Please can you CC my horse's diet and lifestyle re colic avoidance...

[montysmum1]

He is turned out 24/7 with his 'own' sheep, who he adores, and sight of other horses over a fence (he was getting bullied when in the field with them, and is much happier without)
He has ad-lib hay (not haylage), and the field is still relatively covered with grass, albeit the rougher stuff.
He is fed 3 x a day on:

Alfa a molasses free,
High Fibre pony cubes
Speedi-beet
Micronised linseed
Brewers yeast.

He is ridden once/twice a week (when not colicking), only hacking out in walk/trot for now as is not long out of racing so we're just taking things steady.

He is not an outwardly stressy horse, but he does crib, and any minor upset (like last month's snow fall) seems to trigger Colic, and we are in the middle of a bout right now. (vet has been out a lot, and is on her way again this morning, but is running out of ideas)

This time it presented more like azoturia to start, but has grumbled on beyond the point the vet thinks it is, (bloods haven't come back yet as happened Yesterday).

Please can you give me some advice on what I can do (assuming we get through this episode) with regards to management to help avoid future attacks? My stress levels cannot take much more.

 

[be positive]

Has he been scoped for ulcers? that would be my first thought even with a good diet/ lifestyle they may not resolve without treatment.

 

[TwoStroke]

Ditto Be Positive - first thought was ulcers. Otherwise it sounds like a good management routine.

Yea sacc and lecithin have been found to be effective in ulcery/colicky horses, so may be worth looking at.

 

[amandap]

I'd would switch the high fibre nuts to a decent balancer(Pro balance?) or add a balancer, switch the brewers yeast to a live yeast eg. yea sacc and definitiely feed salt if you make no other changes. A level tablespoon a day for 15-16hh. Start small and increase.
I read only yesterday some cases of Azoturia have been linked to salt (sodium) deficiency.
Out 24/7 is usually best for ulcers but if is hind gut problems then a low sugar diet is indicated and grass (and hay) can be high at times.

He may well need ulcer medication and long term support for this. Is his worming up to date and if your fields are very wet and even boggy ask the vet about liver fluke.

Just some ideas, fingers crossed firmly for you both.

ps. Think about trying him off the alfalfa for a test period as well. It doesn't suit some horses.

 

[SaharaS]

Just a thought but the drops/changes in temperature can trigger less fluid intake. I would ensure I fed a soupy sloppy warm feed, if not all..you can still give the other bits, but for eg a small portion of eg calm & condition or grass nuts soaked & topped up with warm water can increase the fluid intake which will definitely help, especially if the water is warm.One of mine is an ex chaser,she has a history of being prone to colic and this has been essential to her.She also has an extra bucket in her field & stable which has always got fresh water with a few drops of pure essential food grade peppermint or spearmint oil-she takes as little or as much as she needs and its a security blanket for her and me, especially in the hours I'm not there, eg over night..oddly, all the horses respect this 'special' bucket & it never gets kicked over or poo'd in or messed with.I'd look at pre & pro biotics too.Hope things calm down for him today