Colic remedies -- have you tried these? - Health & Supplements - Health & Supplements - Horse Community, Horse Pictures, Horse Forum and Information

Posted : 7/20/2009 4:38:06 AM

I went to the store this morning and returned home about 45 minutes after the horses feedings to find Rogue, laying down. My 6th sense and some observation (he's not eating with everyone else) led me to think he wasn't feeling well at all. After taking him out the pasture and watching him do the "boogie dance" and kicking and trying to lay down, I went in colic mode. I had suspected at first sight this was the case, but didn't want to treat him without warrant. He appears to be fine tonight, thank goodness.

I had my best friend stop at the feed store to pick up a few things so I could be prepared for a long night (or two or three) if need be. She told the gal at the store I had a hose in the early stage of colic and she recommended B-L Solution. Has anyone used this for colic?

Also, I think Rogue's colic may have been caused from gas. He was eating, drinking, and even pooped a few times after getting a dose of banamine. Although I'm not 100% sure, I did some internet searches and found a website which recommended Gas-X if you suspect gas colic. Anyone used this?

theoldgreymare

Posted : 7/20/2009 7:19:55 PM

B-L stands for Bute Less and is an all natural anti-inflammatory alternative to NSAIDS. I have never heard of anyone using it for colic. It's primary ingredients are Yucca and Devil's Claw which are anti-inflammatories.

Have heard of people using Gas-X and the like for gas colic, though I have never tried it. Any time we have a gas colic we take vitals, call vet to alert their office of a possible problem, administer Banamine and lightly hand walk to try and move some gas out. Our vets sometimes recommend a light dose of xylazine to ease discomfort until they can arrive. Gas colic can result in displacement so I always call the vet and monitor vitals closely.

grandmadeb

Posted : 7/21/2009 4:51:22 PM

I have been through impaction colic and gas colic with Al and I call the vet at the very first signs. We have taken measures to keep the impactions from forming and the last colics have been gas. They all scare the beejeezes out of me and since he has had surgery it is not an option again so we try to get any episodes solved really quickly with early intervention.

aabrtn

Posted : 7/22/2009 12:41:31 AM

Old grey mare seems to correct and most, the only thing I see in the ingredients that would even be close to helpful for gas colic is the Yucca. It is marketed as a herbal alternative to Bute. As far as gas-x goes it will not help w/ gas colic to very large of a degree either because it is absorbed in the stomach and gas colic occurs in the hind gut where fermentation and most digestion occurs.

The first thing I would look at is what you are feeding. High grain and starch feeds fed in quantity can cause gas colic like symptoms as well as pasture to w/ a high fructan concentration. Obviously make sure your horse is getting and consuming water and you are dealing w/ possible gas colic or hind gut acidosis instead of impaction colic.

A product that really helps hind gut acidosis and gas colic is Equishure made by KY Equine Research. It is a time released sodium bicarbonate product that is released in the hindgut instead of the stomach. Common human antacids and other products on the market release in the stomach and the sodium bicarb cannot make it to where it is needed.

Here's a link to the product description: http://www.kerx.com/products/EquiShure/

Good luck, I've been through my fair share of gas colic.