Falabellas eating sand, what now?

Sometimes it's obvious, sometimes it's completely unconscious: your Falabella eats sand! Some Falabellas rarely do it, and some make it a habit. Falabellas are particularly sensitive to it, which can make it even more dangerous. Eating sand can lead to sand colic and constipation. This blog explains exactly what it is and what can be done about it.

Why does my Falabella eat sand?

As briefly mentioned, some horses and ponies do this very sporadically, while others have made it a habit. On the other hand, it also often happens unconsciously, for example, on grass that is too short. When horses try to eat the grass that is too short, they often pull the blades out of the ground by the roots, so that sand comes along with each blade. It's also possible that there's already sand in the hay or silage. For example, hay was made during an extreme drought, causing dusty sand to accumulate in the hay, or when the hay was mown as short as possible to get as much hay as possible into a bale.

On the other hand, there are horses and ponies, including Falabellas, that deliberately eat sand. They do this, for example, by digging holes and licking the sand. Some even take whole mouthfuls of sand! This can be due to boredom, for example. Another cause can be a deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals.

It's therefore wise to examine the animal's diet. Does it contain sufficient nutrients? Are you feeding enough?

How do I know if my Falabella has sand in its intestines?

Sand cannot be processed by the horse's intestines and sinks like a sandbank. The sand accumulates in the lower parts of the intestines because the body cannot process it on its own. This can quickly build up to significant amounts.

The horse's health will deteriorate, and the first symptoms will appear fairly quickly: lethargy, abdominal distention, diarrhea, and weight loss. As the sandbank grows, intestinal motility will eventually decrease, leading to a blockage, resulting in severe abdominal pain (colic).

Self-testing

Testing your horse or pony for sand in their intestines is fairly simple. Take a fresh manure ball from the stable and place it in a plastic glove (like the ones the vet uses). Fill the glove with water and let the manure ball dissolve in it. Then, let the glove hang for a moment. The sand will sink to the bottom because it's heavier than the manure. Eventually, you'll be able to see or feel how much sand has settled at the bottom of your glove fingers. However, the results of this test are not guaranteed. It's possible that sand is present in the intestines even though it's not detectable in the manure. If you have any doubts or are experiencing colic symptoms, always consult your veterinarian.

It's wise to remember that if there's no sand in the bag or bucket, this doesn't guarantee there's no sand in the intestines. In that case, give psyllium for a week and repeat the fecal test.

If your horse has colic and it is suspected to be caused by sand, a veterinarian may decide to use an X-ray. This allows the veterinarian to determine with certainty that sand colic is the cause.

How can you prevent it?

There are various preventive measures and resources you can use to limit sand intake or to prevent it from occurring.

Is your hay or silage dusty or sandy? Soak it in water before feeding to rinse off the dust and sand before feeding it to your horse. Do your Falabellas eat outside? Don't feed them from the ground, but from a hay trough, for example. Don't let horses and ponies eat grass that is too short. Test it regularly.