Psyllium cure for sand colic: often dosed much too low in horses! The advice and information platform for all horse and dog enthusiasts.

A horse ingests sand while grazing, by eating hay from a bare ground, or by intentionally licking sand in the paddock. Dust in hay can also cause the absorption of sand or clay. A little sand in your horse's intestines is normal, and small amounts are simply excreted by your horse. What you want to prevent is the sand accumulating. This sometimes happens if a lot goes in and little comes out. This can lead to sand colic, a painful and sometimes even deadly form of colic. The most risky period for sand accumulations is in the autumn and winter, when the pasture is bare and horses are more often in the paddock.

Does my horse have too much sand in the intestines?

Having too much sand in the intestines does not directly cause symptoms, but prevention is always better than cure. Often, you can recognize an early accumulation of sand in the intestines by a number of 'vague' symptoms:

Slow in work, not moving forward
Frequent urge to defecate, without anything coming out
Painful behind the saddle or in the groin
Slightly lame
Reluctant to canter and (especially right-handed) difficulty with good picking up

Dosage

There are psyllium products on the market which are fine, but indicate a dose of 1 to 2 tablespoons per day on the packaging. This is too low. For whole flea seeds, you should give at least 100 to 150 grams per day for a week to a horse weighing around 500kg. For ground fibers, you can use the same volume, around 150ml, or a plastic cup full. This is much more than 1 to 2 tablespoons!

Utrecht University (and other veterinary clinics) even recommends doses of 1 gram of psyllium per kilogram of body weight when there is actually sand in the intestines. This means 500g of psyllium per day for a horse weighing 500 kg. For prevention, they recommend 0.5 grams per 1 kg of body weight.

Some people choose to put their horse on a low dose of psyllium for a while. This can be a solution for several intestinal problems. The packaging often also states a 'maintenance dosage' for this kind of use. For a sand cure, a (significant) higher dosage is recommended. For a sand cure, remember: short, but powerful! Make sure to read carefully before using these products.

Psyllium husk or pellets?

All products on the market against sand in the horse's intestines are made based on psyllium, or flea seed. These seeds create a slimy mush in the digestive system after coming into contact with water. Some people give whole seeds, while others opt for psyllium fibers, or 'husks', or for psyllium in pellet form. Some psyllium products also contain probiotics for intestinal health.

The most effective against sand are the pellets, as their slimy effect occurs later, leading to the most optimal effect in the intestines instead of in the esophagus/stomach. However, be careful with pellet forms, as they often contain large amounts of "fillers."

Conclusion: do not give too little psyllium for sand

To prevent sand colic, it is advisable to give your horse a course of psyllium every month or six weeks in the autumn and winter. This can be in the form of psyllium fibers, whole flea seeds, or pellets. It is preferable to choose psyllium in pellet form, as it becomes slimy in the intestines. Husk fibers start the slimy process in the mouth/esophagus, resulting in less effect in the intestines against sand. Make sure the dosage is high enough for a cure, as recommended by Utrecht University, instead of following the dosage on the package. The course is usually given for seven days.