Some possible causes of recurring colic include:
- Parasites
Even though you follow a preventative program for parasites, when a horse has repeated colic, the affected horse’s feces should be checked for parasite eggs. This should include an examination for tapeworm eggs.
Considerations; make sure that the worm medication being used is effective, individual horses may be more prone to parasite infection and need to be checked more frequently than others.
- Gastric ulcers
Recurring colic is sometimes caused by gastric ulcers. Colic episodes due to ulcers are rare, usually mild, and usually occur during or just after feeding grain. More often horses with gastric ulcers will have a poor appetite, poor or decreased performance and may appear unthrifty with a poor hair coat. Passing a long endoscope into the stomach is the only way to make a definitive diagnosis. Treatment for gastric ulcers is effective and your veterinarian will be able to cure this problem in most horses. Gas colic can be caused by some feeds, including highly fermentable feeds such as lush grass or clover or excess grain. “Regardless of the cause of an obstruction, the inability of food to move through the system at at a normal rate results in excessive gas and fluid accumulation. This in turn causes intestinal distension and pain (colic).” Thal Equine