Equine Colic - Information and Advice

Confirmation of equine colic is a situation that strikes fear into any horse lover. So what is equine colic? What indicators should you look for?

Colic is in reference to pain which stems from the abdomen. Normally horses do not tolerate pain of the abdomen well. So in the event of any disturbance of gut functioning they will usually show signs of distress.

Visible signs of irritation could be stretching, standing as if to urinate, and pawing the ground. If the pain is greater the horse will get up and down, and try rolling to become more comfortable.

It will start sweating. More serious cases it will get up and down and continuously roll.

What Can You Do?
If you believe your horse is suffering from colic, you should call an equine vet immediately. They will be able to supply emergency pain relief and make a decision whether further treatment is appropriate.

Is there anything you can do while waiting for the vet to arrive? Leading your horse for a walk sometimes helps. It can sometimes encourage his intestines to work normally and soothe the discomfort. It could also further prevent your horse lying down to roll. However if he is currently lying on the floor peacefully then you should let him stay there.

It was previously thought that a horse could twist its gut by rolling around. That has been proven to be probably not true. Though it is preferred to stop him rolling around if possible. That way you can stop him injuring himself by striking himself on the stable walls. But take care that you don’t cause injury to yourself. Horses often forget all their normal manners when they are in pain.

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

How does the vet look into the problem? He or she will have a listen to the abdomen using a stethoscope which will tell if there is more or less activity in the gut than there should be.

Examining the heart rate gives a good idea of the severity of the pain and the severity of the issue. Usually a horse with a regular heart beat doen’t have a serious case. However fast heart rates are not such a good sign.

A really useful part of the examination is the examination of the rectum. By physically feeling the gut, your vet may be able to identify the root of the issue. Of course this is a incredibly complicated examination, that hasthe potential to be hazardous for both the vet and the horse. Though for an experienced equine vet the feedback it gives is invaluable in concluding the nature of the issue. Helping to discover an obstruction, or a swollen area of gut as a result of a twist or another problem with the intestines.

It’s likely that in all but the simple scenarios the vet may inset a tube through the horses’ nose an into the stomach. This may sound uncomfortable but often may make the horse more comfortable by releasing the built up pressure in the stomach. Doing this can also give the vet useful information about whether the stomach is emptying properly.

In some cases the horse is in so much distress that it isn’t possible for the vet to examine him fully without first giving a quantity of pain killer.

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

It might be the case that, after the first inspection, the horse requires emergency surgery. But more usually the vet will decide to treat the horse with a short-acting painkiller and review his progress after a few hours. The majority of examples show a quick improvement. But others will either not respond to the treatment, or they will respond at first, only to start showing signs of discomfort again later.

In preference to having to bring the vet to your horse multiple times, it is normally preferred to transport these cases to a specialist equine practice where they can be closely monitored and operations can be performed if necessary.

In Conclusion
Luckily the vast majority of examples respond to medical treatment. However if surgery is necessary - it is vital to operate as soon as possible. The chance of a successful outcome is much better if the operation is performed before too much damage has taken place.

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