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 Eight Actions to Take in Preventing Equine Colic
Colic, also known as abdominal pain, is something that people often associate with children or young babies. However, you should also know that equine colic is more and more common. Equine colic can be present in any horse, whether they are young or old, healthy or ill. It is something that is often overlooked by owners. If left untreated, horses can die from equine colic, so everyone should be aware of the symptoms and treatment options. The place to really start in the whole colic area is with prevention however. Check out these eight ways you can prevent equine colic and allow your horse to be happier and healthier.
Amount of Food
The amount of food you give your horse can really help prevent colic. You should put your horse on a steady feeding schedule. This should involve feeding
your horse small amounts of food, frequently. When you do this, you can be sure your horse will not get gas or get ill from eating too much at one time. If you are unsure how much to feed your horse at each feeding time, simply ask your vet for a recommendation. He or she will be happy to help you set up a feeding schedule.
Fresh Water
A horse without constant fresh water, except for in extreme heat, will likely develop colic. Fresh water is essential for the horse to properly digest their food. Therefore, you should always keep clean water available for your horse. Do remember that when it is extremely hot you should not leave an abundance of water for your horse because it will likely over drink. Too much water consumption can cause colic too.
Exercise
Another way you can make sure your horse does not get colic is by maintaining an exercise schedule. When a horse exercises regularly, it will not suffer from gas related colic. So, you should always maintain a vet recommended exercise schedule.
Dental Care
One risk you take when you dont properly care for your horses teeth is colic. You should always make sure your horse is able to chew correctly. When your horse cant chew its food correctly, they will be more apt to suffer from colic. Ask your vet for recommendations.
Changing Routine
When you do need to make changes in your horses feeding schedule, you need to do so in a very gradual manner. If you make changes quickly, your horses sensitive stomach will notice right away. Other changes such as boarding changes, traveling, and other routine changes can also upset your horse and give them digestive stress. This can lead to colic as well.
Worming
Horses, like many animals, need to be wormed. You should typically worm your horse every two months or when your veterinarian suggests. Staying on a regular worming schedule is essential in preventing colic as well. So, be sure to ask your vet about worming and what you need to do to maintain great health for your horse.
Pasture Use
Horses that are kept in a pasture are less likely to develop colic. Therefore, if at all possible, you should try to keep your horse in a pasture. Although there is no definite reason why this is true, it is an observation many vets will agree with.
Observation
The final way you can prevent equine colic is by watching your horse closely. Develop an understanding of what your horses normal behavior is so you can notice when they are not quite themselves. If you see them start to get stressed over feeding changes or other changes, be sure that you are attentive to the needs and do what is necessary to keep your horse happy. In turn, it will also keep them healthy.
As you can see, there are things you can do to help prevent equine colic. Sometimes you can do all of these things and your horse will still end up with colic. However, if you do these things, you can put in all of the effort you can to ensure your horse is healthy. Horses are indeed expensive and many people fear lost money when they are ill, but more importantly horses are loving animals that deserve to feel great and to be healthy.
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