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This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Colic in Horses » An Overview of Colic »
  Discussion on Two mild colics...quick questions
Author Message
Member:
Sunny66

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005 - 9:41 pm:

Any input appreciated!

We've had terrible weather here and it's just gotten better...so my horse colicked twice...very mild, not normal bm (hard and only 3 instead of 6) and laying down at dinner instead of hanging his head out the stall door.

It's been suggested that perhaps I would give him a soupy mash every night in the winter...I would give him his normal grain and add a cup of wheat bran to it and pour hot water to make it a soup.

Is every night too much bran - even it's just 1 cup?

It's also been suggested that I increase his does of probiotics 2-3 days before/after a storm/weather change occurs.

Metamucil has also been suggested.

Any thoughts on these... could they hurt? He does this after each storm, he's blanketed, has water in his stall and his run, his fecal came back with no parasites, etc.

Member:
Shirl

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005 - 10:21 pm:

Hi Aileen, I'm no expert by far, but I don't think 1 Cup of bran would cause any harm and might help, but let's wait for Dr. O to confirm or deny this. I've known horse owners that give more bran than that every day, but it all depends on the horse. Sierra got about 1/2 C. of rice bran to get her meds down AM & PM and she did fine with it. Best of luck, Shirl
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 19, 2005 - 7:51 am:

1 cup of bran daily in all but the most constricted calcium diets should be fine but it should be checked just to be sure. For more on the dietary implications see, Care for Horses » Nutrition » Bran: Wheat and Rice.
DrO
Member:
Sunny66

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 19, 2005 - 10:25 am:

Thank you Shirley and Dr. O,

I've read the article and will double check on the calcium...The article said the bran would probably help me more than my horse, but I'll give it a go anyway and see if it helps

I'll do the probiotics too, but not the metamucil...yet.

Shirley, I think I'll also ask my vet about giving him wheat bran instead of his grain...he doesn't need the grain - just to get his supplements ...hmmmmm.
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