06/12/2025
Preventing Equine Colic
Brian S. Burks, DVM
Diplomate, ABVP
Board-Certified in Equine Practice
Preventing colic begins with knowing potential causes and making adjustments to your horse’s daily routine, avoiding obesity and parasites, and routine dentistry.
Every horse can have digestive upsets because of digestive anatomy and how we feed them. The horse is a grazing animal, designed to eat nearly continuously and to utilize forage. The digestive tract functions best when horses are allowed to roam at pasture, consuming small amounts often. Humans have confined them and fed hay and grain on a schedule; this unnatural environment can lead to digestive upsets and colic (abdominal pain).
Horses use hindgut (cecum, large intestine) fermentation for nutrients and energy, rather than the stomach and small intestine. Food is moved quickly to the hindgut, traveling from the stomach to the cecum and colon in a couple of hours, which can cause problems when feeding large volumes of grain or other concentrates.
The horse’s diet should be primarily composed of good-quality forage- hay or grass. Concentrates should only be added if the workload demands. Such feeds move through the intestinal tract too quickly and can cause microbial population changes in the hindgut toward those that digest starch, creating gas in the process. This can distend the intestine, causing pain and clinical signs of colic, such as pawing, rolling, and looking at the abdomen. It the microbial population change is severe enough, toxins may be released and absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to shock and possibly laminitis.
Horses that are out on pasture and moving keep their circulation moving, intestinal tract working, and is good for their general well-being. Those that live in stalls are more likely to have reduced intestinal motility and an increased risk of colic and gastric ulcers.
If your horse cannot be turned out continuously, provide plenty of forage. Using slow feeders can stretch out the flakes of hay, providing small amounts continually. Daily turnout, lunging, and other types of daily exercise are also beneficial to digestive health.
Obesity is another risk factor for colic. Feed by weight, not volume as the density of hay flakes varies considerably from bale to bale. A typical 1000 # horse should be fed about 20 # of hay per day. Concentrates should be kept to a minimum unless the horse is in heavy work. Horses on pasture may need to be fitted with a grazing muzzle or have limited turn-out to prevent intake of highly fermentable grass that can contribute to gas or spasmodic colic.
Parasite control is also important. Small strongyles and tapeworms are currently of most concern and can cause colic. Ironically, they are often not found during routine f***l testing. Tapeworms cause up to 22% of spasmodic colic cases, and praziquantel is the only dewormer that effectively kills tapeworms. The only dewormer that controls both tapeworms and small strongyles is Quest Plus gel.
Cleaning up manure from pastures and paddocks at least twice a week limits the development of parasite larvae where horses might eat. Pasture rotation limits overgrazing and allows sunlight to kill infective larvae.
Routine dental exams are also important as poor mastication can lead to esophageal obstruction, intestinal impactions, and maldigestion. Your horse’s teeth should be floated at least annually; some horses will require evaluation twice per year. Two dental exams per year is less expensive than an emergency visit.
Some tips to help prevent colic:
1. Establish a daily routine – include feeding and exercise schedules – and stick to it.
2. Feed a high quality diet comprised primarily of roughage- 2% of body weight per day in forage.
3. Avoid feeding excessive grain and energy-dense supplements- high fat/low starch is preferable.
4. Divide daily concentrate rations into two or more smaller feedings rather than one large one to avoid overloading the horse’s digestive tract. Hay is best fed free-choice.
5. Set up a regular parasite control program with the help of your equine practitioner.
6. Provide exercise and/or turnout on a daily basis. Change the intensity and duration of an exercise regimen gradually.
7. Provide fresh, clean water at all times. Remove any ice. Add electrolytes when traveling or during hot weather to minimize the risk of dehydration.
8. Avoid putting feed on the ground, especially in sandy soils.
9. Check hay, bedding, pasture, and environment for potentially toxic substances, such as blister beetles, noxious weeds, and other foreign matter.
10. Reduce stress. Horses experiencing changes in environment or workloads are at high risk of intestinal dysfunction. Pay special attention to horses when transporting them or changing their surroundings, such as at shows.
11. Implement a herd health program that includes deworming and dentistry by your veterinarian.
Unfortunately, the cause of colic often goes undetermined and is likely due to a combination of many factors. Many cases may have currently undefined causes.
Virtually any horse is susceptible to colic. Age, s*x, and breed differences in susceptibility seem to be relatively minor. The type of colic seen appears to relate to geographic or regional differences, probably due to environmental factors such as sandy soil or climatic stress. Importantly, what this tells us is that, with conscientious care and management, we have the potential to reduce and control colic, the number one killer of horses.
Fox Run Equine Center
www.foxrunequine.com
(724) 727-3481
