FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice2009; 25(1); 67-vi; doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2008.11.003

The role of nutrition in colic.

Abstract: Nutritional intolerances manifesting as colic in the horse may be largely explained by divergence from the diet and ingestive behaviors to which the feral ancestors of modern domesticated equids had become accustomed and adapted. High-starch diets and abrupt dietary changes are probably foremost in the risk factors for diet-associated colic in the horse and have their basis in disruption of the stability of microbial populations resident within the equine hindgut. Although some general associations between colic and diet may be inferred from several epidemiologic studies, data derived from studies of single and specific disease processes associated with colic allow more effective practical application of corrective dietary management strategies in situations where colic risk is judged to be increased.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2009-03-24 PubMed ID: 19303551DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2008.11.003Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses how modern diets contribute to the development of colic, a gastrointestinal condition, in horses. They heavily attribute the prevalence of this condition to the modification of the natural and traditional diets of horses, which includes high-starch foods and sudden changes in diet.

Origins of the Issue

  • The research begins by discussing the nutritional changes horses have experienced over time. While they were once wild and adapted to a certain diet, modern domestication has drastically altered their food intake, leading to potential digestive issues. These changes have diverged significantly from their natural, ancestral eating behaviors.
  • Among these new dietary trends, the researchers highlight high-starch diets and sudden dietary alterations as being particularly problematic. The issue at hand is not just the change in food, but how this change affects the horses internally.

Effects on Microbial Populations within Equine Hindgut

  • The authors explain that these dietary changes, primarily the consumption of high-starch foods and abrupt dietary shifts, disrupt the microbial populations in the equine hindgut or the horse’s large intestine. The hindgut of a horse plays a critical role in their digestion, particularly in the digestion of fibers.
  • The disruption of these microbial populations may be primarily responsible for colic, which is abdominal discomfort or pain. In horses, this can range from mild discomfort to a dangerous, life-threatening condition if not addressed.

Epidemiological Studies and Colic Management Strategies

  • The research also considers evidence from a range of epidemiological studies. Through this process, general associations between diet and colic are established. These relationships offer a more accurate understanding of the problem, beyond mere speculation or limited observation.
  • However, it’s not just about making broad generalizations. The authors of the study stress the importance of using data obtained from studies that focus on specific single-disease processes associated with colic. With more targeted research, they propose that more effective practical applications of corrective dietary management strategies can be derived.
  • These targeted strategies can then be used in situations where the risk of colic is high – increasingly important in the domesticated horse population, where there’s a shift from the digestive demands of their ancestral lineage.

Cite This Article

APA
Durham AE. (2009). The role of nutrition in colic. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 25(1), 67-vi. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2008.11.003

Publication

The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice
ISSN: 1558-4224
NlmUniqueID: 8511904
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 25
Issue: 1
Pages: 67-vi

Researcher Affiliations

Durham, Andy E
  • The Liphook Equine Hospital, Forest Mere, Liphook, Hampshire, UK. andy@theleh.co.uk

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed / adverse effects
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Colic / etiology
  • Colic / veterinary
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Edible Grain
  • Horse Diseases / metabolism
  • Horses
  • Poaceae
  • Probiotics

Citations

This article has been cited 16 times.
  1. Perricone V, Sandrini S, Irshad N, Comi M, Lecchi C, Savoini G, Agazzi A. The Role of Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Supporting Gut Health in Horses: An Updated Review on Its Effects on Digestibility and Intestinal and Fecal Microbiota. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 9;12(24).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12243475pubmed: 36552396google scholar: lookup
  2. Colombino E, Raspa F, Perotti M, Bergero D, Vervuert I, Valle E, Capucchio MT. Gut health of horses: effects of high fibre vs high starch diet on histological and morphometrical parameters. BMC Vet Res 2022 Sep 8;18(1):338.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03433-ypubmed: 36076239google scholar: lookup
  3. Raspa F, Tarantola M, Muca E, Bergero D, Soglia D, Cavallini D, Vervuert I, Bordin C, De Palo P, Valle E. Does Feeding Management Make a Difference to Behavioural Activities and Welfare of Horses Reared for Meat Production?. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jul 6;12(14).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12141740pubmed: 35883287google scholar: lookup
  4. Raspa F, Vervuert I, Capucchio MT, Colombino E, Bergero D, Forte C, Greppi M, Cavallarin L, Giribaldi M, Antoniazzi S, Cavallini D, Valvassori E, Valle E. A high-starch vs. high-fibre diet: effects on the gut environment of the different intestinal compartments of the horse digestive tract. BMC Vet Res 2022 May 19;18(1):187.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03289-2pubmed: 35590319google scholar: lookup
  5. Raspa F, Dinardo FR, Vervuert I, Bergero D, Bottero MT, Pattono D, Dalmasso A, Vinassa M, Valvassori E, Bruno E, De Palo P, Valle E. A Fibre- vs. cereal grain-based diet: Which is better for horse welfare? Effects on intestinal permeability, muscle characteristics and oxidative status in horses reared for meat production. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2022 Mar;106(2):313-326.
    doi: 10.1111/jpn.13643pubmed: 34553422google scholar: lookup
  6. Raspa F, Roggero A, Palestrini C, Marten Canavesio M, Bergero D, Valle E. Studying the Shape Variations of the Back, the Neck, and the Mandibular Angle of Horses Depending on Specific Feeding Postures Using Geometric Morphometrics. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 10;11(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11030763pubmed: 33801885google scholar: lookup
  7. Raspa F, Tarantola M, Bergero D, Bellino C, Mastrazzo CM, Visconti A, Valvassori E, Vervuert I, Valle E. Stocking Density Affects Welfare Indicators in Horses Reared for Meat Production. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 26;10(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10061103pubmed: 32604808google scholar: lookup
  8. Bull J, Bas F, Silva-Guzmán M, Wentzel HH, Keim JP, Gandarillas M. Characterization of Feeding, Sport Management, and Routine Care of the Chilean Corralero Horse during Rodeo Season. Animals (Basel) 2019 Sep 17;9(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani9090697pubmed: 31533372google scholar: lookup
  9. Beckers KF, Schulz CJ, Childers GW. Rapid regrowth and detection of microbial contaminants in equine fecal microbiome samples. PLoS One 2017;12(11):e0187044.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187044pubmed: 29091944google scholar: lookup
  10. Harlow BE, Lawrence LM, Hayes SH, Crum A, Flythe MD. Effect of Dietary Starch Source and Concentration on Equine Fecal Microbiota. PLoS One 2016;11(4):e0154037.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154037pubmed: 27128793google scholar: lookup
  11. Liu X, Fan H, Ding X, Hong Z, Nei Y, Liu Z, Li G, Guo H. Analysis of the gut microbiota by high-throughput sequencing of the V5-V6 regions of the 16S rRNA gene in donkey. Curr Microbiol 2014 May;68(5):657-62.
    doi: 10.1007/s00284-014-0528-5pubmed: 24452427google scholar: lookup
  12. Steelman SM, Chowdhary BP, Dowd S, Suchodolski J, Janečka JE. Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes in fecal samples reveals high diversity of hindgut microflora in horses and potential links to chronic laminitis. BMC Vet Res 2012 Nov 27;8:231.
    doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-8-231pubmed: 23186268google scholar: lookup
  13. Schank N, Cottone A, Wulf M, Seiter K, Thomas B, Miller LMJ, Anderson SL, Sahyoun A, Abidi AH, Kassan M, Verma A. The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) in Colic and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 3;15(23).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15233482pubmed: 41375540google scholar: lookup
  14. Carter MM, Leatherwood JL, Paris BL, Moore GE, George JM, Martinez RE, Karges K, Cox JR, Arnold CE, Glass KG, Bradbery AN, Rodiles A, Wickersham TA. Influence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 on the fecal pH, markers of gut permeability, fecal microbiota, and markers of systemic inflammation in sedentary horses fed a high-starch diet. J Anim Sci 2025 Jan 4;103.
    doi: 10.1093/jas/skaf005pubmed: 39803897google scholar: lookup
  15. Bishop RC, Kemper AM, Clark LV, Wilkins PA, McCoy AM. Stability of Gastric Fluid and Fecal Microbial Populations in Healthy Horses under Pasture and Stable Conditions. Animals (Basel) 2024 Oct 16;14(20).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14202979pubmed: 39457909google scholar: lookup
  16. Bordin C, Raspa F, Greppi M, Harris P, Ellis AD, Roggero A, Palestrini C, Cavallini D, Bergero D, Valle E. Pony feeding management: the role of morphology and hay feeding methods on intake rate, ingestive behaviors and mouth shaping. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1332207.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1332207pubmed: 38681853google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,727 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.