By Dr Beth Watson Bsc DVM
With colic season firmly upon us I think it is important to remind ourselves how we can prevent sand accumulation in horses. While many home remedies exist, there are only a few scientifically proven ways to detect and reduce sand accumulation in horses.
Sand accumulation can be tricky to treat as it may present in different ways depending on the horse. Some horses who have accumulated a lot of sand over a long period will have characteristic signs of a dull coat, pot belly and intermittent diarrhoea. Other horses may remain bright and healthy until an acute episode of colic. Your vet may be able to hear sand in your horse’s large intestine, however if they cannot hear it, this does not mean it is not there. The most reliable method for sand detection is abdominal radiographs. If you are concerned that your horse may have a sand accumulation problem, after a physical exam by your vet, abdominal radiographs are certainly the way to go.
Prevention is better than cure. Owners should develop a sand management plan relevant to the horse, the property, its housing and feeding arrangements. Here are some points to consider when developing your sand management plan:
- Avoid feeding your horse on sand
As obvious as this sounds, it is unavoidable in some situations. If it is not possible, using a rubber mat, regularly cleaned will reduce sand accumulation.
- Feed plenty of fibre
Hay is the obvious choice, but other sources such as beet pulp, soy or lupin hulls are other ways to add fibre to the diet. Fibre reduces sand accumulation in two ways. First by providing bulk in the colon and helping sand to be excreted. Secondly, in helping horses to feel full for longer, thereby reducing the urge for some horses to scavenge.
- Intermittent use if psyllium
Although the scientific evidence for the use of psyllium alone is lacking, it has been shown to be the best way to remove sand when combined with Epsom salts in a drench. Having said this, there is certainly some anecdotal evidence that intermittent dosing with psyllium or psyllium-based products may reduce the sand burden in some horses. It is important to remember when using these products not to feed for more than 5 days as the horse’s gut microbes adapt to the new feed source and begin to metabolise it, therefore stopping the effect of removing sand.
- Drench for sand in high-risk horses
Some owners routinely drench for sand with Paraffin oil and or Epsom salts. This is a laxative drench and will speed up the gastrointestinal transit time of anything moving through the gut. We often recommend that horses that are known to have a high sand burden, confirmed with either auscultation or abdominal radiographs should be treated with a 3 – 5-day course of psyllium and epsom salt drenches. (Only when they are not actively colicing). This method has been shown to be the most reliable way to remove sand from the horse’s gastrointestinal tract once accumulation has occurred (in the otherwise well horse).
Sand management should be multipronged, and consider the elements of reducing exposure, increasing removal and monitoring for accumulation. If you have concerns regarding your horse’s sand burden, please contact your vet.
