Colic Theories Re. Weather/Temp.

[Roguelet]

We had a colic to deal with last weekend, and throughout the process I heard some interesting things that I was hoping to get some discussion about here.

This mare was not in obvious distress, just wasn't "quite right." So, we were in constant contact with 2 different vets every time any little minute thing changed, hoping things would correct themselves but prepared to take her in if they didn't. The first vet said he had received calls on something like 5 - 6 colics in this area within a little over an hour. He commented that there must be something going on with the weather or temp. or pressure or something to bring on this little colic surge.

Fast forward, the mare went in to the vet and from there went to Purdue. Purdue took her into surgery and was prepping another to go in after this mare; they were also having a "colic surge." The person taking care of the mare at check-in talked about a theory (don't know who's theory this is or how widespread it is) that relates extreme temp. changes to colic. Apparently, the theory relates sudden drastic temp. changes to changes in water needed to maintain proper hydration, and the inability of some horses to adjust to this change quickly enough.

So, for example, it's really cold and a horse needs X amount of water to stay properly hydrated. Temperature suddenly increases and horse now needs Y amount of water to stay properly hydrated, but it's brain doesn't tell it's body to adjust to that amount quickly enough. Temperature drops again and now horse is dehydrated but doesn't "realize" it... dehydration continues... colic follows.

I've also done some colic googles and internet searches and have come across, time and time again, comments about this being "colic season" or "a bad time of year for colic," etc.

All of this leads me to wonder if there is really something to this temp. swing = colic thing. The temp's here have been ridiculous lately and are fluctuating beyond control. Example: Sunday was very warm (short sleeve shirt weather,) everything was melted and muddy, Monday was similar, then yesterday the temp. dropped dramatically and we had sleet, hail, snow and ice with winter weather advisories.

What do you all think? Does this theory hold water (no pun intended) and does anyone give salt or electrolytes during temp. changes to encourage increased water consumption?

(By the way, at last update, the mare was doing fine and recovering nicely.)

[Gerry]

I believe that temperature and pressure changes are a huge cause of colic...I was just talking to another NY Breeder about this yesterday. She had 2 mares colic over the weekend when the temps went from mid 20's to near 60.
I have never heard the water theory but it makes sense. I have my horses on probiotics so (knock on wood) I have had very few cases of colic but a new mare was acting odd during the last weather change and I gave her some probiotic gel and she was fine.
Maybe adding electrolytes during weather changes would help...it certainly couldnt hurt.
Glad to hear that the mare is doing better.

[Strategic Maneuver]

So glad to hear she came thru. I, too, have experienced colics when we get these extreme 40 degree temperature changes like Mon. I keep free choice salt blocks out yr. round but I hadn't thought of electrolytes for this situation. It makes sense. Thanks for passing it on. One thing I have noticed is I also keep free choice mineral blocks out but was having alot of hoof problems so I went to putting Gro Strong in the am and pm feed. Hoof problems cleared up but the main pt. is all seem to drink alot more water now and I've had less colic.

[trackgal]

It is true, the vets by me are so busy during an extreme temp drop, the horses feel the change in the "barometric" pressure because they are so big.

[madelyn]

Another consideration about water consumption during extreme temperature change is the temperature of the water itself. We use frostproof heated troughs and water buckets. You know what kind of stomach pain you get from drinking too much ice cold water too fast....

[spex4me]

I'll buy it. I have had only one that used to consistently colic on me at least once every two years after the age of 6. Gelding, sometimes severe distress(sweats ect) sometimes nothing more than glancing at his flanks. And every time he did it I remember it well because I keep him in a paddock to move about if he wants too and I am out there watching him all night, remarking about how odd the temp is quite warm. Each time has usually been in Feb or March, in which warm temps are never the norm.

I basically have been adding a little sugar free koolaid to their water when these fluctuations happen, and knock on wood they slurp down their sweetened water and everyone seems to maintain well.

weird how some seem to be more sensitive than others.

[amanda1]

Colic is always our first concern when there is a big drop or rise in temperature. We have been very lucky and have had few colics that got bad, but during strange weather we always have 1 or 2 that are a little off.

[Shammy Davis]

Madelyn suggested:

Another consideration about water consumption during extreme temperature change is the temperature of the water itself. We use frostproof heated troughs and water buckets. You know what kind of stomach pain you get from drinking too much ice cold water too fast....

Ditto. I learned years ago that even with VA's moderate winters that keeping the heaters in the water tanks going full time prevents colic.

[CampRiver]

I have also heard something about the first frost that will make horses colic... and it seems to be true as I lost a mare to colic when we had an early frost one year......

[fort_falcon]

Wow, that's really interesting, we don't really get such extremes of temperature here...thank goodness!

I had a TB though that ALWAYS colicked when it rained, and he was such a wus, we inevitably ended up getting the vet out...needless to say the vets did VERY well out of us...lol, we got a "frequent users" discount...during the summer (rainy season here)

[Vindicated]

I don't know if its weather, pressure or what-
But I do know that the weather plays a big role in the horses personality and therefore I would think health.
I have had plenty of cases to be pretty certain there is a positive (or negative ) corolation.

[zinn21]

We had a nice 2 yold colt who galloped, cooled out perfect, went to his stall and suddenly colicked. We lost him.. An autopsy was done and they discovered two impactions. The vet thought he might have been born with some sort of intestinal predisposition. He was so healthy. I hate colic..

[Strategic Maneuver]

I hate colic too and I am so sorry you lost your colt. We've had 8 inches rain here and spring temps so I have officially started my "gas colic watch". The mares are leaving their hay and alfalfa and have their heads down 24/7 and are farting up a storm. It's just a matter of time. Already set in my supply of Banamine and new walking shoes.

[Shammy Davis]

zinn21, I'm sorry about your colt too. It is one of the most terrible experiences that horsemen & women go through. You don't know whether to blame yourself, the weather, the feed, the direction of the wind, or the position of the moon.

[soundfast]

I am sorry to hear about your horse. I have never had any horse of mine get colic. There have been temperature changes that were pretty radical sometimes but it never seems to bother the horses at all. I have 4 now(3 Thoroughbreds) and have had 3 other horses in the past. A gelding once pigged out on grain one winter and had to go stand in the pond all day because he foundered himself. After all day in cold water he was fine. The horses I have now get horse pellets(Triumph) 3 times a day with cooked oatmeal with powdered milk,corn & soybean oil + carrots. My horses got almost no hay this past winter(part of 2 round bales) or the winter before just feed and pasture but I fed hay and nothing else sometimes before I got my Thoroughbreds. I have a 33 year old mare that is not a Thoroughbred that I bought over 17 years ago when she was just skin and bones and she has been fed different things over the years and has been pretty healthy but she needs to be fed pellets now. My horses have a plain salt and a salt & trace mineral block and have occasionally had to drink from the pond when I had trouble getting pipes unfrozen,etc. I break the ice in their water tubs for them if they freeze. They do not have heated water buckets. I have a book reprinted from the 1800s that says a hot water bottle tied to their belly and a hot water enema will cure colic. I do not know if it helps or not. It seems that everything from constipation to a stomachache to a twisted intestine have been labeled colic. Vegetable oil can help eliminate gas and has been used to cure frothy bloat in cattle. It also coats the stomach and intestines and helps them heal if they are irritated.