In deciding on the best equine colic treatment, you first need to know that there are three main causes. By determining what the cause is, your next job is to establish what your horse’s unique symptom picture (collection of related symptoms) is.
This may be too much to consider if you are in a high state of concern, as a level head is needed. So expert, homeopathic help may be your best option.
However, there are still areas that you may find helpful.
The most common causes of equine colic are:
- from overfeeding (or stealing) grain
- from underfeeding
- from ingesting too much sand, over time
- from stress
Sand colic is common in areas that have a sandy soil and little rain. When the rain comes, the horses are anxious for green grass and pull up the roots (and the sand) with the grass. Sand then accumulates in the stomach, which will cause colic in time.
Sand colic can be treated by pouring an edible oil into their stomach. Often medicinal paraffin is used, but I recommend this is replaced by a plant based oil such as oilive oil. Paraffin oil depletes the system of the essential fat soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A and E.
I also suggest you avoid canola oil. This is not a well tolerated edible oil. And much is now GM produced.
Preventing sand colic can be achieved by a daily dose of psyllium husk. This removes sand as it is ingested. I dose 2 desertspoonful per day during the wet season. You will see sand on the dung pile. I only stop the psyllium when sand no longer accompanies the dung, in the dry season.
Equine colic treatment from stress or over feeding is most efficiently dealt with by professional homeopathic treatment. The following instances strive to show you how different colic can be and that it is best monitored by an experienced homeopath.
Horses, being prey animals are very easily frightened. The fear makes them tense. This in turn, causes the colic. If the horse has had a frightening experience (which can be as mild as moving home), and they are very restless and agitated, colic can result. With the unnatural strains humans put on horses, I consider this the number one reason for colic. Equine colic treatment is much more complex than most people realise.
If the horse has ingested too much grain, this will start to ferment and cause bloating. The horse may strain to pass dung or urine. And they often want to lie down. They may look anxiously at their side. There is a desire to hollow the back, but this may be hard to see in a horse.
Here you can find more information on homeopathic treatment.
