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===Description===
{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"
| Also known as:
| '''Sand Colic
|}
==Description==
Sand impaction of the large colon is seen in horses with limited access to drinking water or those grazing bare pastures. Occasionally sand may be consumed when included with hay. The ingested sand may act as an inflammatory stimulus leading to a foreign body enteritis, commonly known as 'sand colic'. Alternatively it may accumulate and form a sediment within the right dorsal colon, pelvic flexure and transverse colon leading to an impaction.
Sand impaction of the large colon is seen in horses with limited access to drinking water or those grazing bare pastures. Occasionally sand may be consumed when included with hay. The ingested sand may act as an inflammatory stimulus leading to a foreign body enteritis, commonly known as 'sand colic'. Alternatively it may accumulate and form a sediment within the right dorsal colon, pelvic flexure and transverse colon leading to an impaction.
Sand impactions are particularly common in dry sandy regions of the world and are far less common in the UK and rest of Europe. Although all horses may be affected, indiscriminate feeders and young horses that may consume sand voluntarily are more commonly affected. Horses fed on low-roughage diets are more prone to developing the condition.
Sand impactions are particularly common in dry sandy regions of the world and are far less common in the UK and rest of Europe. Although all horses may be affected, indiscriminate feeders and young horses that may consume sand voluntarily are more commonly affected. Horses fed on low-roughage diets are more prone to developing the condition.
==Clinical signs==
Ingestion of sand without impaction may lead to clinical signs associated with a physical colitis due the abrasive nature of sand. These include diarrhoea and signs of endotoxaemia, such as congested mucous membranes and a prolonged capillary refill time. If sufficient sand has been ingested to cause an impaction, the clinical signs are generally dependent on the anatomical site affected. Horses affected by a pelvic flexure impaction often present with signs of mild abdominal pain and generally respond well to conservative treatment. Impaction of the transverse colon is often associated with more severe abdominal pain due to the build up of gas in the the colon proximal to the obstruction.
Ingestion of sand without impaction may lead to clinical signs associated with a physical colitis due the abrasive nature of sand. These include diarrhoea and signs of endotoxaemia, such as congested mucous membranes and a prolonged capillary refill time. If sufficient sand has been ingested to cause an impaction, the clinical signs are generally dependent on the anatomical site affected. Horses affected by a pelvic flexure impaction often present with signs of mild abdominal pain and generally respond well to conservative treatment. Impaction of the transverse colon is often associated with more severe abdominal pain due to the build up of gas in the the colon proximal to the obstruction.