Table of ContentsToggleWarning Signs of Sand ColicDiagnostic TestsConventional TreatmentsEmerging Treatments for Sand ColicEnvironmental ManagementConsuming sand is not ideal for equine digestion because sand irritates and inflames the intestinal lining, disrupting the bowels efficiency in absorbing nutrients. Accidental ingestion of sand by horses may be harmless in many circumstances, but can also lead to the dangers of sand colic.Photo by Luise123/Adobe StockSome horses naturally pass ingested sand through their feces without any signs of discomfort. In other horses, the sandwhich is heavier than grass or grainsinks and accumulates in the large colon over time, leading to clinical signs of distress.Though reported worldwide, a higher incidence of sand colic exists in parts of the United States, such as the desert Southwest, California, Florida, and Colorado.Living in a dry environment isnt the only source of sand ingestion, however. Grazing on dry lots or worn-down pastures, being fed forage on the ground, or trying to hunt out morsels of hay also present an opportunity for sand ingestion.Dry environments or being fed off the ground can lead to sand ingestion. Photo by Fotema/Adobe StockSand colic depends upon geographic location, says Berkley Chesen, DVM, DACVS-LA, a veterinarian at Equine Comprehensive Wellness in Santa Fe, N.M. Practicing in New Mexico, 10 to 20 percent of the colic cases I see have a sand component. In places where grass has been demolished and left bare, sand-covered ground, one might conclude that climate change has some effect on sand accumulation.Warning Signs of Sand ColicWhile differences exist in geographical location, clinical signs of sand colic often mimic other forms of colic. A constant source of abdominal irritation, sand provokes a persistent inflammatory response and inevitably disrupts the bowels efficiency in absorbing nutrients.When regular digestive movements are interrupted, signs such as watery diarrhea, unexplained or rapid weight loss, listlessness, loss of appetite, and evidence of sand in the stool serve as medical alerts. Increased heart and respiratory rates, sweating, pawing, and kicking at the abdomen are other signs of an impending colic episode.Chesen notes that horses with frequent colic events, those that eat directly off the ground, and those that dont receive enough hay in their diet are more likely to accumulate sand and experience abdominal pain.Many horses, especially if fed plenty of hay, are able to pass ingested sand without discomfort. Photo by Gregory Johnston/Adobe StockIf left undiscovered, sand accumulation may lead to impaction of the obstructing material. Bowel displacement can also occur, and requires surgery.Too much sand can accumulate or the material clumps up in one area and blocks the intestine, causing an obstruction, according to Julie E. Dechant, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS and ACVECC with Equine Surgical Emergency and Critical Care at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.As the horse emits gas, the blockage hardens like cement, and the intestines become distended with gas.The sand is so densely packed, its basically an impaction, says Dechant.Volume alone isnt the only factor, however.Sometimes well have horses with huge amounts of sand that we can manage medically, she continues. Others have smaller amounts of sand, but its clumped in one area and causes a blockage. Accumulation of sand with gas will also trigger the horses intestine to displace.Diagnostic TestsIn the field, veterinarians use standard tests for detecting sand in a horses abdomen or intestinal tract, partly due to convenience, but more often because of a lack of access to imaging equipment.Auscultation, or using a stethoscope to listen for sounds that mimic waves washing over a beach, assumes that a quantity large enough to produce audible feedback is present. Dechant observes that the test, while accessible in the field, presents screening challenges.Often in the field, well put our stethoscope on the lower, ventral part of the abdomen to listen for sand, she says. The intestines have to be moving, so if there are active colic signs, sometimes those intestines stop moving. You might not hear sand, even if its there.Fecal segmentation, another test familiar to most horse owners, requires a rectal sleeve or plastic bag. Chesen confirms the commonality of the test, but cautions against its limits: Fecal sand tests are only accurate in confirming that sand is passing through with the manure.Floating manure in a Ziploc bag of water with the corner pointing down is another good way to see if sand is passing through the digestive system, says Chesen. [Sometimes] sand is auscultated in the abdomen, but no sand is present on a float test. This is because its just sitting idle in the colon and not moving.Radiographs (X-rays) are considered the gold standard for confirming the presence of sand in the gut and the amount accumulated. However, access often requires travel to a referral hospital and may be cost-prohibitive for the average horse owner, according to Dechant.Abdominal X-rays are reliable and pick up even tiny amounts of sand, but arent readily available, especially in the field, she says. Other tests are accessible, but they have their limitations.BEFORE: In the radiograph above, a horse presented with acute colic. Moderate sand accumulation is evident. Photo from UC Davis School of Veterinary MedicineTreated medically with one round of magnesium sulfate and three rounds of psyllium by nasogastric tube, the horse cleared the sand within a few days. Photo from UC Davis School of Veterinary MedicineConventional TreatmentsApproaches for treating a horse to resolve sand ingestion traditionally entail passing a nasogastric tube through the nose to administer psyllium mixed with water to the stomach.Psyllium, a natural laxative, forms a gel that breaks up sand particles, allowing passage through the digestive system. Fluids increase intestinal mobility and rehydrate the horse. Pain medication alleviates inflammation.To treat sand colic, many vets will administer a mixture of psyllium and water or mineral oil via nasogastric tube. Photo by Arnd Bronkhorst/www.arnd.nlChesen prefers mixing the insoluble fiber with mineral oil to ease psyllium administration.I mix psyllium with mineral oil rather than water because its easier to pump, she says. With water, the psyllium turns into a congealed mess.Psyllium isnt without controversy, however. According to Dechant, psylliums efficacy in treating sand colic is debatable.Some people feel it works; some dont, especially in the acute, crisis, and long-term phases, she says. Theres not 100 percent consensus if psyllium is always needed. I would say that historically, I didnt use much psyllium. [But] I have been using it more recently, and Ive been pleasantly surprised by the results.The American Association of Equine Practitioners recommends adding psyllium one week out of every month in the feed for horses prone to sand exposure.Emerging Treatments for Sand ColicA randomized controlled study out of Finland in 2018 examined 246 horses to determine whether combining psyllium with magnesium sulfate proved more effective in clearing sand than using either ingredient separately.The investigation of the treatment with psyllium and magnesium sulfate concluded that 75 percent of horses resolved colonic sand accumulation after four days using the combined treatment.Chesen confirms the approach and study results.Adding magnesium sulfateEpsom saltto any fluid pumped into the stomach is common with colics, as it pulls liquid into the gut and flushes the sand out, she says.Researchers Diana M. Hassel, Allen Landes, Julie Funk, and A.E. Hill evaluated whether a mixture of probiotics, prebiotics, and psyllium enhanced sand clearance more effectively. Four days of treatment demonstrated an increase in sand clearance in clinically normal horses and may be effective in preventing sand enteropathy and sand colic. The supplement also reduced the likelihood of inflammation caused by sand irritation.Environmental ManagementExamining where and how your horse eats is the best way to minimize the risk of sand ingestion. This may require a multi-faceted approach and a dose of creativity.Preventing a logjam of sand in the gut begins with halting its ingestion. Limiting access to sandy turnouts or feeding on rubber mats manages the amount of sand ingested.Feeding off of mats is a simple step to help reduce sand intake. Photo by Daniel/Adobe StockSlow feeders reduce waste and provide a steady flow of forage, and access to forage around the clock helps the digestive tract remove buildup of sand or gravel.Slow feeders that prevent pulling out hay and so it can be thrown and eaten off the ground are ideal for preventing sand colic. Photo by Margaret Burlingham/Adobe StockSlow feeders with slotted tops help block a horse from pulling hay onto the ground, according to Chesen. Feeding in high-sided tubs and checking feces for sand are tactics all horse owners can take.Psyllium is easy, and thats why its appealing, says Dechant. [But] environmental management is the tough part.This article about sand colic appeared in the June 2023 issue of Horse Illustratedmagazine.Click here to subscribe!These Horse Care Tips are presented by CareCredit.The post Sand Colic 101 appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.