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Horse DiseasesOverview
If your horse has swelling in the stomach and diarrhea, lies down and rolls, doesn't want to eat, paws at the ground, bites or kicks at the stomach, paws at the ground, stands awkwardly, sweats or has shallow breathing, chances are that your horse has colic. If you think your horse has colic, contact a veterinarian immediately. If the colic is caused by intestinal twisting (torsion) or telescoping (intussusception), your horse must get surgery. However, if the colic is caused by constipation or impaction, there are home remedies. The following article discusses home remedies for horse colic.
Step 1
Walk the horse or load it into a van and give it a ride. These are things that have relieved symptoms of colic.
Step 2
Put a castor oil pack on the horse's skin over the area where its stomach and intestines are. Treat the horse with a castor oil pack by putting a liberal amount of castor oil onto the horse's skin over where the stomach and intestines are. Then put castor oil into a piece of wool flannel. Put the saturated wool flannel over the horse's skin over where the stomach and intestines are. Then put a heating pad over the piece of wool flannel that is on the horse's skin. If you've done it right, what you should have is castor oil on the horse's skin, with a piece of warm wool flannel saturated with castor oil over that same spot, and a heating pad over the wool flannel. The heating pad should not be directly on the horse's skin.
Put the castor oil pack on the horse, using a heating pad and castor oil, and leave the pack in place for 30 minutes. Then take the pack off for 3 hours. Do another castor oil pack. Do additional packs per the advice of a holistic veterinarian because castor oil packs have been used by holistic veterinarians on animals. If you are uncertain, contact the American Holistic Veterinary Association, find a holistic veterinarian and ask a holistic veterinarian about castor oil packs.
Step 3
Put aromatherapy oil on the horse. Use oils such as basil, chamomile, fennel, geranium, juniper, marjoram and orange. There are other oils that can be used as well. Determine which oil will work for your horse by noting the horse's reaction when you let it smell the oil. Mix two or four of the oils in a 2.5 percent dilution with aloe oil and coconut oil, and then massage this on the horse's stomach.
Step 4
Treat the horse with homeopathic remedies. One option is Bach Flower Essences. Rescue Remedy, sweet chestnut and water violet are essences that reportedly help the horse emotionally. Put the essences on the horse's lips or rub the essences on the horse.
Step 5
Give the horse herbs. Herbal options include comfrey or marshmallow, but these are not the only herbs that are useful. Slippery elm powder may also be helpful if the horse has an ulcer in addition to the colic. Talk to a holistic veterinarian for advice about which herb is best to use for your horse.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : Always talk to a holistic veterinarian first and see whether she thinks you should try the remedy on your horse.
- WARNING : If you think your horse has colic, in all cases it is best to call the veterinarian first.
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