<p>Colic is the most important horse illness in terms of: - It is the most frequent cause of pre-mature death of horses - It is the most common cause of serious illness, with at least 1 in 10 horses getting it each year - It is the bigest single cause of large veterinary bills (into thousands of dollars) - It sometimes results in other serious illnesses (e.g. laminitis or founder)</p> <p>There are douzens of different types of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wowhorses.com/horse-colic.html">colic</a> and just as many causes. However, the primary causes have been identified by research which has spaned thousands of colic cases. Following is a list of what one should do to avoid these primary causes and thereby minimise the risk of horse colic, as well as being generally good <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wowhorses.com/horse-care.html">horse health</a> practices.</p> <p>1) <strong>Frequent Feedings</strong>. Horses have evolved to graze throughout the day. The more frequently they eat, the healthier their digestive system.</p> <p>2) <strong>Grass before Grain</strong>. The equine digestive system is designed for 'high volume, low calorie' food such as grass or hay. Energy-dense foods such as grain or musli have insufficient volume and fiber. Consequently, the diet should have as much grass or hay as possible. If one feeds both hay and grain, one should feed the hay followed by the grain rather than the reverse order, as this results in better digestion and less bolting.</p> <p>3) <strong>Soak Food Pellets</strong>. Food pellets (such as pelleted hay) should be soaked. Unsoaked pellets can greatly expand upon entering the stomach, resulting in bloating. Also, both choke and bolting are more likely to occur with unsoaked pellets.</p> <p>4) <strong>Lock Feedroom Door</strong>. Horses which get into a feedroom can stuff themselves, especially on grain, which can result in colic (it can also cause laminitis). A lock or horse-proof latch is adviseable.</p> <p>5) <strong>Prevent Bolting</strong>. A horse may bolt (swallow without chewing) its food, potentially resulting in colic. This may be simply greed or a bad habit, but can also be due to medical issues such as dental problems. If your horse bolts, discuss with your vet how to correct this problem.</p> <p>6) <strong>Sand and Dirt</strong>. Make sure that your horse does not ingest sand or dirt, as this can result in impaction colic. Do not feed them on top of sandy or dirt surfaces. Avoid over-grazed pastures.</p> <p>7) <strong>Water</strong>. A horse which does not drink enough is prone to colic. Likewise, a horse that has not had access to water and then suddenly drinks a very large quantity. Ensure that your horse has access to water throughout the day. During winter, water should be warmed, as most horses will greatly reduce their water intake if it is too cold. After exercising a horse, allow it to drink but limit the quantity until it has cooled down.</p> <p>8) <strong>De-worming</strong>. Horses should be de-wormed regularly (every 3-4 months). All the horses which share a pasture should be de-wormed at the same time to prevent cross-infection. If a horse has not been de-wormed for a long time, use a laxative a few days before to clear out the worst of the worm population before administrating a de-wormer medication.</p> <p>9) <strong>Exercise</strong>. Horses which are regularly exercised or that have natural exercise through pasture access are less likely to have colic. When starting an exercise regime or sport, changes should be made gradually as a rapid increase in the amount or intensity of exercise may cause colic.</p> <p>10) <strong>Bedding</strong>. If your horse eats its bedding, especially in large quantities, consider changing to a bedding type which it does not eat.</p> <p>10) <strong>Cold</strong>. Although horses can tolerate a fair amount of cold, if they become chilled (drop in body temperature) they are likely to develop colic. This is particularly likely to occur when there is a sudden drop in temperature after a relatively mild period. Avoid these by allowing your horse to develop a winter coat and/or protecting it with a rug. Especially during wet and windy weather, the horse should be protected from excessive cold.</p>
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