What is it?
Colic refers to abdominal (belly) pain; there are multiple different causes ranging from minor to life threatening. Sometimes conditions that cause pain (such as pneumonia or laminitis) can cause colic like signs.
Horses (like humans) are very sensitive to problems causing pain in the intestines. These problems can be gut spasms (cramp), stretching of the intestinal wall due to gas or food impaction, and occasionally restricted blood supply to the gut (e.g. if a length of intestine becomes trapped).
What are the symptoms of colic?
- Flank watching (turning round and staring at their abdomen)
- Pawing at ground
- Lying down and getting back up frequently
- Attempting to urinate repeatedly
- Sweating
- Violently rolling and trashing around (usually more severe cases)
- Sometimes they may just be very dull, depressed and generally not themselves
How do we diagnose and treat colic?
When a vet is called out to examine a horse with colic, we usually start by taking a thorough history and checking the horse’s vital signs: heart rate, breathing rate, and circulation. The heart rate gives an indication of how painful the horse is (becoming faster with pain).
We are able to listen to gut sounds which give us an indication of how active the guts are. Sometimes we will perform a rectal examination this normally requires sedation and a safe place to carry out the procedure such as in stocks.
Colic can often be challenging to diagnose and reoccurring colic or colic that does not respond to initial treatment is always an indicator that further investigation is required.
If the vet believes the colic is surgical we would always recommend transporting them to an equine hospital as soon as possible. For more serious medical cases we may chose to hospitalise the horse to provide intensive care and prolonged fluid therapy (putting them on a drip) to rehydrate them. We do of course now have facilities at our Wolfgar equine branch to carry out medical management of colic cases.
Luckily around 90% of colic cases can be treated medically on your yard with pain relief and antispasmodic drugs. Sometimes fluid therapy is needed especially if they have impacted food material in the gut or are dehydrated. The remaining 10% of colic cases require surgery in order to survive. Recent studies from Liverpool University have shown that the sooner a horse is referred for colic surgery the more likely they are to survive.
How can you help to prevent colic?
- Good worming management; please feel free to discuss worming strategies with one of the St Boniface equine vets. Remember apparently healthy horses can carry high worm burdens. We recommend faecal worm egg counts and treating for tapeworms in the Spring and Autumn.
- Keeping turn out routines as consistent as possible; studies have shown increasing stabling time increases chance of colic. If your horse has to be box rested closely monitor water/food intake and droppings.
- Keeping feeding routines consistent, diet changes should be gradual over a period of 2-3 weeks, if changing premises for a few days take your horse’s normal food with you.
- Regular dental care; horses should have their teeth checked yearly. Horses that can’t chew properly are more likely to get food impactions.
- Ensuring fresh drinking water is always available, especially in freezing conditions.
What should you do if you suspect colic?
Colic is a potentially life-threatening condition. If a horse displays moderate or severe symptoms they will need urgent veterinary attention.
If your horse displays mild symptoms of colic try walking them around (do not canter or trot) for 10 minutes. If symptoms persist after this, or are becoming more severe, call your vet immediately.
If you think your horse is showing signs of colic please contact your veterinary surgeon.