Colic in horses is often thought of as abdominal pain. Many people think that it is similar to a stomach ache and that by walking their horse until the pain passes is enough to treat it. In actuality, abdominal pain is only a symptom rather than a diagnosis. It indicates a problem with the gut itself such as gas, impaction, spasmodic gut, twisted gut or sand gut, or a problem with other organs within the abdomen that requires vet intervention. To properly care for your horse’s health, it is helpful to know the symptoms of colic, how to treat it if you encounter it and how to prevent it.
Early detection of colic improves a horses chances to good recovery. There are many symptoms that a horse will exhibit when having discomfort in the abdomen. A horse might do any of the following actions:
- look at his flank
- curl his upper lip
- paw the ground
- kick back leg to abdomen
- have no interest in eating
- lay down and get up and repeat
- stretch as if he is going to urinate
- dog sit
- groan
- increase breathing
- sweat
- look bloated
- roll on back
- produce no manure or have diarrhea
Knowing your horse well allows you to recognize discomfort early. If a horse is having any of these symptoms, it is best to treat it as an emergency and call the vet. While waiting for the vet to arrive, all hay and food should be removed and the horse kept in a safe area. If symptoms are mild, the owner can gently walk the horse and offer comfort. If the horse is restless and anxious, an owner should just watch the horse to ensure both the horse and the owner are safe.
A vet will ask questions regarding type of feed and feeding routine, any medications given, recent travel or changes to routine and deworming/vaccination schedule. Then he will do a physical exam including a rectal exam, bloodwork, a nasogastric tube to check for reflux, ultrasound and possible X-rays. After the vet does his exam and makes his diagnosis, he will give treatment guidelines.
There are two treatments for a horse with colic, medical or surgical. The vet may administer a pain relief, given intravenously and/or a laxative administered through the nasogastric tube directly into the stomach. IV fluids will also be administered as rehydration is important. Surgery is considered if a horse remains uncomfortable despite medical intervention. The best treatment for colic in horses is prevention.
There are four risk factors that contribute to colic but these risks can be managed to help prevent a horse from falling ill. Digestive disorders such as teeth problems, worms or previous surgery; stress such as travel, change in diet or routine; poor feeding such as soiled food, incorrect amount of food, lack of water or fibre or sudden change in diet; and access to poor and over grazed pasture increase a horse’s chance to have colic. Understanding a horse’s makeup and needs helps us understand what needs to be done to keep them healthy.
Establishing a daily routine and reducing stress is one step in preventing colic. This routine includes feeding, exercising, turnouts and resting. A horse should be fed high quality hay two to three times a day and always have fresh, clean water available. Avoid feeding on sandy areas and only feed grain or pellets when the need arises. Daily exercise or pasture turnouts is important to keep digestive systems healthy.
Having a consistent, daily routine reduces stress and allows a horse owner to learn their horse’s habits and body language. If a horse starts exhibiting discomfort, an owner will recognize it early if they know their horse well. In addition to the daily routines, having routine worming and the teeth floated every six months will also keep the digestive system healthy. Colic is common but can be managed. Horses evolved on a different diet than they eat today but their digestive system did not evolve to today’s life. Natural feeding habits of horses meant for them to eat all day long while on the move. Today, they often eat only two to three meals a day and are stabled for long hours. Their digestive system is sensitive and will react to any added stress but adhering to the prevention guidelines outlined above will give a horse the best ability to stay healthy and happy.
https://www.acvs.org/large-animal/colic-in-horses
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/horse-colic-prevention-and-management
https://extension.umn.edu/horse-health/colic-your-horse#preventing-colic-71560
http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/Documents/colic.pdf
https://foranequine.com/expert-advice/colic-in-horses-types-symptoms-and-treatment/