What steps can be taken to try to prevent colic?
Most colic seems to be a result of mismanagement in some form. The most notable cause is probably internal parasites followed by improper feeding. Changing feeds rapidly will precipitate colic generally because changing feeds causes a change in intestinal bacterial, which increases gas production, gut occlusion and possibly torsion or twisted gut. Much difficulty can be avoided if horses are allowed to have something to eat (hay) in from of them at all times. A subtle form of colic, which is more common that we would like to think, is causes by a lack of adequate clean water, which results in impaction.
