Colic - prevention tips anyone?

[CobSunshine]

I bring my 24/7 grazed out welsh section D in a few nights a week at the moment for some haynets and a warm bed.

I've changed the straw to wood shavings as he bolts the straw down.

I'm always worried about how much hay to use as he's going from nibbly winter turnout grass to stuffed haynets full of

http://www.horsehage.co.uk/HH-HighFibre.html


hes 440 kilo 14.2 hh cob.

Any Colic prevention tips, I worry about him too much

 

[jaquelin]

I cannot see anything in what you are doing that needs changing. Generally, lots of roughage, access to water at all times and be sure horse has a chance to move but as yours is turned out, this shouldn't be an issue. Some horses are prone to colic (the impaction type) and have to be really watched. As they age colic becomes more common ( gut gets less efficient) and a lot of elderly horses die of it. Torsion or entrapment colic is almost impossible to prevent. The risk of it can also increase as the horse gets older, its ligaments loosen and the gut is at risk of twisting. No easy answer - it is the No 1 cause of death in horses, followed by laminitis. Be vigilant and if signs of colic appear act quickly and call the vet.

 

[Vixxy]

After owning a colic proned Welsh D (veterinary reasons for it, long winded) and then later losing my husbands TB to twisted gut with a horse out on a field grazing (happened very quickly) I am so paranoid about colic. Over 30 years experience riding/owning and to lose a usually healthy horse to colic was soul destroying, in fact in spite of owning a 266 acre farm, riding school and dealing yard with lots of horses on my husband never rode again (6 years on).

I feed Coligone to my IDx during periods of change and stressful situations, it helps the gut and reassures me. I give the liquid from a syringe. If I was particularly concerned I would feed the powder within his feed.

I have had great results with Coligone, my horse badly colicked in -43 temps in Scandinavia, 2 syringes of Coligone given when first realised and he was much improved within hours without needing to get the vet out (who lived an hour away) who was on stand by. I always keep some liquid in my first aid kit 'just in case'.

Here is some independent reviews of Coligone for you to read (not advertising as not a sales site, purely a product review site).

http://www.whichtack.com/coligone.html

 

[miss_wilson]

My mare had medical colic 18 months ago when i first got her! ended up in horspital for 4 nights!!
Luckily she has been A1 since! but i am careful about any sudden changes in her feeding!
As no-one knows for sure what causes it it is very difficult to prevent! i think the answer is just get on with giving your horse the best care you can! if its going to happen.... its going to happen