mustardsmum
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know if there is any link between sand ingestion and nappy behaviour such refusing to canter, bucking in canter, stopping/refusing to move linked with sand ingestion?
Thanks
Thanks
Sand ingestion and nappy behaviour
- Thread starter mustardsmum
- Start date
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
There's plenty of evidence, anecdotally, for an unhappy hind gut and behaviour problems. I don't see why having a few kilos of sand weighing down your colon would be any different.
The answer might be to treat for sand burden, which is both harmless and cheap, and see if the behaviour changes.
Psyllium husk is the treatment and is available on ebay.
.
The answer might be to treat for sand burden, which is both harmless and cheap, and see if the behaviour changes.
Psyllium husk is the treatment and is available on ebay.
.
mustardsmum
Well-Known Member
This is my thinking… I treated for sand last month after a worm count showed sand but wondering if it might explain some behavioural issues which, looking back seemed to reduce when I did the one week of sand shifter …. He’s only been with me 18 months so hopefully the sand burden is not too great (was on chalk before) so am thinking of putting him on the sand shifter on a maintenance dose full time rather than once a month. His behaviour is similar to a horse with ulcers but no weight loss. So a bit grumpy, stopping, pulling faces when saddle goes on and bucking in canter. I have his history (one other owner who is a friend) so we know the behaviour started since he moved to mine.
Burnerbee
Well-Known Member
The Clever Cowgirl on YouTube (highly recommended), collects suspect horses poo and dissolves it in water. Very simple way to establish if / how much sand present. And then yes, psyllium. Sand can sit in the gut for months / years apparently.
SEL
Well-Known Member
It's not letting me tag @davesmam but after Dave was treated for sand colic she said lots of behaviour niggles went away.
Dave's Mam
Well-Known Member
Yes, canter came on in leaps & bounds, he's miles more forward. Must have been so uncomfortable, heavy & abrasive.
So, in my experience, yes, a sand burden can cause unwillingness to move forwards & to step under.
Dave's Mam
Well-Known Member
Dave could only maintain canter for a few strides, but following clearing sand, will happily canter until asked to stop, we're even doing Prelim dressage now.
I do a maintenance treatment for the first 7 days of every month & do poo in water in a clear plastic glove to keep an eye on it in general.
I do a maintenance treatment for the first 7 days of every month & do poo in water in a clear plastic glove to keep an eye on it in general.
mustardsmum
Well-Known Member
@Dave's Mam Yes! Our canters are often short, and he will often stop when transitioning. Started sand shifter last night and this afternoon he was clearly more comfortable. Was thinking of getting him scoped for ulcers but I may just see if this settles thing down. Thanks for reply
Dave's Mam
Well-Known Member
@Dave's Mam Yes! Our canters are often short, and he will often stop when transitioning. Started sand shifter last night and this afternoon he was clearly more comfortable. Was thinking of getting him scoped for ulcers but I may just see if this settles thing down. Thanks for reply
You're welcome & good luck. Hope your boy continues to improve.
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
I used Psyllium husk for sand ingestion 
i used to use it once a month.
i used to use it once a month.
Dave's Mam
Well-Known Member
I used Psyllium husk for sand ingestion
Yep, that's what's in most of the pelleted sand movers. The pellets tend not to go gluey until they're actually in the digestive system as some horses, Dave included, cannot abide the texture.
Dave's Mam
Well-Known Member
When I say "Clearing sand", I really do mean an absolute clear out.
Last November, Dave very suddenly got very poorly & was noted to have a lot of sand in his poo. He was flushed through with epsom salts over 2 days with no improvement & he went downhill quite quickly & was admitted to Chine House where he was xrayed & they found an absolute load of sand in his gut. They flushed him with epsom salts & psyllium fairly intensively for 4 days. The photos are the xrays which they have shared on their socials.
If you're on sandy land, do the sand shifters, keep on top of it. What I thought was a grumpy, lazy pony, was actually a pony on the brink of being really ill.
Attachments are wrong way round. Before pic is coming up 2nd.
Last November, Dave very suddenly got very poorly & was noted to have a lot of sand in his poo. He was flushed through with epsom salts over 2 days with no improvement & he went downhill quite quickly & was admitted to Chine House where he was xrayed & they found an absolute load of sand in his gut. They flushed him with epsom salts & psyllium fairly intensively for 4 days. The photos are the xrays which they have shared on their socials.
If you're on sandy land, do the sand shifters, keep on top of it. What I thought was a grumpy, lazy pony, was actually a pony on the brink of being really ill.
Attachments are wrong way round. Before pic is coming up 2nd.
Attachments
mustardsmum
Well-Known Member
@Dave’s Mam oh bless him! His tummy must have been so sore. I did Google it and found a scarey picture of a colon filled with sand…. Def keeping him on a maintenance dose! (just to add all other checks have been done (saddle etc) so this is why I am thinking it’s a gut issue.)