Impaction colic

[Dizzydancer]

New Horse has had second impaction colic in as many weeks. It seems to coincide with the weather dropping temp suddenly, so I'm assuming it's due to decreased drinking.
I am however wondering if she is cold and this could be contributing? I think old owners kept her quite rugged up so maybe I'm not keeping her warm enough when temp changes- anyone know if this could be a cause? I guess if cold then she will hold herself tucked up and maybe more at risk??

 

[MelT]

My old (30 years) welsh cob had impaction colic before Xmas last year. It coincided with his best friend going to the vets for a week so he was sulking! I had to make alternations to his diet to include more sugar beet/fast fibre or veteran vitality as he doesn't drink much and the vet said this was an added factor. The wet food would help to keep him hydrated and his gut working well. Also, Sam doesn't like tap water, he prefers rain water out of the tank so this maybe something you could try.

 

[scats]

The hooligan has had several impaction colics and several gas/distension colics. He had them at the same time every year and we pinpointed it to an inability to digest certain sugars in certain types of grass. It also coincides with body hives. It would either cause a massive build up of gas in his hind gut, or slow everything down to such an extent that he would develop an impaction. We have nearly lost him several times and I have said that if it happens again, then we will call it a day. He has been episode-free for nearly 3 years, however, but it has taken a yard move and very careful management to get to this stage.

What do you feed? Or is the horse just out at grass?

I also had a pony with a digestive complaint that caused a rare type of Cecum impaction due to low motility of gut bacteria.

Things we have done- fed only soaked hay, made feeds very wet and kept the horses in work.

 

[Morgan123]

You could also try EquiGel feeds which are basically like a feed but in water - i.e. sort of like a nutritional squash for horses, really high in fibre and very palatable. They can be used as a complete feed too.

 

[Tyssandi]

New Horse has had second impaction colic in as many weeks. It seems to coincide with the weather dropping temp suddenly, so I'm assuming it's due to decreased drinking.
I am however wondering if she is cold and this could be contributing? I think old owners kept her quite rugged up so maybe I'm not keeping her warm enough when temp changes- anyone know if this could be a cause? I guess if cold then she will hold herself tucked up and maybe more at risk??

One of mine had similar but her stomach had stoped moving food through to intestines. Dispite empting via tube, as soon as she ate the stomach filled to the point of no return. There is a name for this type of colic cannot think at the moment. Ponio is also a regular colic pony now, her last was quantity which caused it, I did a lot of research and now got ponio on KeyFlow pink mash (so far so good) http://keyflowfeeds.com/horse-feeds/pink-mash/ Also we give colikare https://pro-equine.com/products/colikare?variant=379615451 at
the onset to reduce the gas build up and give some relief which can help with impactions, as some of the pain is pressure from build up gas with the food. Releasing the gas makes the intestines less enlarged thus can eliviate the blockage. Another 2 livery gassy colic few weeks ago from the sudden grass growth.



We lost a livery in October to colic and my late ponio( first one) due to the intestines becoming strapped in the gut wall and the second time there was no hope.

There could be many reasons for the horse getting impacted and really if you rule out quaity of food and give them smaller feeds, rule out stress, asthma, making sure feeds are plenty wet and give wet hay / haylage. Then the vet would be my next point of call. I suggest you do a process of ilimination and find the cause as colic does kill(lost 2) myself one livery they are just the losses.

 

[JillA]

Mine had impaction colic due to box rest. After he had returned from the horsepital it was recommended he had daily sloppy beet pulp to keep fibre and fluids in his GIT - worth a try?

 

[wiglet]

My horse also had impaction colic while on box rest. A very large impaction that took a while to shift. Since then she always has wet haylage, very sloppy feed consisting of alfabeet and soaked high fibre nuts, linseed and a few carrots. The feed is the consistency of porridge - sometimes soup if I don't think she has produced enough poo. I also swear by Epsom salts - these are added to her feed once or twice a week during winter. If her poo looks dry or there's not enough poo, I up the Epsom salts to every day until I'm happy with the poo.