Place a flake alfalfa hay or 10-15 alfalfa cubes in a 5 gallon water bucket. Soak in hot tap water for 10-20 minutes. Remove the hay, let it cool off, and then feed it to another horse that is not colicky! Add cool water to the hot alfalfa ‘tea’ and give it to the horse that is colicky or needs to be drinking more.
Offer alfalfa tea to a horse that is not being fed (usually a horse that has been treated for colic) at feeding time when all the other horses are fed. ALWAYS OFFER PLAIN WATER AS WELL AS ALFALFA TEA. Not all horses drink or like the alfalfa tea so they need to have an alternative water source. Alfalfa tea is a great way to increase the amount your horse is drinking in the winter. Offer it on nights that are cold or due to be cold as dehydration is one of the major causes of colic. Always make sure your horses have a clean fresh water supply at all times. The motto we are taught in veterinary school is if the water isn’t clean enough for you to drink it if you were thirsty then it is not clean enough for your horse to drink either!
Due to the nature of our horses’ grazing habits, they are constantly
exposed to dirt and sand. This sand can settle in the digestive tract and
cause colic. Although there is no research to prove psyllium (the main ingredient
in Metamucil brand laxative) helps prevent or treat sand that has accumulated
in the horse’s gut, it does seem that there is some benefit to feeding
psyllium to horses at risk for sand colic. This assumption is based on the
fact we see less horses for colic that are on a regular sand prevention program
than horses that are fed nothing to prevent the accumulation of sand in their
gastrointestinal tracts. Sand prevention products can be purchased at your
feed store and fed according to the label instructions. Just make sure the
product is 90% or more psyllium or psyllium husks. A cheap alternative is
to buy Metamucil or the store brand equivalent of psyllium and feed 1/4 cup
per thousand pound horse every day for 7 days per month. Just sprinkle the
psyllium over the horse’s feed and make sure the horse has plenty of
water to drink near by. Some people feed a bran mash and add the psyllium
to that it just depends on what your horse prefers. It has been our experience
that this regimen helps with the build up of sand in the horse’s intestinal
tract and decreases the horse’s risk of colic from a sand impaction.
As always, please call us with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for choosing Deer Creek Equine Clinic for your horse’s veterinary care!
2 cups white Vinegar
1 cup Avon "Skins So Soft" body oil
1-2 cups of water
1 tablespoon of either citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, or "Flicks" brand fly spray concentrate