B740
Sand in the Manure

Introduction: A common problem found in horses that reside in sandy environments or are fed on the ground can be sand colic. As the horse grazes or feeds, small amounts of sand can be ingested. Excessive amounts of sand in the digestive tract can lead to intestinal irritation, impactions, and colic. The following pictures and captions outline a simple procedure that can be used to determine if a horse is consuming large amounts of sand.

Note: If it is determined that a horse is consuming sand, two important things should be done. The first is that psyllium should be added to the horse’s diet. The psyllium can come in many different forms and from many different products. The recommended amount of psyllium is usually about 0.5 kg or 1 pound of psyllium 2-3 times a day. The second thing that can help prevent sand problems is to never feed a horse directly on the ground. Place all feeds in haybags, feeders, or buckets.

In this example, a clean palpation sleeve has been placed over one hand. A fresh manure sample should then be collected, being careful not to pick up any sand or dirt in the sample. A large handful of manure is all that is required to perform the test.

 

After a large handful of fresh manure has been collected, turn the palpation sleeve inside out, enclosing the manure sample within the sleeve.

 

The palpation sleeve can then be filled with enough water to completely cover the manure sample.

 

After the water has been added, the manure should be mixed thoroughly with the water and any remaining fecal balls should be broken up.

 

This mixture should be hung for several minutes with the fingers of the sleeve pointing towards the ground. This allows any sand to settle out to the fingers of the palpation sleeve. If sand is noticed/felt in the tips of the fingers of the sleeve, prevention measures should be implemented. In many areas it is normal for a horse to have a small amount of sand in the manure.