Cribbing and wind-sucking behaviors in horses, known as CBWS, are associated with an increased risk of colic. Horses that exhibit CBWS are 35.4% more likely to be diagnosed with colic compared to non-CBWS horses. Colic causes severe abdominal pain in horses and can require treatments like nasogastric tubes, analgesics, IV fluids, or even surgery. To help prevent colic in CBWS horses, owners should increase pasture time, maintain a consistent diet with proper forage levels, and schedule regular dental checkups.

1. An Infographic brought to you by Stefanie Mathias
UNDERSTANDING COLIC
IN HORSES WITH
CBWS BEHAVIOUR
CRIBBING: when a horse rests their top teeth on a relatively stationary
object and sucks air into the throat, making a grunting noise
WIND-SUCKING: sucking air into the throat, making a grunting noise
without the use of a stationary object
COLIC: relatively common disorder of the digestive system that causes
servere abdominal discomfort
Statistics
35.4%
Horses that have CBWS behaviour
will be diagnosed with colic
2.1-10.5%
CBWS behaviour in captive
domestic horses
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2

2. Signs That Your
Horse has Colic
Anxiety or depression
Causes for Colic
in CBWS Horses
Pawing or rolling
Lack of appetite, thirst, & defecation
Excessive sweating Absence of gut sounds
Increased duration of stabling Feeding hay or haylage
Stress Dental problems Abrupt change in feed
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3. Treatment
Prevention is Key
Use of a nasogastric (stomach) tube to
relieve gas pressure in the gut
Surgery may be necessary
Analgesics such as banamine to control
abdominal pain
IV fluids for dehydrated horses or horses
in shock
1.
2.
3.
4.
Increase the time your horse spends out on pasture
Feed your horse on a regular schedule as well as
keeping the diet consistent, change the horses diet
gradually, and make sure your horse is getting the
proper amount of forage in their diet
Make regular dental check-ups for your horse
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4. References
Pictures
Page 1: http://www.cutehomepets.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/horse-cribbing-solution.jpg
Page 2:http://www.extension.org/pages/10284/abnormal-horse-behavior#.VO--WGjF-So
Page 3: http://blog.horseharmony.com/bhh/wp-
content/uploads/blog.horseharmony.com/2011/05/sad_horse.jpg
http://www.myhorseuniversity.com/files/1-2010photo6.jpg
http://www.jamesriverequine.com/wp-
content/uploads/2014/12/horse-colic1.jpg
http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs054/1102594603172/img/560.jpg
http://www.myhorseuniversity.com/files/u11/Listening_to_gut_sounds.jpg
Page 4:http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/images/articles/550/large/be7c1b7be7aec89b966320ba
9dacbfe9.jpg
http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/upload/21158/attachments/hayvshaylage.jpg
http://www.equiflexion.co.uk/media/1050/horse-bad-behaviour.jpg
http://cdn.thehorse.com/images/cms/2013/01/horse-cribbing.jpg?
preset=medium
https://depaoloequineconcepts.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/sugary-grain-n-
treats.jpg
Page 5: http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/uploads/image/IV%20bag.JPG
http://fastonline.org/CD3WD_40/LSTOCK/001/ITProv_May_2005/h4340e%20Horse%2
0Healthcare/p035b.jpg
Page 6: https://equinenutritionnerd.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/happyhorsehealthyplanet-
com-_horse-feed-scoop.jpg
http://cdn.thehorse.com/images/cms/2012/10/TH-LEGACY-IMAGE-ID-682-horses-in-
pasture-with-barn-in-background.jpg?preset=medium
http://equinedentalservices.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Time_For_Checkup_S
ketch.16100007.JPG
Websites
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/horse-
behavior/cribbing
http://www.petmd.com/horse/conditions/digestive/c_hr_equine_colic
http://www.myhorseuniversity.com/resources/eTips/January_2010/Didyouknow
Paper
Archer, Debra C., E.E Escalona, C.N Okell, 2014, Prevalence of and risk factors for colic in
horses that display crib-biting behavior, Escalona et al. BMC Veterinary Research 2014,
10(Suppl 1):S3 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/10/S1/S3