SAND COLIC IN HORSES.

Horses pick up sand as they eat hay fed from the ground or graze short grass in pastures. The sand then settles at the bottom of the large colon. The sand irritates the intestinal lining,resulting in severe colic, weight loss,diarrhoea and severe metabolic disorder. When the sand colic is mild , its often accompanied by diarrhea but when the sand accumulate the result is severe,with discomfort. In extreme cases , the intestines may become twisted or displaced or even rupture. Preventing sand colic is far more better than treatment,and the prevention strategies include 1) the use of rubber mats under feeding troughs/pails.2)feed on top of shavings or straw.3) give grass to prevent licking up of feed from the ground. Diagnosis will include 1) fecal flotation 2) rectal palpation 3) abdominal x-ray 4) listening to abdominal sound using stethoscope. Treatment is usually by using a laxative mixed with a probiotic that binds the sand with fecal waste and gently moves it along the tract to the anus.2) surgery is done in extreme cases. (sand in intestine)