Your horse could be at risk for colic. It’s your responsibility to know the types of gastrointestinal problems that horses are prone to get. Know your facts so you can protect your horse!
7 Types of Colic
1. Impaction: This form most commonly occurs when there’s a blockage hindering the horse from passing waste. It could be from food, dirt, sand, and other indigestible materials. Poor quality food and lack of water can be to blame. Occasionally, those that were recently wormed are at risk. As the horse rids the worms from their body, a blockage can occur.
2. Sand Colic: Horses that graze or eat food in dusty and sandy areas are at risk for this form of impaction colic. They can get as much as 30 to 80 pounds of sand in their gut before problems begin.
3. Gas Colic: When gas is created faster than it can be eliminated, stomach pain can be experienced. This excess gas can put a lot of pressure on the colon. It can be from stress, poor parasite management, or stomach ulcers.
4. Spasmodic: Spasms of the gut from an overactive system are the results of this type.
5. Enteritis: The intestine will become inflamed from an infection or bacteria.
6. Twisted Gut: This condition can be fatal if not handled immediately. The intestines twist around tissues in the abdominal cavity. Often, the blood supply is cut off and food cannot be digested. Tapeworms and other parasitic worms are usually to blame.
7. Artery Blockage: The blood supply is cut off to a portion of the gut.
For more information, watch this video and hear a veterinarian discuss the different types.
https://cowgirlmagazine.com/preventing-winter-colic/
https://cowgirlmagazine.com/horse-sand-colic/
