Geor discussed the topic of diet after colic at the 2007 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 1-5 in Orlando, Fla. There are arguments as to how much to feed following a colic attack or colic surgery. A horse needs nutrients for healing and immune function, but loading the bowels with feed (and the weight of the feed) might increase the chance for intestinal shutdown and colic relapse or for breakdown of the abdominal incision. It has been common practice to withhold feed initially and provide only water and possibly intravenous fluids and electrolytes to a horse that suffered from colic or colic surgery, then slowly re-introduce feed at a rate that allows the GI system to accommodate forage. read more

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