Author, Donkey, Bureaucrats, Administrators
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===Description===
===Description===
Affected horses may have a history of living in a sandy environment, grazing in dry weather or a reduction in water intake. Auscultation of the abdomen may reveal gritty-sounding 'rubs' heard as the sand moves through the colon. Definitive diagnosis of an impaction is made via rectal palpation or transrectal ultrasonography. In many cases however the impacted segment is located in the cranial gastrointestinal tract and is therefore out of reach. Sand also may be seen in the faeces by mixing faecal material with water in a plastic rectal examination sleeve and allowing the sand to fall to the bottom. If performed, abdominocentesis should be carried out with extreme caution in order to avoid inadvertent laceration of the sand-impacted colon. Abdominal radiography may be useful in assessing the volume and location of sand impactions in foals, minature horses and small ponies.
Affected horses may have a history of living in a sandy environment, grazing in dry weather or a reduction in water intake. Auscultation of the abdomen may reveal gritty-sounding 'rubs' heard as the sand moves through the colon. Definitive diagnosis of an impaction is made via rectal palpation or transrectal ultrasonography. In many cases however the impacted segment is located in the cranial gastrointestinal tract and is therefore out of reach. Sand also may be seen in the faeces by mixing faecal material with water in a plastic rectal examination sleeve and allowing the sand to fall to the bottom. If performed, abdominocentesis should be carried out with extreme caution in order to avoid inadvertent laceration of the sand-impacted colon. Abdominal radiography may be useful in assessing the volume and location of sand impactions in foals, minature horses and small ponies.
[[:Category:Colic Diagnosis in the Horse|Colic Diagnosis in Horses]]
===Treatment===
===Treatment===
Prevention of recurrence is important; horses should be fed from buckets to prevent further ingestion of sand. Water should be freely available and plentiful. Horses should not be allowed access to over-grazed pasture. High fibre diets such as hay are recommended. Psyllium may be administered every four to twelve months to horses that are chronically affected.
Prevention of recurrence is important; horses should be fed from buckets to prevent further ingestion of sand. Water should be freely available and plentiful. Horses should not be allowed access to over-grazed pasture. High fibre diets such as hay are recommended. Psyllium may be administered every four to twelve months to horses that are chronically affected.
[[Colic, Medical Treatment|Medical Treatment of Colic in Horses]]
===Prognosis===
===Prognosis===