tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1219177937045620.post6043106679099687747..comments2023-11-18T02:15:58.298-07:00Comments on It's a Horse Life: Colic 101Allenspark Lodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06390004633731055728noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1219177937045620.post-69872014993336670472011-09-02T18:29:22.681-06:002011-09-02T18:29:22.681-06:00Loads of good information... And as our equine vet...Loads of good information... And as our equine vet says: the only reason a horse poops is because there's more poop pushing it out.<br /><br />Only, he said it a bit more colorfully!Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12112453369738198010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1219177937045620.post-60700320431683288442011-09-02T09:12:54.200-06:002011-09-02T09:12:54.200-06:00Great overview of the extensive nature of the equi...Great overview of the extensive nature of the equine gut - so big, so sensitive, and so central to a horse's overall health!<br /><br />Colic isn't just blockages in the gut - it's really any kind of gastrointestinal pain. Most times, the vet has no idea what caused it - gas and spasms, blockages (like you mentioned), twists. Sand colic really is one of the few times that colic can be diagnosed. Often, it's related to a problem in the hindgut - can be from feeding large grain meals (which has to be absorbed by the small intestine, but often moves to quickly to be digested and interferes with the hindgut), bad feed, changing feeds too quickly, not enough water - and so many other things. <br /><br />Glad to hear your horse made it through - and sorry to hear that some fellow readers have lost horses to colic. Always scary, always heartbreaking.Crusade Against Equine Colichttp://www.coliccrusade.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1219177937045620.post-87581524871072705192011-09-01T12:31:12.282-06:002011-09-01T12:31:12.282-06:00I know all too well about colic and its many cause...I know all too well about colic and its many causes after having lost a colt to it four years ago and almost losing Old Red last year. With Red, my vet added Epson Salts to the fluids he pumped in and it worked wonders. I'm glad to hear Estes appears to be doing better now.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14303523299217618526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1219177937045620.post-47616545309057282822011-09-01T04:17:41.673-06:002011-09-01T04:17:41.673-06:00I had one colic episode with both kids (our doctor...I had one colic episode with both kids (our doctors definition is colic is when both the mom and baby are crying), and one mild one with my horse. Neither is fun, both causes are mysterious, and I hope to never experience it again.<br /><br />The one thing I was surprised by was how horses can't throw up. You'd think such a straightforward, one way system would be a good thing, but sometimes a good upchuck would help.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13104422629934443842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1219177937045620.post-24129017487735590132011-08-31T22:37:13.242-06:002011-08-31T22:37:13.242-06:00'Question---I wonder, if you gave a horse bre...'Question---I wonder, if you gave a horse brewers yeast, would they make beer in the cecum?'<br /><br />LOL (with relief that Queen Estes is on the mend)...No, no beer will come out the other end, but Brewer's Yeast is a good thing to feed a horse that is older or one that has just gone through a severe colic or diarrhea episode. Brewer's Yeast, Fast Trak or any supplement that has significant microbials to aid in building up and/or keeping the gut flora levels up speed recovery and help the gut to not have another episode of colic.<br /><br />I realize that Estes had a case of sand colic, but older horses do tend to have more colic issues than younger to middle aged horses. A lot of times it is because the microbials (gut flora) do not flourish in their systems. Might I suggest adding water to her feed to help increase her fluid intake, as well as a full recommended dose of some sort of supplement that will help increase her gut flora.<br /><br />Do keep an eye on everyone else when you start feeding the phsyllium. If you suspect that they might have sand in their systems as well, the phsyllium can cause colic when they start to pass it. Once a horse is on a regular schedule (2x' a year or whatever) the chance of colic decreases because the sand load is probably minimal.BrownEyed Cowgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03610547057139295854noreply@blogger.com