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Written by: Jessica Konopinski
Published on: 03/24/2023
Nothing is more frightening than dealing with a horse that’s colicing. If you’re reading this article, you more than likely have been through this before. Give yourself a pat on the back- dealing with colic is nothing short of stressful and emotionally draining. Now that you’ve gone through the hard part, what’s next?
Managing a horse who just went through a colicing episode can be confusing. In addition to consulting your veterinarian and listening to their instructions, we went ahead and put together a list of basic considerations to keep in mind as you and your horse recover.
If you aren’t already, regularly monitoring your horse is crucial especially after colic. When monitoring your horse you should be paying attention to their behavior, bowel movements, water intake, gum color, urination, and gut sounds. It is also encouraged to be actively aware of any indications that your horse may be in discomfort. This can be as simple as excessive tail swishing to nipping at the abdomen to excessive rolling. If you have a gut feeling that something is off, contact your veterinarian immediately. It’s always better to be safe than sorry and in this case, trust your intuition.
Horses that recently coliced more than likely have been drinking less water over the course of the last few days. To encourage your horse to drink, always have fresh water available to them at all times. If it’s cold outside, try introducing warmer water. If it’s warmer outside, try introducing them to colder water. You may have to play around with the temperatures to find out what your horse prefers most.
Another way to encourage your horse to drink is by adding in electrolytes to one of their servings of water a day. There are tons of electrolyte supplements out there in all different types and flavors. Ask your veterinarian or a trusted professional for their recommendation and don’t be afraid to try it out. This can make a world of a difference when it comes to increasing your horses daily water intake.
Movement is everything when it comes to colicing not just during the episode, but after. When recovering from colic, keeping your horse physically moving will also ensure that everything is moving internally. Since most colics occur from impaction the goal is to get our horses digestive system back on track and moving efficiently. While it is not recommended to jump right back into intense physical work, you can start by walking your horse and making sure they get plenty of turn out time.
The last thing you want to do after your horse has coliced is to introduce them right into their usual feeding routine. When it comes to forage, making sure the hay can be easily broken up and digested is a must. You can do this by soaking the hay or feeding out of a hay net. If your horse is fed grain or another type of feed, you may want to start by slowly reintroducing it and even soaking it to ensure proper absorption. Always consult with your veterinarian before reintroducing meals back into your horse's schedule.
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✅ Single ingredient, 100% pure Camelina Oil.
✅ Non-GMO
✅ Ideal balance of Omega-3 compared to other products, like soybean oil.
✅ Canadian produced and operated.
Jessica is a brand consultant who brings awareness and intention to equestrian and pet platforms. As a former collegiate equestrian athlete and animal lover, Jessica leads with passion and experience through her writing and brand work for companies who advocate for creating a difference in their space. When she's not riding her horse or walking her dog (with iced coffee in hand), you can find her sharing her love for health and wellness with others and integrating these practices in her everyday work.
