Horse Colic - Causes and Recovery

can tolerate many days of feed deprivation as long as they are kept hydrated. Horses that have had a resection and anastomosis or any type of gastrointestinal bypass will require a longer period of fasting and a more gradual return to full feeding. Initially the strength of the surgical repair depends solely upon the suture material. The repair site strengthens gradually as intestinal healing occurs. For this reason most surgeons will completely fast the horse for two days before a gradual return to feed if a bypass resection or anastomosis was performed. It is important to avoid bulk in the intestine for several days to ease strain on the intestinal repair site and to allow the best chance for a strong and healthy return to gut function. If no gut was removed and the intestine appeared fairly healthy then the horse may be fed as for a routine colic. Horses that have had small intestinal surgery benefit the most from small frequent meals for several days postoperatively. Regardless it is important to not rush the horse back onto feed so maximal healing occurs. Access to fresh grass is better than hay to avoid excessive roughage.
Bran mashes are commonly recommended as a preventive or treatment for large intestinal impactions. However research has shown that feeding bran mash does not increase the water content of manure and provides no laxative effect. Bran mash has little potential to do any harm unless there is a deficiency of calcium in the diet which creates an excessive dietary phosphorustocalcium ratio. Perhaps the best we achieve with feeding bran mashes is to increase the horses water intake and keep colicky horses eating.

Healthy adult horses can tolerate many days of feed deprivation as long as they are kept hydrated. Horses that have had a resection and anastomosis or any type of gastrointestinal bypass will require a longer period of fasting and a more gradual return to full feeding. Initially the strength of the surgical repair depends solely upon the suture material. The repair site strengthens gradually as intestinal healing occurs. For this reason most surgeons will completely fast the horse for two days before a gradual return to feed if a bypass resection or anastomosis was performed. It is important to avoid bulk in the intestine for several days to ease strain on the intestinal repair site and to allow the best chance for a strong
and healthy return to gut function. If no gut was removed and the intestine appeared fairly healthy then the horse may be fed as for a routine colic. Horses that have had small intestinal surgery benefit the most from small frequent meals for several days postoperatively. Regardless it is important to not rush the horse back onto feed so maximal healing occurs. Access to fresh grass is better than hay to avoid excessive roughage.
Bran mashes are commonly recommended as a preventive or treatment for large intestinal impactions. However research has shown that feeding bran mash does not increase the water content of manure and provides no laxative effect. Bran mash has little potential to do any harm unless there is a deficiency of calcium in the diet which creates an excessive dietary phosphorustocalcium ratio. Perhaps the best we achieve with feeding bran mashes is to increase the horses water intake and keep colicky horses eating.
Stomach Colic
Though fewer than five percent of colic cases are caused by problems in the stomach rupture of this organ a rare but very serious development makes these cases significant. Gross stomach distension can be caused by several factors. The most common are overconsumption of water or grain parasite infestation and any mechanical condition such as a twisted intestine that prevents food from moving out of the stomach.
A horse that is deprived of water for an extended period of time may drink too much when access is restored. Ingesting a large amount of cold water can cause a temporary spasm of the pylorus opening from the stomach into the small intestine resulting in stomach distension and pain. This condition is usually fairly brief and often resolves without the need for veterinary intervention.