Is there any way to prevent sand colic in horses?

Question

My horse, Gryffin, recently had sand colic. He's a 16hh Arabian. How can I prevent this?

Answer 1

It's best to not have hay or feed on the ground -- as they eat it, they eat mouthfuls of sand/dirt with it. If your horse is on pasture, it can be hard to prevent. Make sure there is plenty of fresh water available at all times.

Answer 2

Besides trying your best to keep grains and hays off the ground, (good luck with that). We use colloids, probiotics and phsyllium fiber in their feed during the fall and winter months. It helps their digestion, and to clean them out. After years of horse rescues, our paddocks are completely rooted, and down to dirt. Still, we never have colics. So I swear by the colloidals and probiotics.

One good way to test for how much sand your horse may be carrying in his gut is to take a pair of surgical gloves, (we get them from the local pharmacy or grocery store, in the baking section) Pick up a small amount of the horses fresh manure and place it in the glove. Pour water in the glove to cover the manure. tie the end to a door knob or handle and give the water time to rinse through the manure. The sand will settle in the bottom of the fingers of the glove. That will show you how much is settling in the horses' gut.

Should you find a horse beginning to colic, get the probiotics in him asap. That has been the biggest Savior of colic's that I know of.

Answer 3

Sand colic occurs when horses eat dirt and sand, usually in their hay. Avoid feeding your horse from a dirty floor. If you think your horse may have sand colic here's something to try: take a couple of fresh fecal balls and place them in a large plastic bag, (something you can see into) fill the bag with water and stir it up creating "poop soup", allow the bag to sit undisturbed for 10-15 minutes. If your horse is passing sand in its stool the sand will settle to the bottom, if there's a lot of it you will be able to see it.

If you have sand in the stools there are feed additives to bind the sand and help it pass, talk to your vet.

Answer 4

First, limit his sand intake. If you live ina n area with sandy soil, don't feed off the ground. Put hay in hay racks or nets over rubber mats that are kept clean. Feed any grain in those rubber dishes or in buckets.

And feed pysilium (sand clear) at least 1 week a month to help carry sand out of his system.

Answer 5

First, make sure that you are not ever feeding him directly on the ground. His hay should never fall on the dirt, keep a few rubber mats under his feeder.

Additionally you can feed cilium daily (contact your vet for accurate dosages for your horse). This medication is a granule and the horses love it, so sprinkle it over some rolled oats and wet it a little so it sticks. Although there are arguments whether or not psalm is at all effective, it certainly will not hurt!

Answer 6

I take it he is around lots of sand? Are you feeding him off a sandy ground? We have sand in our arena and we often will feed them in the arena, but we have belting on the ground and then I put some big tires on it and feed out of the tires, they are heavy enough to keep them from moving around and it keeps the hay from getting spread out in the arena sand. Plus help keeps sand out of their food. I actually feed 90% of the time in their stalls where there is no sand but I imagine it is not an option for some people. You also should make sure they have lots of water I think this help them from pawing around in the dirt (or sand).

Online articles on sand colic that might help:
http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/illnesses_injuries/eqsandcoli776/index.html

http://www.horsekeeping.com/Horse_Newsletter/January_2000.htm#Sand_Colic

Best wishes!

Answer 7

I give my horses brand now and before, I gave them Sand Clear when I had them at the river bottom. I mix one scoop each day in their supplements. It goops up in the stomach and helps gather and scoop the sand out, as well as the brand. I wet the brand as it doesn't go down dry and increase choke.

Also, feed not on the ground/sand, but in bucket barrels, tires, feeding box's or the bought rails etc. Limit eating directly off the ground in sandy/dirt area's. But keep head lower level as higher will increase choke.

Answer 8

There is a product that you can buy from any feed supply store, it is called Sand Clear. I have used it myself on my TB/QH. I have started feeding in stall buckets now and not on the ground and it has not happened again.

Answer 9

dont feed him his grain and hay in sand(thats the number one reason of sand colic). make sure is grain is clean, dirty grain can sometimes cause sand colic too. and dont feed him on the ground

Answer 10

Any hay and grain put on a rubber mat