In our previous post, we took a closer look at the symptoms of colic in horses. When you recognize signs that indicate possible colic in your horse, it's inevitable that you'll reach for the phone – every horse owner should play it safe and contact their veterinarian first! A veterinary diagnosis of colic can also help us determine the cause.
4 steps of pre- and post-care for colic in horses
Step 1 – Keep a (cause) diary
Do you, like me, have a horse that's prone to recurrent colic? Then it might be helpful to keep a small diary of the causes. In addition to recording your horse's symptoms, it's also worth noting other special features of your daily life. By special features, I mean: weather conditions, feed changes, exercise routine, competition schedule, changes in the herd (new additions or departures), colds (even a runny nose is worth a note), to name just a few examples. Perhaps a pattern will emerge as you write things down! You turn back a page and think to yourself: "Hey, just like last time!" – and you're already a lot closer to the cause. Our horses have their own ways of communicating. Once we recognize them, they're no less clear than our own!
Possible causes of colic in horses:
Possible causes can be...
• poor nutrition (this includes malnutrition)
• Dental problems
• Problems with the esophagus
• stress
• Weather changes
• insufficient or excessive exercise/ overexertion, under-stimulation
• weakened immune system
Step 2 – Check your teeth
Digestion in horses is a highly complex process. It begins with the ingestion of food in the horse's mouth. With its soft lips, our horse takes in the food and digestion begins. Put on your research glasses, because the cause of colic can already lie here. Before the food begins its journey through the esophagus into the stomach and finally into the intestine, it is prepared as best as possible for its journey through salivation and chewing . This preparation is essential for the digestive system and, quite simply, helps it go down more smoothly! However, if our horse suffers from tooth or jaw problems and is therefore unable to chew food sufficiently, difficulties may arise in the esophagus and the digestive process is disrupted. This does not necessarily mean the worst. Often, a small bump on a molar is the cause and is quickly identified by the dentist as the culprit. The teeth then no longer mesh properly, which can significantly complicate grinding the food and thus the further process of digestion.
Step 3 – Check the menu
Incorrect nutrition can often be the cause of colic in horses. Although I'd rather replace the word "incorrect" with "inappropriate" here. When it comes to our horse's diet, optimizing it—especially for horses with an extremely sensitive gastrointestinal tract—is likely a matter of trial and error. We try our best and, of course, stick to established feeding routines. But what works perfectly for one horse may not be well-received by another, or may even result in colic.
In any case, you should first check your horse's fluid intake . Always provide fresh water and keep a close eye on how much fluid the horse is drinking (especially during the day in the paddock/fold). Avoid feeding gas-producing foods . Your horse may love corn, beets, and bread, but these can lead to flatulence and severe constipation. Feed changes should also always be made gradually. This includes long grazing periods – please be gentle when introducing them to grazing. Your horse should also be given moderate feed rations . If possible, feed more frequently rather than large portions less frequently. Even when feeding hay and straw, colic can be prevented in some horses simply by adjusting the feeding ratio .
Step 4 – A & O immune system
But what do I do if the vet's diagnosis, combined with my notes from step 1, suggests a completely different cause for my horse's colic? One that can't be uncovered by either the dentist or a nutritional analysis. In my case, for example, sudden changes in the weather were the main reason my horse developed colic. When cold fronts were approaching, they seemed to particularly favor colic—although very stormy weather (not uncommon in the north) could also be a trigger. Until now, I've always been rather skeptical about such connections. Considering the weather as a cause of stomach pain? Um... definitely not my first thought—and to be honest, not my second either. But since there seemed to be a clear connection between weather and well-being, a solution was naturally worked on.
I consider a strong immune system to be essential for all living beings. It also serves as an additional protective mechanism against the development of colic. To optimally support my horse from within and improve its intestinal flora, it's a good idea to regularly administer metabolism-supporting treatments. Above all, you will notice an improvement in the coat structure and skin. Of course, this requires some patience, as changes don't happen overnight—they take time.
I can recommend the primal mineral zeolite to strengthen the immune system. You can add it to the feed either in pure powder form or as pellets. It is 100% natural and helps your horse respond optimally to environmental influences. Zeolite is a feed additive and binds pollutants. It functions like a natural detox. Zeolite acts like a sponge, with its large internal surface area providing plenty of space to bind and excrete waste products. When there are fewer toxins in the body, the metabolism can function well on its own. This helps the horse excrete pollutants and boosts self-regulation.
For every form of illness, it is important to consider the horse as a whole and to develop preventative and aftercare measures on this basis.
A treatment with HORSEKRAFT Zeolite for the prevention and aftercare of colic in horses – How it works
Of course, it's up to you and, above all, your horse to decide which form of HORSEKRAFT Zeolite product you choose. Some horses prefer pellets, others are perfectly happy with the pure powder form. Regardless of whether powder or pellets are used, both products are equally effective and ideal for intensive use, even over extended periods.
If your horse is one of the particularly picky candidates and views even the smallest change in its feed with skepticism, please take a look at the post HELP, MY HORSE WON'T EAT THE ZEOLITE POWDER. There you will find some very helpful tips to help your horse get used to the addition of HORSEKRAFT Zeolite if necessary.
For a metabolism-supporting treatment, I personally think it's best to do it over four to six weeks . You'll, of course, also find information about the daily dosage on the packaging. The only difference with the treatment is that you increase the daily dose for a certain period of time.
I went by feel and increased the daily amount of zeolite powder by two scoops (in my case, that turned 40 grams into 60 grams).
The scoop holds 10g. Just make sure you don't exceed the daily dose of 100g, and if your horse needs to take medication, leave at least two hours between taking the zeolite and the medication. And give your horse plenty of water to drink.
I do this detox and support treatment with zeolite twice a year: once in early autumn and once in early spring.
SEE WHAT CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT USING HORSEKRAFT ZEOLITE HERE >>
Read here how to recognize the quality of zeolite >>
Have you already had experience with metabolism-supporting treatments for horses? Feel free to leave a comment—I'd love to hear your thoughts!
