Summer: Colic and Cuts
It’s summer again in Texas. Hot, humid and breezeless days are back, “cooking” your horses which makes them prone to colic. This month I will discuss colic and what you can do to prevent it.
Colic, can be life threating. Symptoms and outcome can vary depending on the type and severity. Less obvious symptoms might go unnoticed. Your horse may just lay around, and show little or no interest in food or water. When in increased discomfort, it may paw, get up and down repeatedly, roll, and sweat excessively. Any of these symptoms warrant a call to your veterinarian. If you, have it on hand, your vet may have you administer Banamine. If symptoms persist or return, your horse must be seen for a colic exam.
A full colic exam will determine what kind of colic your horse is experiencing. This exam includes your vet checking the heart rate, listening to gut sounds, a rectal exam, and passing a stomach tube. Colic may be caused from gas on the small intestine, impaction, fluid on the stomach, GI shutdown, or an intestinal displacement or twist.
Treatment depends on the type and duration of colic. Horses without fluid (reflux) on the stomach may be treated by tubing mineral oil, electrolyte water, and given Banamine for pain. Horses are unable to vomit. If fluid is present, the stomach is pumped (refluxed) to remove it. IV fluids may then be required to hydrate and get the intestine moving. This will require hospitalization. Some horses may require referral for surgery.
As the old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is especially true for horses and colic. A high grain diet with no free choice roughage can cause gas in the large intestine and possible colic. The horse’s intestinal system is designed to have roughage (free choice quality pasture or quality hay) going through it at all times. If on pasture, be sure it is more grass than weeds. Maintain your pasture by mowing and spraying for weeds. Poor pasture will require supplementing with hay. Adding a probiotic supplement can be beneficial. This puts natural flora in the intestine which keeps the bad flora in check. Recommended brands are Fastrack, Probios, Smart Pak, and Platinum. Feed a product specifically designed for horses at the manufactures’ recommended rates. Overweight horses, those prone to founder, or previous colic may require restricted diets. Feeding a low carbohydrate feed such as Nutrena Safe Choice or Purina Equine Senior may be required.
The most important thing is to have a roughage-based diet.
Summer weather brings out heat cycles in mares. This can cause arguments between mares and geldings that share fence lines. Mares tend to kick into the fence and geldings paw it often resulting in severe cuts. When using a wire fence, smooth wire is less likely to cause serious cuts. Barb wire fencing is often responsible for the crippling injuries we see every year. Adding an electric “hot” wire to top of the fence is very beneficial. Horses stay off of the fence, preventing injury and damage to the horse and property.
If your horse does get cut on the fence, wash it well using the hose and bandage the wound. If bleeding, pack the wound with paper towels and wrap tightly with a vet wrap or bandage. Call your vet.
Deep wounds in the heel and coronet often need a foot cast which stops the movement. This minimizes the healing time and scar tissue (proud flesh). Wounds heal faster under a bandage when the tissue stays moist, filling in the wound with scar tissue. Bandaging also keeps the flies off, preventing summer sores. Applying blue spray or iodine dries the wound which increases healing time.
Horse fly trail riding tip: Keep a can of Deep Woods Off in your saddle bag. Spray your horse repeatedly on the trail ride. Use caution when applying! Make sure your horse tolerates spray.
Recent Comments