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Sand Colic
by David W. Ramey, D.V.M. |
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| Sand Colic can be deadly to horses. Horses more than 10-years-old who eat off the ground in sandy soil -- who are "vacuum cleaners" -- are the main candidates for sand colic. Below, Dr. Ramey discusses the condition, its origins and treatment from his book, Horsefeathers: Facts Versus Myths about your Horse's Health. |
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Sand Colic can be deadly to horses. Horses more than 10-years-old who eat off the ground in sandy soil -- who are "vacuum cleaners" -- are the main candidates for sand colic. Below, Dr. Ramey discusses the condition, its origins and treatment from his book, Horsefeathers: Facts Versus Myths about your Horse's Health.
Horses that live in environments that have large amounts of sand are prone to sand colic. In these areas, horses that are fed on the ground or that vacuum every square inch of terrain looking for that last leaf of hay are likely to consume sand with each mouthful of feed. The sand can accumulate in the intestines.
Sand is also irritating to the intestines of the horse. The presence of sand in the bowel can cause the intestines to secrete water. For that reason, the early signs of sand colic often include diarrhea.
If sand accumulates in the intestines, however, it can cause a complete obstruction of the bowel. The signs of colic can be severe in these horses. Smaller amounts of sand can be removed by treatment with psyllium. However, it can be difficult or impossible to remove large amounts of sand from the bowel with medical treatment alone. At surgery, impactions of sand weighing seventy pounds or more have been seen!
If you live in an area where horses are kept in sand corrals or pastures, you should check their manure frequently for sand. Simply take some fresh manure (from the top of the pile, so you don't pick up any extra sand) and mix it with water. Since the sand is heavier than anything else, it will end up on the bottom of the bucket. If there is a tablespoon of sand in a handful of manure, the horse should be treated to remove the sand. |
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Vet Talk with Dr. David Ramey
is a monthly column for tips on horse care. Dr. Ramey, author of numerous books and articles, is Dominion Saddlery's resident online vet. Dr. David Ramey is a 1983 graduate of Colorado State University. After completing an internship in equine medicine and surgery at Iowa State University in 1984, he moved to Southern California and began general equine practice, specializing in the care and treatment of performance horses from a variety of disciplines. Dr. Ramey is the author of numerous articles in the lay and professional press, as well as several books, including Horsefeathers: Facts vs. Myths about Your Horse's Health and the Concise Guide Series on equine health care. Look for them at Dominion Saddlery. |
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