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About Horse Colic
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| The very mention of the word
“Colic” strikes fear in most horse owners and rightly so since
90% of all horse deaths are due to horse colic.
Horrifying, since there is nothing you can look at and say 90%
of humans die from. Colic affects nearly 10% of the entire horse
population, costing horse owners more than $115 million each
year. |
What is Horse Colic?
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| Colic is usually described as pain
associated with the abdomen, a gastrointestinal disorder. There
are many different types and causes amongst these are: |
| Spasmodic Colic: is the
most common (in approximately 72% of cases) and is caused by
severe contractions or spasm of the intestinal wall due to
migrating worm larvae, changes in diet, inadequate worming,
teeth problems or changes in exercise. It is possible to hear
the increased abdominal rumbling from these over-active
intestines. Most veterinarians regularly give horses
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like Ibuprophin and Bute
(aspirin) however it is widely known that these can cause
stomach ulcers that may indeed impair the body’s ability to
recover from colic. |
| Impaction: accounts for
nearly 15% of colic cases and originates more frequently at the
pelvic flexure of the large colon or where the small intestine
enters the large intestine due to the result of impacted food.
Ingesting sand, poorly digested forage, ingested foreign objects
and horses that have a tendency to eat their own bedding can
become impacted. Veterinarians usually tube the horse in this
instance and use mineral oil or liquid paraffin in an effort to
lubricate the intestine and move the impaction. Mineral oil is
slow acting, these methods can take several days to clear the
blockage in which case painkillers are used in conjunction with
the lubricate subjecting the horse to stomach ulcers. |
| Intestinal obstruction or
twisted gut: by far the more serious form of horse colic
creates a very severe condition resulting in extreme pain. Gut
pain can range from the passing discomfort of excess gas to
life-threatening intestinal torsions. Approximately 7% of horses
and ponies require surgery due to a rotation of the intestine
around its mesentery (supporting membrane that holds intestine
to the abdominal wall) or a length of intestine telescoped into
another length of intestine. Fat tumors in older horses can also
twist around the intestine. If blood flow is interrupted,
gangrene can set in. Stomach rupture can occur due to twisted
gut and horses that react violently to abdominal pain will
eventually become quiet, go into shock and die shortly if
surgery isn’t performed within 3-4 hours after the problem
starts in which case a horse usually has to be put down as the
large intestine rapidly goes beyond the stage at which it can be
saved after the space of 4 hours. |
Symptoms of Horse Colic
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| Mild cases of colic may include
stretching, yawning, pawing the ground with forefeet,
restlessness, lying down, rolling from side to side, and
frequent looking at the abdomen. Horses with Severe Colic kick
at the abdomen, frequently throw themselves to the ground, roll
violently from side to side, sweat, will not stand, experience
rapid breathing and an elevated heart rate. This in turn sends a
horse into shock. When a horse is in shock, the gums appear very
pale which confirms there is restricted blood flow to the entire
system and death usually follows. |
General Causes
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- Horses are grazing animals that normally walk around and
run all day. When we coop them up with little or no exercise,
this is the easiest way to introduce them to disease since one
of the greatest contributors to colic is domestication.
- Horses have incredibly long digestive tracts if the
intestines twist or you get something in there that blocks it,
this can lead to impaction and the horse can die.
- The most common cause of colic is intestinal parasites.
Migrating strongyle larvae damage blood vessels in the
intestines. This also decreases blood-flow which leads to
necrosis, decreased motility and pain.
- Large numbers of round worms can cause impaction or
obstruction of the gut. Also the very act of administering
medication to rid a horse overloaded with worms can cause
colic.
- Colic can arise from infection, poor dental practice or
any condition affecting the locomotor system. Particularly
dangerous since they have the potential to cause actual damage
to the digestive tract after resulting in enteritis or
ulcerations.
- Horses can ingest “sand” which obstructs the gut when
foraging in overgrazed pastures or sandy paddocks.
- Foreign objects can be ingested through bolting or
cribbing and cause colic.
- Mold in the grain or hay, spoiled silage and enteritis can
also obstruct the large intestine.
- Stress from change in diet too quickly or change of stable
conditions can cause colic.
- Inadequate water supply may lead to impaction also feeding
your horse or allowing a “hot” horse after heavy exercise to
drink heavily can not only lead to colic, but other serious
ailments can occur, such as lamintis.
- Large infrequent feedings coupled with inconsistent
exercise can result in intestinal dysfunction.
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Chances of Successful Surgery
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| Only 50% of horses ever leave the
hospital after colic surgery which usually cost owners
approximately $3000.00 to $5000.00. A major problem that most
often prevents a horse from full recovery after a successful
surgery is known as “ileus” simply the lack of movement of the
intestines or inability to move food through the gut due to
low-grade damage to the intestines. This means the horse now
suffers from functional rather than physical blockage and
unfortunately these horses have to be put down. Dealing with
infection, the length of the surgical wound and how well things
heal are all factors that determine how long a full recovery
might take. |
What does Awesome Horse, Colic Remedy do?
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| Awesome Horse, Colic Remedy dilates
the blood vessels restoring blood flow in approximately 93% of
horse colic cases. When blood flow is restored, all signs of
shock will disappear. Restored blood flow in turn gets the gut
moving therefore diminishing any chance of ileus. (Whenever
blood flow is constricted anywhere in the body, that part of the
body starts to die) the length of time blood flow is restricted
to the intestines determines the amount of damage toward the
intestine’s ability to function correctly again. Awesome Horse, Colic Remedy can be stored indefinitely and should be kept in
several places for easy access in case of horse colic emergency. |
When to use Awesome Horse, Colic Remedy?
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| Chances are most often neither you,
your help, or any observer will be on sight at first onset of
colic symptoms in your horse. |
| Therefore, Awesome Horse, Colic Remedy should be administered immediately due to the time
element involved should your horse have twisted gut, requiring
surgery in time to prevent potential serious damage to the large
intestines. Awesome Horse, Colic Remedy should be administered
immediately anytime your horse displays colic symptoms rather
than subject your horse to painkillers in order to deal with the
colic, which most assuredly will cause stomach ulcers inhibiting
full recovery from horse colic. Awesome Horse, Colic Remedy also
slows heart rate, calms rapid breathing, soothes and heals the
lining of the stomach and strengthens the intestinal wall. Since
Awesome Horse, Colic Remedy is derived from herbs, there are no
side effects and you should never hesitate administering the
remedy in the event you are not sure your horse has colic. |
| Know that in horses, abdominal pain
can easily be mistaken as foaling, tying up or kidney/bladder
problems in which case your horse could derive a certain amount
of health benefits also. Good preventative measure means you
have not only educated yourself as to the seriousness and many
types of Horse Colic but you have also made the decision to
always have Awesome Horse, Colic Remedy mixed and ready with
the rest of your emergency supplies, you never travel with out
it, and you always keep an extra kit on hand. Understand that in
caring for your horse you will not always be aware of what you
hoarse has ingested whether in the pasture or in a stall. |
Horse Colic Prevention
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| Absence of forage in the horse’s
diet can lead to digestive disorders. Horses absolutely require
roughage so the digestive tract will function normally. This can
be provided either as pasture or hay. Forages contribute energy,
protein, minerals and vitamins. Fiber is a necessary form of
energy. However horses cannot utilize poor quality forage as
efficiently as cattle. Protein, another nutrient supplied by
forage is more available and better digestible when forage is
young. The more mature a plant, the less available the
nutrients. Designed to graze on an unvarying diet of fibrous,
low-energy forages for 12 – 20 hours per day, domesticated
living usually challenges the horse’s sensitive digestive tract
with feedstuffs, feeding schedules and ration portions far
outside the horses natural grazing habits. Evaluate and consider
revamping your feeding habits. Do you feed smaller portions more
than once a day or are you guilty of feeding large portions once
a day. By adopting consistent, rational management practices,
the following can greatly reduce your horse’s risk to colic: |
- Routine feeding schedules of high quality well balanced
diet consisting primarily of roughage.
- Daily grain or energy-dense food supplement rations should
be supplied in two or more feedings to prevent overloading the
digestive tract. Hay is best when fed to horse free choice.
- Adopt regular parasite control methods. Remember to rotate
the usage of different wormers as they do not all kill every
type of worm. Keep the horse's stalls and paddocks free from manure.
- Regular daily exercise with gradual change in intensity or
duration.
- Access to ample clean water at all times. Limit amounts of
water only when horse is excessively hot, in which case small
sips of lukewarm water.
- Pay particular attention to your horse’s teeth, provide
adequate dental attention at least once a year.
- Avoid giving your horse painkillers, which can cause ulcers.
- Do not feed your horse grain, hay, or silage that has molded or
spoiled.
- Watch that your horse does not eat its bedding. Keep stall
and paddock free from foreign objects that your horse might
ingest.
- Avoid feeding horses in overgrazed sandy pastures or
paddocks also avoid feeding from the ground.
- Reduce stress. Gradual changes to your horse's diet, exercise,
environment and workloads are at high risk of intestinal
dysfunction.
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When To Call Your Vet
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In the event your horse is not up
and responding within the first hour after you have administered
Awesome Horse, Colic Remedy, it is highly probable your horse has
twisted gut and is amongst the 7% of horses requiring surgery
each year.
CALL YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY, be prepares to give him the
following information: |
- General condition and behavior (calm, alert, restless);
- Colic symptoms and frequency of abdominal pain;
- Temperature, pulse (normal or weak), respiratory rate;
- Color of mucus membranes, and capillary refill time (You
can check this by pressing firmly on the gums, releasing, then
counting the seconds it takes for color to return.);
- Digestive noise (overactive? loud? or lack of?);
- Abdominal size (normal, reduced, distended);
- Bowel movement (consistency, color, and frequency).
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