Fact or Fiction... I need opinions.

OK... My hubby was told yesterday of a fantastic and cheap way to help out a horse that is colicing.

My Hubby asked me to post this and ask whether you thought it was a myth or not.

He was told that if you hold a tablespoon of turpentine under the horse's belly button that it will get the horse's digestive system moving again......thusly curing the colic.

Now...good or bad...myth or not... I need your opinions. Thanks a bundle!!!

I'd say its a myth...

For example, if a horse has sand colic, turpentine won't get rid of the sand...

Or if the problem is a twisted bowel, is the turpentine going to fix that? I very much doubt it!

The thing I'm getting at here is that colic always has a cause and holding a tablespoon of turpentine under a horse's belly button cannot fix the cause! WIthout resolving the cause, the colic remains!

Additionally even if turpentine does has some medicinal value, I just can't see how the turpentine can affect the horse when its outside them - its vapour cannot pass through the skin and affect the horse's insides. Skin is impermeable to most substances - its how the body protects itself from infections.

It seems like a rather strange myth. Can you tell us where your husband heard this? I'd be interested to know

^Well said, I have to agree. It sounds like a myth to me as well.

My hubby heard it from a co-worker who swears that his Grandpa used it sucessfully .

My take on it is, perhaps, the vapor may burn the skin giving the said sick horse a good surprize and fright, that would help a gas colic. Horses always fart/poo when they are scared or upset.

I said it was bunk so this is also a marital dispute! well, not really I just wanted to be right! :P

I agree with you sempre! If it really worked, why would a vet go thru the hassle of sedation, tubing, oil, and surgery if need be!!!

It works better is hubby is wearing a pink to to while holding said spoon of turpintine under horses belly......lol.....i'm sorry but's that's the funnies thing i've herd......

My gramps told me this when I was a kid but that it was an old wives tale.

His gas colic rememdy was scratching a horses butt (first off). Scratch around the tail and the horses really start releasing some gas. My horse ALWAYS does this. If he even has a hint of a belly ache I will scratch his butt/tail.

If that didn't work, he'd pop them in the back of the pickup and drive a couple of miles. The horses always pooped on the ride.

But always always always, call the vet if there is any sign of colic! Hold the turpentine!

Yes, i've heard taking horses for a trailer ride can help. One person I know had a horse that they were going to put down because it colicked so bad and was really old anyway. She trailered it out to the place where they were going to shoot it then bury it and the horse got out of the trailer and decided that it felt better! Lol its kinda not funny but it is in a way

When Dumas coliced the first thing the vet said was "can you take him for a ride in the trailer?" So I do know that that can work.

Cute story...I can see the humor in that!

I shall inform my hubby that the turpintine will only work if he was to wear a pink leisure suit...preferably polyester! 8)

you gals crack me up.
Isnt there some cure for babys with tummy aches where you rub some sort of oil in the belly button? Maybe the turpentine has the same effect. Oh gosh I'm perpetuating the myth

LOL Don't forget to get pics... Without them it won't work at all!