Colic, Equine - contd.
While many cases of colic seem to appear sporadically and without reason, some are preventable. A horse's feed should never be abruptly changed or increased; doing so may lead to gaseous distension or impaction. A proper deworming schedule will prevent heavy parasite burdens, which may lead to colic. Good dental care allows a horse to properly chew its feed and prevents improper digestion.
Mops, ropes and foreign materials should be kept well out of reach of foals and indiscriminate eaters. In sandy areas horses should not be offered hay or feed from the ground. Feeding from elevated feed buckets and hayracks may reduce sand intake. Psyllium can be added to the diet on a regular basis to prevent recurrence of sand impaction; increasing dietary fiber will also reduce the risk of sand colic.
