Weather change and colic

[oldernewbie]

Our weather this winter has been anything but wintry. Cool, cold, spring like warm, you name it. Up or down 40 degrees within 24 hours. Just very atypical. Both my young horse and my sister’s horse have had gas colics - no thrashing or sweating but clearly uncomfortable. Some banamine and anti gas medication and tubing cleared it up. Vet mentioned in both cases (about 3 weeks apart) that they had had an unusual number of colic calls of the same thing.

So my question: has anyone studied why weather changes affects horses this way? And not all horses at the same time? Just curious and thanks for any info!

[AMackechnie]

I’ve one mare affected by weather colic, but it’s not all the time, or the same type of weather each time. She has been treated for ulcers in the past, but I’m not certain this is relative to the colic issue. She’s retired and her schedule never varies.

She has improved with the addition of TractGard supplement but we still watch her intently with any barometer shift.

[FatCatFarm]

I’ve had it happen time and again and drastic swings in weather seem to bring it on coupled with grass hay here in the South and then the horse not drinking sufficient quantities of water and winding up with essentially a dehydration colic. I.e., too much matter in the digestive tract and not enough fluid.

And anecdotally, I’ve noticed some horses that get fed a yeasty feed (brewer’s yeast) might also be more susceptible, but that’s conjector on my part.

I now keep a tub of electrolytes in my feed room and add a table spoon of salt to my horses’ feed if there are any drastic weather changes; a new round bale gets put out; being hauled; or if it’s very hot, in order to prompt them to up their water intake.

[Lusoluv]

On Dr. David Ramey’s blog site, he states weather changes don’t have a direct correlation with colic. Horses colic when it’s hot and cold and in-between. And since weather changes all the time - horses can colic any time. Since we can’t control either, it’s not worth to fretting about. I tend to agree. He also has links to studies showing weather changes don’t cause colic. I didn’t read through them…

A lady at my barn does have a Paint who cribs has fairly frequent, mild, gas colics (maybe 6/year). She used to swear they always happened around big temperature swings. When I gently poo-poo’d that idea, she said she was going to start keeping a journal to note dates/weather/temp, etc. She admitted a year or so later there was no pattern…

[AMackechnie]

@Lusoluv

On Dr. David Ramey’s blog site, he states weather changes don’t have a direct correlation with colic. Horses colic when it’s hot and cold and in-between. And since weather changes all the time - horses can colic any time. Since we can’t control either, it’s not worth to fretting about. I tend to agree. He also has links to studies showing weather changes don’t cause colic. I didn’t read through them…

A lady at my barn does have a Paint who cribs has fairly frequent, mild, gas colics (maybe 6/year). She used to swear they always happened around big temperature swings. When I gently poo-poo’d that idea, she said she was going to start keeping a journal to note dates/weather/temp, etc. She admitted a year or so later there was no pattern…

He’s not seen our mare colic during a big barometer change. It’s absolutely a direct correlation to her colic episodes, and confirmed by our vet practice.

[walkinthewalk]

Ramey may be a DVM but I’ll go toe-to-toe with him on his theory.

A big change in barometric pressure can cause digestive upsets in horses and I know people who get migraines when there’s a big change in weather coming.

I wonder what he would say about my strong suspicion that one of my horses has SADD:):). His cranky level goes up a few notches when the sun doesn’t come out for a few days:)

[AMackechnie]

@walkinthewalk

Ramey may be a DVM but I’ll go toe-to-toe with him on his theory.

A big change in barometric pressure can cause digestive upsets in horses and I know people who get migraines when there’s a big change in weather coming.

So would I. My old bones firmly indicate when there is a change in the weather coming.

[cutter99]

I’m an old timer who was always taught about the drop in barometric pressure being an issue, but will add another couple twists to theory.

How many horse owners change the way their horses are kept based on weather? Leave them in stalls as opposed to being out, change up forages between hay and grasses, have changes to water and accessibility. I think these things play into the “barometric pressure” theory much more than we give them credit for!

[mroades]

Ramey is a quack in my opinion. Some horses most definitely colic in weather changes. Every vet I know dreads cold fronts

[FatCatFarm]

I follow Dr. Ramey and think he is spot on most of the time but do disagree about barometric colic. I don’t stall or vary routine much at all and still it happens. Mostly in fall and winter in my experience.

[stb]

Barometric pressure changes and colic are a real thing. I have had multiple vets who attest to this. I have also seen it myself. I disagree with Dr. Ramey on this one.

[ThatBayHorse]

Idk, the only two times my mare has colicked, it was when there were massive temperature shifts of 30-40’degrees, always hot to cool. That being said, she did it twice in one year and never before or since with lots of other weather changes sooo???

[SolarFlare]

Mine had a very bad gas colic with right dorsal displacement a few years ago, during a time of huge daily weather swings (20+ degrees Celcius daytime, then down to single digits overnight). I asked the vets about a correlation with temperature/barometric changes and they said there were no official studies to confirm, but they all swore that they were related. They too dreaded these times of year when we had big swings.

And to add - there were no turnout/feed/etc changes that played a part - everything was as usual. There were a number of other horses at the emergency hospital all that week with the same problem.

[beowulf]

I think horses can be sensitive to barometric changes. And I side with those who say they have horses that have colicked during an extreme shift and they believe their horse is sensitive to the change…

Dr. Ramey may be a vet, but this might be the one time I don’t agree with what a vet has to say!

That being said… I really only have seen “barometrically sensitive” horses in boarding barns where the horse is being stalled for a big part of the day and/or does not have access to hay/forage 24/7 - IE, horses under the industry standard boarding-barn wise. I’ve worked as a BM in several barns now - some backyard, some lesson barns, and one a BNT’s with varying degrees of control over their turnout schedule – all with very different types of horses… but I do think, after dealing with all of these cases, and looking back at their management as objectively as possible, that a big majority of those horses were horses that had Big Fat Ulcers. Some were treated by their owners, and some were not.

I may be invoking the wrath of fate by saying this, but I just don’t see the same scale of gas colics in horses that are turned out 24/7. I do think ulcers come into play here.

[oldernewbie]

Both my horse and my sister’s horse get at least 8 hours of turnout a day. All are on a consistent, well-managed schedule with quality feed and hay. Nary a one shows any signs of ulcers, altho I realize they don’t have to show symptoms to have them. So, it’s a mystery. The weather changes do affect my sister, who is prone to migraines. I am not, so the swings don’t really bother me. Maybe what the horses are experiencing are the equine equivalent?

Interesting discussion, thanks for your thoughts all!

[MzCarol]

@oldernewbie

Our weather this winter has been anything but wintry. Cool, cold, spring like warm, you name it. Up or down 40 degrees within 24 hours. Just very atypical. Both my young horse and my sister’s horse have had gas colics - no thrashing or sweating but clearly uncomfortable. Some banamine and anti gas medication and tubing cleared it up. Vet mentioned in both cases (about 3 weeks apart) that they had had an unusual number of colic calls of the same thing.

So my question: has anyone studied why weather changes affects horses this way? And not all horses at the same time? Just curious and thanks for any info!

It’s not the rapid temperature fluctuations that get them - it’s the drastic change in the barometric pressure, just like people with sinus issues. Key word - pressure…barometric pressure. Horse have the most sensitive digestive system so when the pressure in the atmosphere changes they most certainly will feel it.

The best thing to do when the pressure is swinging so drastically is allow the horses outside so they can move around. This helps ease their discomfort. Obviously make sure they have hay in front of them at all times and plenty of water.

[AMackechnie]

@beowulf

I think horses can be sensitive to barometric changes. And I side with those who say they have horses that have colicked during an extreme shift and they believe their horse is sensitive to the change…

Dr. Ramey may be a vet, but this might be the one time I don’t agree with what a vet has to say!

That being said… I really only have seen “barometrically sensitive” horses in boarding barns where the horse is being stalled for a big part of the day and/or does not have access to hay/forage 24/7 - IE, horses under the industry standard boarding-barn wise. I’ve worked as a BM in several barns now - some backyard, some lesson barns, and one a BNT’s with varying degrees of control over their turnout schedule – all with very different types of horses… but I do think, after dealing with all of these cases, and looking back at their management as objectively as possible, that a big majority of those horses were horses that had Big Fat Ulcers. Some were treated by their owners, and some were not.

I may be invoking the wrath of fate by saying this, but I just don’t see the same scale of gas colics in horses that are turned out 24/7. I do think ulcers come into play here.

Since our weather colic-prone mare also has ulcer issues I’d certainly say in her case this might add to her propensity for colic with barometer changes.

On the other hand, the stalled horse theory does not apply, because she has full choice in or out 24/7. Her accommodations are a 12 x 12 stall with a back door to a paddock opening to a 2 acre pasture.

It’s certainly an interesting topic for discussion.

[beowulf]

@AMackechnie

Since our weather colic-prone mare also has ulcer issues I’d certainly say in her case this might add to her propensity for colic with barometer changes.

On the other hand, the stalled horse theory does not apply, because she has full choice in or out 24/7. Her accommodations are a 12 x 12 stall with a back door to a paddock opening to a 2 acre pasture.

It’s certainly an interesting topic for discussion.

Is she alone, or with a herd? Do you know why she has ulcers?

[AMackechnie]

@beowulf

Is she alone, or with a herd? Do you know why she has ulcers?

The mare has a pony companion who shares her stall and turnout space. The pony is put in a smaller paddock while the mare eats her larger amount of grain. She came to us in a starved condition about 10 years ago and that could have been the start of her ulcers, but she’s been treated well since then. Goodness knows we monitor her constantly for any appetite changes or health issues.

[Guilherme]

@walkinthewalk

Ramey may be a DVM but I’ll go toe-to-toe with him on his theory.

A big change in barometric pressure can cause digestive upsets in horses and I know people who get migraines when there’s a big change in weather coming.

I wonder what he would say about my strong suspicion that one of my horses has SADD:):). His cranky level goes up a few notches when the sun doesn’t come out for a few days:)

Dr. Ramey is probably right on barometric pressure. I’ve written before about personal experiences with gross changes in same, FAR more than one would ever get in frontal passage, and I would challenge the anecdotal evidence usually presented. A frontal passage also brings deep cold which freezes water in unheated buckets. It also brings very cold winds that increase heat loss. A reluctance to drink hyper cold water or small changes in body temperature are candidates for causation of digestive issues.

Until I see a university level study that specifically correlates colic to barometric pressure change (and accounts for the other changes that come with a strong cold frontal passage) I’ll say, “probably not” to causation.

G.