Confirmation of equine colic is a situation that concerns any horse owner. But what is colic in horses? What symptoms should you keep an eye out for?

Colic refers to pain originating in the abdomen. Generally horses will not hide abdominal pain very well. So if there is any disturbance of gut function they will usually show signs of discomfort.

Signs of irritation could be stretching, a stance as if to urinate, and hoofing the floor. If in more pain the horse will get up and down, and roll to try to get more settled.

It will start to sweat. In more severe cases it will get up and lie down and roll constantly.

What Can You Do?
Should you believe your horse is suffering from colic, it’s best to call an equine vet immediately. He or she will be able to provide rapid pain relief and make a decision whether further treatment is appropriate.

What can you do while waiting for the vet? Leading your horse for a walk sometimes helps. It may encourage his guts to start working ina normal manner and help soothe any pain. It could also stop your horse lying down to roll. However if he is already lying down quietly then let him stay there.

It was previously thought that a horse could cause a twisted gut by rolling. That is probably not true. However it is preferred to stop him rolling over if you can. This way you can stop your horse injuring himself by striking itself on the stable walls. But be careful that you don’t cause injury to yourself. It’s likely horses will lose all their manners when they are in pain.

There are several different reasons for horses to get colic. Frequently the signs look the same regardless of what caused it.

What will the vet do to look into the issue? They will listen to the abdomen with a stethoscope which will tell whether there is any more activity in the intestines than there should be.

Listening to the heart rate provides a good indication of the seriousness of the pain and the seriousness of the issue. Normally a horse with a normal heart rate doen’t have a serious case. Whereas higher heart rates are not such a good sign.

A very useful part of the examination is the examination of the rectum. By physically feeling the intestines, vets could be able to identify the root of the problem. Without doubt this is a very skilled examination, that could be hazardous for both the horse and vet. However for an experienced equine vet the information it gives is incredibly useful in deciding the nature of the problem. Helping to discover a blockage, or a swollen loop of intestines as a result of a loop or other problem with the intestines.

In all but the most straightforward scenarios vets may pass a tube through the nose an into the stomach. It sounds unpleasant but helps make the horse comfortable by releasing the built up pressure in the stomach. Doing this can also give the vet useful feedback as to whether the stomach is emptying properly.

On occasion a horse is in so much pain that it isn’t possible for the vet to diagnose properly without first applying a quantity of pain killer.

Only by collecting all of the signs provided by a careful examination is the vet able to make an initial diagnosis. Though it may not be possible to tell exactly what is going on.

It might be the case that, after the initial inspection, the horse requires surgery. Though more usually the vet will choose to treat the horse with a fast-acting painkiller and review his condition after a couple of hours. Most cases display a quick improvement. But others will either not respond to the treatment, or they might respond initially, only to start displaying signs of pain again later.

Rather than having to call the vet to your horse several times, it is normally better to move these cases to a specialist equine practice where they can be closely monitored and operations can be performed if appropriate.

In Conclusion
Luckily most cases respond to medical intervention. But if surgery is needed – it is vital to operate early. The chance of a successful outcome is much better if the operation is carried out before too much damage has occurred.

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Filed under: All About Horses, Advice, Colic, Equine, Horses, information, vets