Yearling Colic Prevention?

[HighlandLass]

I am in the process of purchasing a colt who will be a yearling when I pick him up. I would like to start him on something for colic prevention a few weeks to a month before we pick him up. What is safe and recommended for colic prevention in yearlings? I normally use smartpaks for my horse, but I couldn’t find any information regarding a minimum age if any.

Thank you everyone for your replies! It was mentioned by the breeder which is why I asked, as I have never heard of suplimenting a yearling unless vet recommended. We do as much turnout as possible (weather permitting), always fresh clean hay and water available and always have kept the horses on a good de-wormer regimen. I’ve never had a horse colic so I think I will just keep doing what I’ve have been doing, get the vet out as soon as he arrives to get a baseline going and leave it at that. Thank you!

[Palm_Beach]

Good horse husbandry prevents colic, not any supplement or medication. Roughage, water, turnout, diet, deworming, etc will all keep him in the best of health and best able to handle stressors. But there is nothing you can give your horse that will 100% “prevent” colic.

The smartpak stuff is gimmick. They are making money hand over fist on that Colicare program, or whatever it’s called.

[HighlandLass]

@Palm Beach

Good horse husbandry prevents colic, not any supplement or medication. Roughage, water, turnout, diet, deworming, etc will all keep him in the best of health and best able to handle stressors. But there is nothing you can give your horse that will 100% “prevent” colic.

The smartpak stuff is gimmick. They are making money hand over fist on that Colicare program, or whatever it’s called.

I agree with you 100% on taking great care of a horse is what prevents colic. I have never had a horse colic and my current horse is the only one I have used smartpaks with. Current horse was only put on smartpak per the vet’s recommendation because he was severely malnourished when I purchased him so the vet wanted him to be on something that helped with digestion as he was reintroduced to food again.The only reason I am asking for the yearling, is because his breeder asked what I was planning to use which caught me off guard. I figured I would ask around because I have never heard of a yearling being put on any suppliments unless they were vet recommended and when I tried to do some research on it, I found nothing in regards to supplimenting a yearling for colic prevention.

[Palm_Beach]

I’d ask the breeder if there is a reason he is susceptible to colic.

[JB]

Full time turnout, good grass and/or hay, regular deworming (super critical in young horses, they need much more frequent deworming than adults), vaccinations, dental care (coming up soon), and a quality diet that provides high nutrition while keeping him lean.

[HighlandLass]

@Palm Beach

I’d ask the breeder if there is a reason he is susceptible to colic.

He said he recommends it for every young horse and when I talked to some of the owners of his prior foals they said he always mentions it with every foal. I have the vet out within the first 1-2 weeks after a horse arrives so I think I will just have the vet look him over, get him started on a good worming regimen and then if my vet suggests anything go from there. Thank you everyone!

[NancyM]

“Colic” in horses is a “catch all phrase” that describes gut pain. The gut pain may be due to all sorts of different things, from ulcers, to indigestion, to ingesting toxins, to impaction, to gas, to tumours, to enteroliths, to rupture, to a twist. Different things lead up to every single possible cause of colic. As described above, simple good care and good horsemanship is your best bet to hope to avoid most of the causes of colic, most of the time. But sometimes it happens anyway, and we have to deal with it as best as we can. Good luck with your new horse.

[joiedevie99]

Perhaps he is concerned about the stress of the move causing ulcers? Talk with your vet about whether they recommend starting the colt on Ulcergard paste a week before the move (And what dose they recommend based on current weight).

[HighlandLass]

@joiedevie99

Perhaps he is concerned about the stress of the move causing ulcers? Talk with your vet about whether they recommend starting the colt on Ulcergard paste a week before the move (And what dose they recommend based on current weight).

That’s a good point! I think I’ll phone the vet and see what’s best.

[jonem004]

@joiedevie99

Perhaps he is concerned about the stress of the move causing ulcers? Talk with your vet about whether they recommend starting the colt on Ulcergard paste a week before the move (And what dose they recommend based on current weight).

This is the direction I’d go in. Young horses are very susceptible to ulcers.

[Palm_Beach]

@HighlandLass

That’s a good point! I think I’ll phone the vet and see what’s best.

Forgot to mention, there is a rule here that you must post pics when you get a new horse, especially a baby!!! Hope he arrives healthy and frisky.

[monalisa]

When my 6 month old arrived in January we gave him Ulcergard to help with the stress of the move. Maybe that is what she is referring to.

[merrygoround]

I frequently disagree with Palm Beach but here I agree completely.

Smart Pak product description are frequently too fanciful for words. They started out packaging original brand products for barn convenience sake. They are now selling their own version of these products.