Colic in cold weather is a possibility when a horse quickly eats a large amount of dry hay without drinking an adequate amount of water. Horses will often reduce the amount of water they drink in the winter months. This can cause a blockage of dry food in the intestine and can result in a serious case of colic.
Cold weather colic is particularly common if the horse doesn’t chew its food properly or has poor teeth that cause reduced chewing efficiency. Ponies and miniatures are highly susceptible to impaction colic. Hay provided should be slightly dampened especially for older horses, ponies and minis, particularly ‘hoovers’ or those which eat quickly due to competition for food.
The symptoms of colic can range in severity from mild discomfort, to an extremely intense, localised and painful form, which can be life-threatening. Studies indicate that about 10 % of colic cases are fatal, often associated with extreme distress and physical injury. A horse with intense abdominal pain appears to lose all awareness and self-preservation instincts by going down, rolling and knocking its legs in an attempt to relieve the pain. This is a RED ALERT - you must summon a vet immediately. A silent ‘belly’ sound is often the worst sign associated with colic and is a grave to serious condition.
Tips to avoid Cold Weather Colic:
Dampen all hay fed to help reduce the risk of impaction colic. Spray hay with clean, warm water and let it absorb the moisture for 5 minutes prior to feeding. You can also dunk hay in a polywoven hay bag into a tub of warm water for 5-10 minutes, then remove it and allow it to drain before feeding. Dampened hay does not reduce the chewing action and salivation, it may actually increase chewing as the horse is more comfortable munching on the softened hay. Ensuring that dampened hay is fed from a bin at ground level also encourages more thorough chewing and hence lubrication with saliva before swallowing.
Feeding extra salt such as Kohnke’s Own Cell Salts to encourage water consumption when horses are grazing dry grass or have access to dry hay can be helpful, but there are some issues.
Paddock and outdoor water troughs are likely to freeze overnight during the winter months. It is important to check them every morning and break the layer of surface ice so that your horse can access the water. If the water is very cold in the morning, add enough hot water to bring the water to near room temperature 23 - 24°C. Leaving a large orange to float in your horse’s water trough will help to prevent the formation of the top ice layer, apples are not recommended as often the horse will be tempted to try and eat the apple. Always check water troughs that fill automatically as the water in the pipes will often freeze, which can prevent them from refilling.
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