Colic in horses can be frightening but usually medical and treatable
Colic is a termused by horse owners to describe apparent abdominal pain in their horse.
It is a frightening experience to see an animal in such discomfort. Generally speaking, themore discomfort seen – such as rolling, kicking at the abdomen, pawing and lyingdown– themore sinister the condition causing the pain.
The signs can bemoresubtle, from flank watching, reduced appetite, stretching, teeth grinding, diarrhoea, constipation, or no stools.
Nevertheless, mildsymptomscan be overlooked, and the condition can progress if not treated early.
Veterinarians use the term colic to describe the symptoms. It is not the diagnosis per se, but it is our role whencalled in to diagnose the apparent cause of this pain and give appropriate treatment.
It is important to keep yourself safe whendealing with a colicking horse.
It is not imperative to walk the horse but is useful if it provides relief. If unsafe in the box remove the feed and turn the horse out into a flat empty paddock.
While waiting for the vet, recall aspects of your managementin the preceding few weeks i.e. worming history, recent changes to diet, dentals, faeces, urination etc.
Whenwearriveweconduct a thorough clinical examination. We try to establish the state of your horses circulatory system to ascertain whetherweare dealing with amedical condition or amore serious surgical condition.
Thatwayyou have the best chances of making the right choice.
Most cases of colic are medical and can be managedsuccessfully with antispasmodics, anti-inflammatories and sedation.
This is the case for colics such as gas distension, spasms and inflammation. Changes in spring feed can cause a numberof these symptomsto appear – so it is important to managethe spring feeding of horses consistently.
It is also important to check the wormstatus of your horsenowwith a faecal egg count and treat in the spring if you have not since the winter.
Moreserious cases of colicwill need hospitalisation to carry out moreadvanced diagnostic procedures prior to intravenous fluids, intensive care and/or surgery.
If that option is not contemplated and the colic cannot be resolved medically with adequate pain relief, then euthanasia onwelfare grounds is perfectly acceptable.