Category Archives: Colic in Horses

Leaky Gut Syndrome Part 2

Holistic Horsekeeping Newsletter, August 2022, Volume 27, Number 8 Dr. Madalyn Ward – How to have a healthy happy horse Pathology Associated with Leaky Gut Syndrome To prevent noxious substances from entering the bloodstream, the healthy gut responds in a complex, highly integrated fashion. Enterocytes, or gut-lining cells, actually bind the noxious substance and release chemicals to destroy it. These cells … Continue Reading »

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Holistic Horsekeeping Newsletter, July 2022, Volume 27, Number 7 Dr. Madalyn Ward – How to have a healthy happy horse How Damage Occurs Conventional western veterinarians are now recognizing and treating equine ulcers more frequently. With increased awareness of this syndrome, more horses are routinely being given antacids and acid blocking drugs. These medications may … Continue Reading »

Holistic Horse Health: The Buzz From the Barn

Madalyn Ward, DVM shares her answers to specific holistic horse care questions from clients. To see more questions and answers on real holistic horse care situations check out our Holistic Horsekeeping and Horse Harmony Facebook pages. Q – All four of my horses are on the algae/probiotic/enzyme powder. One of my horses is extremely sensitive … Continue Reading »

Holistic Horse Health: The Buzz From the Barn

Madalyn Ward, DVM shares her answers to specific holistic horse care questions from clients. Q – I am looking for some ideas. Two of my horses broke a panel and then pushed open the door to the tack room where the feed is kept this afternoon. We were gone at work and did not find … Continue Reading »

Holistic Horsekeeping Newsletter June 2014

June 2014 Holistic Horse Health: Can Your Horse Benefit from Nitric Oxide? Holistic Horsekeeping How to have a healthy happy horse. Volume 19, Number 6 =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* In This Issue: Holistic Horse Health: Can Your Horse Benefit from Nitric Oxide? =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* Holistic Horse Health: Can Your Horse Benefit from Nitric Oxide? For many years now I … Continue Reading »

Holistic Horsekeeping Newsletter March 2014

March 2014 Holistic Horse Health: Is Your Horse Ready for Spring? Holistic Horsekeeping How to have a healthy happy horse. Volume 19, Number 3 =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* In This Issue: Holistic Horse Health: Is Your Horse Ready for Spring? =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* Holistic Horse Health: Is Your Horse Ready for Spring? Yesterday it was 36 degrees, windy and raining … Continue Reading »

Horse Symptoms: When to worry

Horse symptoms come in 2 categories, acute and chronic. We tend to get more worried about the acute symptoms such as severe lameness, colic in horses or fever. These horse symptoms are all red flags that something major is wrong that may need immediate, aggressive intervention. Acute horse symptoms often come on quickly, are intense … Continue Reading »

When Colic is not Colic

You walk in to your horse’s pen with his evening feed and instead of coming to you he stands off in the corner and paws the ground. For most of us this creates an immediate fear reaction. Oh my God, my horse has colic. But then, after taking a deep breath, you regroup. Your horse … Continue Reading »

Horse Colic: Caused by Emotions?

Most horse owners have dealt with straightforward impaction, gas, or spasmodic colic associated with changes in diet, weather, management, or the environment. Whether you choose to alleviate this kind of horse colic (with known causes) using conventional or homeopathic approaches, you can at least deal directly with the cause. But what if you have a … Continue Reading »

What Actually Causes Colic?

As the weather shifts into fall, with its unpredictable changes, horse owners begin worrying about the possibility that their horses may colic. Why? Because it seems that abrupt weather changes and colic often go hand-in-hand. But does a change in weather actually increase your horse’s chances of colic? Yes … and no! As always, when … Continue Reading »

Horse Temperament: Punkin gets a saddle

Punkin is progressing at a steady pace despite the fact that Kim and I have not been able to work with him every day. As a Jue Yin(Wood/Fire) horse temperament, Punkin does not really need a daily work routine. He is quite happy when he gets attention and just as happy when he is left … Continue Reading »

Horse Temperament: How to avoid a Metal horse colic

Boy, has this been a dry winter/spring in Central Texas. It is only April and we are regularly in the nineties with single digit humidity. The Metal horse temperament is the most at risk for colic under these conditions. The Metal horse temperament often has challenges with the lung and large intestine so a Metal … Continue Reading »

Holistic Horse Health: Managing and feeding a horse during wild weather

Last week was sunny and warm which was quite a contrast from the previous week of sub freezing temps. Unfortunately, this is typical for Central Texas in February. On Monday night it was 80 degrees and by Tuesday morning it was 24 and we did not get above freezing for 3 days. We had multiple … Continue Reading »

Horse Temperament: Metal Horse Digestive Support

The weakness of the Metal horse temperament is his digestive tract, specifically the large intestine, and excessive dryness will damage this organ. Impaction colic in horses can be the result of dryness in the large intestine so monitoring water consumption is very important. Metal horses also have an extremely high pain tolerance, which can allow … Continue Reading »

Food Sensitivities in Horses: Bud’s last chapter

Food sensitivities in horses are hard enough to deal with but in Bud’s case it turned out he was battling a tumor as well. Bud came to my clinic in June 2009 with a history of severe weight loss and colic symptoms. After observing Bud for some time it became apparent that he was frequently … Continue Reading »

Horse Temperament: Fire Horse Digestive Support

The Small Intestine is one of two organs associated with the Fire element, and this organ needs extra support. Fire horses are emotional and suffer from very sensitive digestion and are affected by stress and diet changes. Fire horses also tend toward an acidic pH in their digestive tract. To support the Small Intestine, the … Continue Reading »

Holistic Horse Health: Bud recovers quickly from a flare up of horse ulcers

Bud, my food sensitivity patient, had a flare up of his horse ulcers this weekend but instead of being set back for a week of more he was eating again in less than an hour. What a miracle compared to a few months ago. A little background. Bud has food sensitivities because he was under … Continue Reading »

Horse ulcers: Bud recovering from food sensitivities March 1 2010 update

The cold winter has been hard on Bud and but he is on the mend again. Chronic horse ulcers like the ones Bud has are tough to heal when stress is ongoing. Between the extreme cold and pain in his TMJ from the original injury Bud has had major stress. Last year Bud broke several … Continue Reading »

Horses teeth: What is quidding?

Have you ever found bits of wadded up, chewed hay laying around the feed area and wondered about the health of your horses teeth? This is called quidding and if you are seeing it then most likely you have an older horse who has lost most of his teeth, a horse that recently had his … Continue Reading »

Bud – my food sensitivity horse, jan 22, 2010

Bud is doing well but there is a new wrinkle to his symptom picture. I believe his food sensitivities are under control and, thanks to the daily packets of bluegreen algae, probiotics, and enzymes, Eleviv for stress, KLPP and KAM UF , his digestive tract is healing nicely. When I palpate is abdomen it is … Continue Reading »