Is it Equine Cribbing or Wood Chewing???
There are good habits and bad habits that equine animals can have, one of those bad habits is cribbing.
Oh, the many vices of an equine. A vice is a behavior that is unfavorable and one that the equine tends to spend their time doing when they are bored. A few examples of a vice are; cribbing, biting, weaving, and many more. There are ways to prevent equines from developing vices, but it can be challenging, especially if the environment doesn't change or the equine has had that vice for a long time.
Think about us humans, we have many vices as well, and if that vice has been established for a while, it will be a lot harder to stop or change than a new one. We are used to that vice and it helps relieve our stress, but it makes us feel good so why quit? Well, what if there is a substitution or the environment has changed. Then there is a potential distraction from that bad vice that can help us develop a new healthy habit.
Cribbing vs. Wood Chewing
Cribbing and Wood Chewing have different meanings.
Wood Chewers have a few meanings; one could be the demand for fiber, relief from boredom, or lack of minerals in their diet. This can be more of a health warning or a sign of something that they are not getting.
Cribbing is when the equine grasps on a solid object with their incisor's teeth and gulp air causing narcotic receptors (response specifically to a particular neurotransmitter) to react, making it very addictive. The equine teeth can be worn down quickly by this, causing dental issues.
Different from a wood chewer, cribbers are more of a hard keeper, meaning that their weight will be hard to keep consistent. Some would choose the wood over the hay or grass. It gives the equine something to do. It all depends on the location of the equine and how much they get out for metal stimulation. There are a lot of great articles and case studies that provide more information about cribbing. Consult your veterinarian on a game plan for your equine.
Effects
Creating an active and a mentally-stimulating atmosphere helping persuade the cribbing or wood chewing behavior. Having adequate exercise and consistent turnouts (with an electric fence) can help deter cribbing. There are also toys that you can buy to discourage the behavior or create a distraction for them.
Multiple health issues can develop from cribbing. The three main health issue developments are; abnormal wear on incisors, colicing, and gastric ulcers. The incisor teeth (front teeth) can show abnormal appearances because of grabbing objects.
Cribbing can also incline the equine animals to colic called epiploic foramen entrapment (a type of colic where the displacement of the small intestine through a foramen separates the mental bursa from the peritoneal cavity) according to Dr. David Freeman. Gastric ulcers are a lesion in the lining of an equine stomach. All health issues can vary from equine to equine.
Prevention Ideas
A few preventative element environments changes to help your equine are; reduce time spent in a stall, forage diet, training, and many more.
Check out the fencing materials that you can use to possibly deter bad habits.
In Conclusion...
There are great resources that provide more information about cribbing if your equine has this vise, consider consulting your vet about your equine cribbing. Take the time and work with your equine to help keep them healthy and happy.
Thank you for joining the Equidae Family!
What do you use to prevent your equine from cribbing the fences? Leave a comment below with what you recommend.
Resource Pages:
Isabelle Kilcoyne MVB; Julie E. Dechant DVM, MS; Jorge E. Nieto MVZ, PhD. (2016) Comparison of clinical findings and short-term survival between horses with intestinal entrapment in the gastrosplenic ligament and horses with intestinal entrapment in the epiploic foramen. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 249:6, 660-667.
Online publication date: 1-Sep-2016. https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.2004.224.562