Equine colic is the leading cause of mortality in horses and many horse owners have to deal with it at some point as it is the most frequent disease of the adult horse. Colic syndrome is defined as abdominal pain of various origins
The horse is a hypersensitive animal and the external manifestations of colic can be impressive. Some specificities of the horse can complicate the situation: a horse cannot vomit, so the food that has reached the stomach is forced to continue its passage through the digestive tract. In addition, certain parasites such as strongyles cause a narrowing of the arteries of the digestive system, which can worsen the condition.
Fortunately less than 10% of horses with colic require surgery. In any case, colic syndrome is one of the most important equine pathologies due to its severity and frequency, in this article on our site we are going to tell you everything you need to know about colic in horses
Symptoms of colic in horses
Colic or colic syndrome is defined as abdominal pain, generally the origin is intestinal, less frequently the cause may be renal. The ultra-sensitive nerve detectors in the intestines react to the slightest discomfort, which can be expressed in different ways depending on the horse.
The intensity of the symptoms is not necessarily related to the seriousness of the problem: some horses are very expressive or even a bit actors and exaggerate the signs while others try to hide their discomfort. Some signs should draw your attention and make you suspect colic:
- Your horse has lack of appetite but the belly may be swollen, he may be lethargic or otherwise agitated, he is not attentive to his environment.
- He is abnormally restless: he lies down and gets up frequently, or he may lower his head looking at the ground as if he wants to bend down.
- He has anxious looks, he can yawn, sometimes he makes flehmen: he raises his upper lip showing the inside and mucous part of it.
- A horse with colic syndrome may also neigh, have its ears back, sweat for no reason.
- In general, a change in your horse's behavior should call your attention.
It is not uncommon for a horse with colic to get into a urination position but not urinate at all: this is why owners often call the vet saying that “ the horse cannot urinate”, in general in these cases there is no urination problem but a colic syndrome.
He scratches the ground unusually with his forelegs, rolls unusually in an attempt to relieve his pain, and lies on his back which tends to relieve especially foals. It looks at its belly and flanks, it can even hit itself in the belly with one of its hindquarters. The faeces may be soft or non-existent, in some cases the horse is in shock: it has cold extremities and cyanotic mucous membranes, that is, bluish, and a rapid pulse.
Keep in mind that a horse suffering from colic can be violent due to the pain: it can suddenly kick or drop to the ground, do not let children near a colic horse.
When to call my vet?
Colic is always an emergency: notify your veterinarian immediately so they can examine your horse and determine the cause to intervene as soon as possible. soon as possible.
Although some disorders such as constipation may only be a temporary annoyance, the horse's reaction suggests a serious complication. It is important to ease your horse's pain so it doesn't hurt itself and doesn't wallow: you should call your vet as soon as possible to administer a sedative.
What to do while I wait for the vet?
A colic horse that is lying down or wallowing can increase the risk of intestinal rupture or torsion. If it is not standing, the veterinary examination and its intervention will be limited. An important piece of advice is to walk your horse: make him walk if he accepts walk calmly, this favors the motility of the digestive system and stimulates transit and can help expulsion of gases.
Keep in mind that an important part of the deaths of horses due to colic is due to the fact that the horse brutally bends its forelegs due to subacute pain and falls violently against the hard ground, which can cause breakages gastric: that's why if your horse doesn't want to get up after insisting a bit it's better to don't force him
Treatment of colic in horses
First your veterinarian will perform a general examination of your horse to evaluate some parameters such as:
- Heart Rate
- Breathing frequency
- Rectal temperature
- Temperature of your extremities
- Mucous membrane coloration
- Dehydration level
- Gut Sounds
You may also perform a rectal exam to determine the position, size and mobility of the organs. You can thus determine the presence of a plug, an accumulation of gases, a painful area.
In some cases the veterinarian can perform a naso-gastric intubation with a tube: pass the tube through a nostril to reach the esophagus and then to the stomach. This way you can determine if the stomach is overloaded with water and food and proceed to its decompression. It also allows you to introduce medications directly into the stomach.
Once the diagnosis is made, the veterinarian decides if the horse can be treated on the spot or if it should be transferred to a clinic in case it is more serious and could then carry out some blood tests. If the colic is treatable in situ, the veterinarian will give your horse an analgesic to relieve it.
Once the vet is gone it's not over: you should monitor your horse for several days to monitor for any recurrence, especially once the pain medication wears off. The horse will be fasted for some time before progressively fed again. Your horse's fasting time and rest time depend on your veterinarian: you should follow his advice and instructions
That your horse eats and defecates again is not enough: all the parameters determined by your veterinarian during your horse's examination must return to normal values to consider that the colic has resolved.
Causes and prevention of colic
Colics are emergencies since 5% of colics are very serious and can cause the death of the horse. 90% of colic have a digestive origin and only 10% are extra-digestive, for example, they can have a uterine or urinary origin. Understanding the triggers of colic is essential not only for good treatment but also to prevent colic and reduce the risk as much as possible.
When the cause is digestive, colic may be due to impaction, which is an accumulation of food that forms a plug, organ dilation, intestinal displacement or torsion. These digestive pathologies can be due to a change in the food, to the drinkers that freeze in winter, to stress.
The most frequent cause of colic is parasitism: the migration of strongyle larvae damages the intestinal wall rich in blood vessels. These vessels become obstructed and stop properly irrigating the intestine, which causes pain in the horse. Flatworms are also suspected of causing colic. You should vermifuge your horse regularly, 2 to 4 times a year, alternating the products so as not to create resistance.
Certain horses have colic frequently while some never have, if your horse tends to suffer from colic you have to re-evaluate his feed ration, his exercise and his way of life. For example, a horse has had colic repeatedly for a few weeks. Talking with the owners, the veterinarian realizes that the problems began after changes in the feed in the stable: the quality of the hay was not suitable for this horse
- The food transition is very important when winter arrives and you move your horse from the meadow to the box or when the good weather arrives and that you release it in a meadow. Its digestive system contains a flora made up of good bacteria and enzymes that are different depending on the horse's regimen. A too rapid change of food does not allow your horse to adapt and it does not manage to digest food correctly, which causes diarrhoea, intestinal cramps and colic. Think about making the change progressively over a few days at least.
- The cause may be in water: it is important to ensure that the horse always has access to fresh and clean water. In winter we must check that the pipe does not freeze. The lack of water causes dehydration that will first affect the organs of the digestive system, in this case the stool will be hard and dry, the digestive transit will slow down. If you realize that this was the cause, do not give your thirsty horse too much water: it is better to give him lukewarm water in several feedings. Indeed, a large amount of water at once or water that is too cold can cause colic. Also keep in mind that a horse used to drinking from a bucket does not directly understand how automatic drinkers work: you will have to teach it to it and you will have to check that it drinks by watching the water meter in its box increase.
Many colic would not occur if the horse was in a pasture: if your horse is in a box you must provide him with enough exercise and make sure that he eats enough fibers and that he eats small amounts frequently. Indeed, the horse has a small stomach and it is better to eat at least twice a day than once or even if you can feed it three times. On the other hand, check the condition of your teeth regularly: teeth in poor condition do not allow good chewing and can be a risk factor
There are many other causes of colic in foals, pregnant mares or stallions, however they are not as well known. By applying these tips you will be able to reduce the risk of colic in your horse and in case it suffers from colic you will know how to recognize it.
