Preventing colic

Question
I read the answer you gave regarding the use of mineral oil as a prevention against colic. I just spoke with my equine vet and he recommends a weekly dose of mineral oil. I live in Florida where sand can be a big problem and most of the equine vets do not recommend the sand clear products on the market. So as a result of so much info I am confused. My vet recommends coastal hay weekly mineral oil mixed with oats it seems that there are so many opinions.

Answer
Hello Lisa,

Thank you for your question.  It is certain that there are many varying opinions on how to prevent impaction colic.  Just as your vet (and many others) may continue to recommend mineral oil as a means of preventing colic, there are as many who will recommend not using it.  From a nutritional standpoint, mineral oil can cause digestive upsets in and of itself especially if it is used in excessive quantities.  It is used because it is 100% indigestible which means that it will make its way completely through the digestive system without being being absorbed, and 'lube up' the hindgut allowing digesta to 'slip' out without impacting.  The down side to the mineral oil is that it will cling like a film to the inside of the intestinal wall (think about the grease that lines your sink walls after cleaning oily dishes). It coats absorption sites along the small intestine and will actually form a film over the bacteria of the hindgut, essentially starving the bacteria and interfering with the fermentation of forages which even further increases the risk of impaction colic.  Of course, the amount of oil fed will determine the ultimate impact it has on the digestive system...with minimal feeding rates causing minimal effects, and larger feeding rates causing larger problems.  If you have an ongoing impaction issue you then may need to decide between the lesser of 2 evils, or find an alternative for combating sand colic.  Granted, we don't have to deal with severe sand colic concerns in this part of the country but I have herd some great things about the alternative sand colic remedies.  

You are correct, there are many varying opinions on the subject.  It never does hurt to get a second opinion.

Thanks, Corlena