian BEFORE you have an emergency. See your horse every day and know what is normal!!!
Colic is easier treated when mild — signs may be yawning, stretching, posturing to urinate, backing up, poor appetite, less manure than normal, depressed or anything that is out of the ordinary.
Don’t wait until the colic is severe— rolling, sweating, shaking, etc.
CALL YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY and WAIT for your vet to give banamine as this may mask a severe colic. Banamine can ONLY be given intravenous! Muscle shots predispose to severe abscess or clostridial
Infection!
Good luck with this weather swing and know your horse! Prevent colic and catch it when it is mild and treatable— don’t wait!
