Horse Colic - Causes and Recovery

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.
Overeating of grain is another common cause of stomach distension. In a typical scenario a horse is accidentally allowed access to the feed room or a large quantity of feed is delivered and stacked in an area where horses can reach it. The horses stomach is relatively small with a capacity of only about two to four gallons 8 to 16 litres. Because of this limited capacity a horse can quickly eat more grain than the stomach can handle. If the grain stays in the stomach for an extended period fermentation may occur producing gas that contributes to distension and pain. Fullness also triggers waves of contractions designed to push food into the small intestine increasing discomfort if the food is not