Psyllium

[Chinchilla]

Is feeding psyllium to prevent impaction colic just a myth? I know it's meant to be about 77% (insoluble) fibre and expands on contact with water so it makes sense that it would increase the peristaltic (sp) action of the intestine due to bulking, but would it do so enough to actually properly safeguard against impaction colic?
I've never heard of anyone feeding it ever (for any reason) before and am curious, sorry!

 

[be positive]

It is used routinely to help prevent sand colic, the best way to prevent colic is to ensure the horse eats plenty of fibre, drinks plenty of water and is well settled generally, most impactions in my experience are due to diet or routine changes which cause the gut to slow down, the changes can be unavoidable or accidental such as escaping into a different field but in general you can do enough to avoid colic without using supplements except in a few sensitive types.

 

[SEL]

I was always advised it was good for sand colic, but then I think there was some research showing that hay did as good a job as shifting sand through the gut.

I was on a yard years and years ago where they lost 2 mares to sand colic. The vets had us popping poo samples in clear plastic freezer bags with a bit of water, shaking them about and then hanging outside each horses stable. The amount of sand showing in some of them when it settled was pretty grim. It did mean that horses never got turned out in bare fields without a lot of hay after that.

 

[Circe]

Ive recently read an article by a vet here in Australia recommending that horse owners feed it at the moment, due to the drought, and bare paddock conditions. He mentions doing the poo/ water test first. I haven't fed it yet, but its something I was considering.
A friend of mine kept her horse on sand, and fed psyllium regularly as she felt his scouring was due to sand. I can't say either way if it was to be honest.
Kx