After suffering from colic that was resolved without surgery both horse and owner may be a little wary. Taking a few precautions will help to ensure that the horse does not suffer a relapse and will provide the owner with peace of mind.
Feeding a Horse After Colic
Feeding a horse that has just suffered from colic is especially important. Horses need to be given easily digestible food that will not cause any gas buildup. Horses should also be given several small meals rather than one or two large ones to avoid adding to a blockage in their intestines that hasn’t been completely resolved. The best plan for the horse is to avoid grain for 24 hours and feed the horse only soaked hay. Fresh grass is also acceptable for the horse. Depending on the type of colic the horse has suffered the vet may recommend a different feeding schedule, always heed their advice.
Watering a Horse After Colic
Water is especially important for a horse that has recently coliced and can, in some cases, be a contributing factor to the colic itself if the horse was not adequately hydrated. Therefore it is vitally important to monitor the horse’s water intake and ensure that it is drinking enough. Warm water should be provided if it is cold outside. Automatic waters should be turned off and buckets offered instead, both to more easily provide warm water and to be able to monitor that horse’s water intake. Soaked hay and wet grain mashes can also provide added water for a horse that doesn’t appear to be drinking enough. Some horses may drink less during the first day following an episode if the vet administered water or oil directly into the horses stomach or if the horse has been given any IV fluids. After that first day his drinking should return to normal.
Monitor Manure After Colic
Ensuring that the horse is having normal manure output is very important to ensure that his stomach and intestines are functioning at a normal level. The output level may be decreased for the first few days however due to a decreased amount of food. Once normal feeding has been resumed than normal fecal output should also be resumed. The horse should be kept in an area where only his manure is monitored. Owners should look at both size and consistency and keep a record to make sure that things have returned to normal.
Exercise After Colic
Exercise, in any form, is important for the horse in order to ensure his stomach and intestines are moving and functioning properly. For a horse that has just suffered from colic, and is likely to be tired as a result, the best forms of exercise are likely to be hand walking, being turned out into a field or other light exercise. Anything stressful or excessively tiring should be avoided until the horse is back to himself.
