ridecamp@endurance.net: Bermuda hay and colic

Bermuda hay and colic

Trish Dowling (dowling@skyway.usask.ca)
Mon, 06 Oct 1997 14:00:35 -0700 (PDT)

Horses in the south and southeast have higher incidences of colic due to ileal impaction (the ileum is the
last part of the small intestine, it's rather narrow and difficult to get to in surgery). It was thought that this
was due to the prevalance of feeding bermuda grass hay. But the following study showed that ileal impaction
and Bermuda grass hay did not correlate.

Comparison of age, sex, breed, history and management in 229 horses with colic. Morris-DD;
Moore-JN; Ward-S Department of Large Animal Medicine and Physiology and Pharmacology, College of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens 30602, USA. Equine-Vet-J-Suppl. 1989 Jun(7): 129-32
A study, at a university in south eastern USA, aimed to determine whether age, sex, breed, management
and history differed in colic cases. A detailed history was obtained for 229 horses between January 1987
and June 1988. Causes for colic determined by clinical examination, exploratory laparotomy and/or
necropsy included: gastric rupture (GR, 6); ileal impaction (II, 17); small intestinal strangulating obstruction
(SIO, 22); proximal enteritis (PE, 16); transient small intestinal distension (TSID, 18); large colon
displacement (LCD, 52); large colon impaction (LCI, 34); colitis (8); small colon obstruction (SCO, 7);
peritonitis (7); and unknown (42). Prevalence of age, sex, breed and use, type and amount of grain and
roughage fed, supplement feeding, diet change within 30 days, stocking density, deworming rate and
routine, and previous colic were determined in each category and compared by multiple regression and
chi-square analysis (P < 0.05). The PE group included a greater proportion of horses aged five to 10 years
(68.8 per cent) and stallions (37.5 per cent) than other categories. Most horses with II were under five years.
Horses under one year were most prevalent in SIO (22.7 per cent) and SCO (28.6 per cent), and those of 15
years or more were most prevalent in SCO (57.1 per cent) and GR (50 per cent). Quarterhorses comprised
48.1 per cent of the LCD group and there was a high incidence of Arabians in groups with II (29.4 per cent)
and TSID (27.8 per cent). Pelleted grain was associated with LCD. Prevalence of Bermuda grass hay feeding
was less in PE and SCO groups, and pelleted roughage was associated with LCI. Showing and
racing/training the day before colic were associated with LCD and LCI, respectively. There was no dietary
association with II development and no correlation between use, amount of grain or hay fed, type of pasture,
deworming or history of previous colic and various causes for colic.

Cheers,
Trisha

Trisha Dowling, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM & ACVCP
Associate Professor, Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4
306-966-7359/FAX 306-966-7376

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