POP QUIZ

ROCK SOLID

Q: While cleaning your horse’s stall, you find a small, smooth, rock-like object mixed in with

Chances are it’s not an actual rock. It’s much more likely to be an enterolith, a mineral concretion that forms in a horse’s digestive tract. Researchers don’t know exactly why enteroliths develop, but some horses probably inherit a predisposition, and environmental factors, such as consuming forage and drinking water that is high in magnesium and other minerals, can make intestinal stones more likely. Enteroliths can cause recurrent colic and, if large enough, may rupture the intestines. Seeing one in your horse’s manure is an early warning sign of possible trouble. Snap a picture and send it to your veterinarian for identification and guidance.