What It IsA term used to describe a large range of abdominal discomforts, colic can be anything from a twisted intestine to an enterolith to worm infestations. Colic is the #1 natural killer of horses.
Common CausesColic can be caused by many things. Here are some common causes:
Most colics can be classified as one of these 3 types:
The horse's digestive tract is not working properly. Impaction, paralysis, and excessive gas are examples. This type is the most common.
Enteritis or Ulcerations
SignsThe first signs you may see are uneasiness and a personality change. The horse may be uninterested in food or drink, and may act sleepy or dull. The temperature may be slightly higher than normal, but the respiration and pulse will usually be normal. Later on, the horse may swish its tail, stomp a hind leg, turn and look at belly, or nip its sides. It may also roll its eyes, snort, or groan. As the pain increases, the horse may kick its belly and lie on the ground and stretch. It may also stretch as if to urinate, or may make attempts to defecate with no success or may have diarrhea. It may roll lightly, get up and walk in circles, then lie down and roll again. It may also walk aimlessly into fences or walls. As the colic worsens, the horse may bite its sides, kick and thrash, and may roll madly. NEVER let a colicking horse roll, because it could twist an intestine and cause serious injury! Try to get the horse up, even if it means yelling at or hitting the horse. Be VERY CAREFUL- a colicing horse in severe pain doesn't care what or who you are, it may step on you or crush you accidentally. During this time, the horse's only focus is trying to rid itself of pain, and it won't be aware of its surroundings. It may walk into walls or fences or step on things. You should catch it and, if it is rolling, make it stand; then, proceed to walk it for about 15 minutes.
Symptoms of colic include...
Treatment:If you suspect your horse has colic, record all the symptoms it is showing, take the horse's vital signs, then call the vet immediately and tell him what you've observed. Return to the horse, walk him for about 15 minutes, then release him in a safe area and watch his behavior. A simple colic can quickly turn deadly without prompt attention. If you horse is already rolling on the ground, thrashing, and sweating, get him up as soon as possible! A horse that is rolling may twist an intestine or complicate an otherwise minor colic. Remember, a colicing horse may be dangerous to be around since it is in pain. Move carefully and be aware when with one. You may have to pull on or even hit the horse to get it go rise, but even if you have to, it's better to do it than to let your horse roll and complicate his colic. If you cannot get the horse up and it is pounding its head against the ground, get a pillow, blanket, or other soft material and carefully place it under the animal's head.
If the weather is extreme, provide shelter for the horse by putting him in a safe stall or barn, and if that is not available, a garage or shed may work. If there is anyway for the horse to harm himself, do not turn him loose, but have someone hold him. Keep all food and water away from the horse until the vet arrives. Try to keep the horse as calm as possible, and keep it from rolling if possible. You may want to walk the horse for a few minutes, then let the horse stand or lie relaxed.
DO NOT CONTINUE TO WALK THE HORSE. Many people will walk a horse for hours, until it is weak and exhausted. Walking can do a bit of good, but over-walking can weaken the horse and even lead to death if the colic turns severe. If the horse isn't feeling better after 15 minutes of walking, then 3 more hours won't make a difference, either. Most likely, if a little walking doesn't help, the horse will require surgery, and if it's been over-walked, it is less likely to live through the surgery and fully recover. If you do walk the horse too much, it's nervous system may shut down, creating more problems. There are many people that will walk a horse for hours, even all night long, thinking that it will do some good. It won't.
Do not EVER administer any colic drugs without talking to your vet. Do not use a product called 'Canadian Bells', because it may shut down the functions of the intestines, complicating the colic. Do not use any products that contain Atropine. Though it may relieve pain quickly, it also slows or stops intestinal action, and sometimes the intestines may not recover. Enemas, too, are useless in adult horses; they just create more pain for a colicing horse.
Tranquilizers will NOT make the horse feel any
better or prevent the colic from worsening. They should NEVER
be used unless the horse is acting so crazy that it is impossible
to treat him. They lower the blood pressure, which may increase
risk of death in some colics. Tranquilizers are rarely used on
DO NOT EVER administer
mineral oil yourself. The horse may inhale it and die. Instead,
leave it up to your vet; he/she will pass a stomach tube and give
the oil that way.
If you are planning
to go camping or trail riding a long way from vets or doctors,
be sure to pack a good first aid kit to treat both horse and human
injuries. Include Phenylbutazone tablets (horse pain reliever)
in your kit, and use them according to your vet's prescription.
If your horse colics and help is far away, you can give these
to relieve the pain. They won't cure the colic, and they will
stop the symptoms, but they will give your horse some relief.
Walk the horse for 30 minutes to an hour to get him to relax,
and hopefully feel better. There isn't a whole lot you can do
without a vet, but the best thing is to prevent colic in the first
place by having a regular deworming schedule, good feed and feeding
habits, and clean water.
RecoveryOnly about 10% of horses die from colic, but it is still the leading natural killer of horses. Colics due to torsions and intestinal twists are nearly 100% fatal unless promptly treated.
The horse is most likely to recover if his pulse has not reached 60 (normal is 26-40),if his temperature is around normal, and if he gets prompt treatment. Horses that have pulses over 80, elevated temperatures, and are still showing symptoms after 24 hours have a very slim chance of pulling through. The longer you wait to get treatment, the less likely the horse is to survive. If the colic is bad and an emergency operation is needed, QUICKLY decide if you want to save the horse or not. It's not good to wait four hours then decide you'll operate; the longer you wait, the less chance of survival the horse has.
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