Colic: How To Defend, Diagnose and Deal

User Rating: / 21
PoorBest 

Colic is scary and can come out of nowhere. It's the #1 cause of death in horses and can range from the mildest of cases that self correct, to the more severe that require quick intervention. Read Colic: How To Defend, Diagnose and Deal to help you minimize your horse's risk of suffering from colic, while letting you know what to look for, as well as what to do if symptoms occur.

Colic is not a disease, but a symptom of distress in a horse's abdomen (gut or belly). Although it's not possible to prevent colic, there are practices you can put in place to minimize the risk of colic in your horse. The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has compiled the following recommendations:

1. Establish a daily routine to include feeding and exercise schedules and stick to it.
2. Feed a high quality diet comprised primarily of roughage.
3. Avoid feeding excessive grain and energy-dense supplements. (At least half the horse's energy should be supplied through hay or forage. A better guide is that twice as much energy should be supplied from a roughage source than from concentrates.)
4. Divide daily concentrate rations into two or more smaller feedings rather than one large one to avoid overloading the horse's digestive tract. Hay is best fed free-choice.
5. Set up a regular parasite control program with the help of your equine practitioner.
6. Provide exercise and/or turnout on a daily basis. Change the intensity and duration of an exercise regimen gradually.
7. Provide fresh, clean water at all times. (The only exception is when the horse is excessively hot, and then it should be given small sips of luke-warm water until it has recovered.)
8. Avoid putting feed on the ground, especially in sandy soils. 
9. Check hay, bedding, pasture, and environment for potentially toxic substances, such as blister beetles, noxious weeds, and other ingestible foreign matter.
10. Reduce stress. Horses experiencing changes in environment or workloads are at high risk of intestinal dysfunction. Pay special attention to horses when transporting them or changing their surroundings, such as at shows.

You can follow all of the above recommendations and colic may still occur. Identifying and recognizing symptoms right away is the key to helping a horse in distress. Hereâ¬"s what to look for in a horse that may be suffering from colic:

• Pawing the ground
• Kicking or biting at the belly
• Excessive sweating not related to external temperature or work
• Turning the head toward or into the flank
• Putting the head down to water, but not drinking
• Stretching out as if to urinate, without doing so
• Head is held in an unusual position
• Teeth grinding or lip curling unrelated to sexual interest
• Trying to or repeatedly lying down and getting up
• Repeated rolling, often with grunting sounds
• Sitting in a dog-like position, or lying on the back
• Leaving food or being completely disinterested in food
• Lack of bowel movements or fewer bowel movements than normal
• Reduced or absent digestive sounds
• Rapid breathing and/or flared nostrils
• Elevated pulse rate (greater than 50 beats per minute)
• Depression

If you notice any one of these signs you need to be vigilant and monitor your horse's behavior for an extended period of time. Whenever you suspect your horse may be suffering from colic, call your vet to alert him or her of your suspicions. If the colic appears mild in nature, your vet will more than likely have you walk your horse and watch for the passing of gas and bowel movements. It's good for your vet to know the situation early on, so if rapid measures are necessary later, everyone will be prepared. Having the following information when talking to your vet will help everyone assess the situation, even if your vet is not immediately able to be on site:

1. Describe what you're physically seeing in your horse that makes you suspect colic from the symptoms listed above.
2. Basic Vital Signs (temperature, pulse, respiration & gut sounds):
   Temperature: To take your horse's temperature we recommend using an electronic rectal thermometer (check your tack/feed/or supply catalogs). Moisten the end going into your horse's anus with petroleum jelly. Tie your horse and insert the thermometer about two inches. Typically you'll need 30 seconds to get an accurate reading. Your horse's normal temp should be between 99 and 101.5.
   Respiration: Simply watch the rise and fall of the flank with each flank and count how many times this occurs within a minute.
   Pulse: We recommend you have a stethoscope in your barn emergency kit. Position the head of the stethoscope against the chest wall beneath the left elbow and then move the scope as far forward under the elbow as possible. You will count the number of beats during a 15 second period and multiply by four. Your horseâ¬"s normal heart rate is between 30 and 40 beats per minute (bpm). You can also use your fingers to acquire the same calculation by placing a finger over an artery (sides of fetlock or under the jaw are two of the easiest spots).
   Gut Sounds: Still using the stethoscope listen to your horses gut sounds in the lower flank and upper flank on each side of your horse for at least one minute per placement. You should hear two to four gurgles per minute and a louder grumble every few minutes. You can also simply press your ear against your horses flank for almost the same result. If you hear nothing, you horse may be experiencing a severe colic.
3. Gum Assessment:
   Visual: What do the gums look like? Are they white, pale pink, dark pink, red or bluish-purple?
   Moisture: Are they moist, tacky, or dry?
   Color Replacement: How much time does it takes for the color to return to the horse's gum after you briefly press on the gum with your thumb?
4. Bowel Assessment: Last noted, including color, consistency, and frequency
5. Routine: Describe any recent changes in management, feeding or exercise
6. History:
   Medical: Know what and when of recent vaccinations, deworming and any past episodes of colic
   Breeding: Know your horse's pregnancy status if a mare, and recent breeding history if a stallion
7. Insurance: Know if your horse has major medical and the requirements for treatment. This is especially important if surgery is contemplated to save your horse's life.

Remember, it's not just the more obvious pawing or trying to roll that indicates colic. Lethargy and a diminished appetite or any change in your horse's disposition can indicate an issue. Knowing your horse and his behavior will help you know when something is "Soff" and if colic is a possibility. Although colic is one of the most frightening words in a horse person's vocabulary, most cases, when caught early, are resolved with moderate medical treatment (analgesics and either fluids or laxatives). Preparation and keeping your head about you is the key to navigating any unusual situation in your horse's health.

Have input? Share it here along with any additional recommendations or ideas on how to assess and manage a horse that experiences colic.

Comments  

Posted On

May 01, 2009

Posted By

ima_country_bumpkin

I have just lost 2 horses to this since October and it's not a fun thing to deal with. There is another sign that I noticed in both my horses that I didn't see on here. I'm not sure if it is actually related, but since they both had to be put down for colic, I'm going to say that there's a good possibility. I noticed that my gelding had a swollen sheath about 5 days before he had to be put down. My mare had a very swollen milk bag 4 days before she had to be put down. I'm no horse expert or a vet by any means, but I am very upset by the fact that both times I went for help with my horses, that I was written off, so to speak. I was told my mares bag was full because she was pregnant (which she was), but she wasn't due for almost 2 more months. If you notice anything wrong with your horse and you think there may be something wrong, don't settle for answers like these. I have lost 2 horses that were my pride and joy and it kills me to know I could've helped prevent it. Unfortunatly, after my gelding died in October, the vet was baffled as to why a 7 year old perfectly healthy horse had a heartrate of 125 and couldn't get up off the ground, try as he may. Once the 2nd vet came out for my mare on Easter weekend and we started discussing all the similarities in symptoms, they decided it was due to sand impacting their intestines and making them colic. I miss both my horses every day. Rest in Peace Daytona and Rio!

Posted On

May 03, 2009

Posted By

Christian Cowgirl

I had a Black arab. mare that died of colic she was about 16 years old and one day just rolled over and started having signs of colic. so we had to walk her around as much as possible,but her gums went grey and the next day when I ways at school,thankful ly, she died. mom says it was worse thing she could have seen. also said that "she ran like she was in a race" to me this proves that she galloped to heaven! I think Black Arabians have a high risk for colic I have known some of my Grandma's horses to do the same thing and at least 3 were black arabs.

Posted On

May 06, 2009

Posted By

Saddle Tramp

Here is a quick check for sand colic....collect samples from each horse, a couple of apples, will do....take two apples, dissolve them in a clear container, after stirring, and they dissolve...set them aside until everything settles to the bottom of the container...and if there is two much sandy content in the stool specimen, then take action to clean the horse out...we have a lot of sandy soil, here in North Alabama, and Sand colic is an overlooked problem...

Posted On

May 08, 2009

Posted By

kent

I told by a friend of mine that lives in Odessa Tx. that had trouble with sand colic was told by his vet to use metamcial on his horses as a feed thru it would help clean out the sand, he never had trouble after that so you might want to ask your vet about that

Posted On

May 21, 2009

Posted By

DaisyMaesMom

I'm sorry for your losses-I'm so glad I've never had a very serious case of colic in either of my horses. Daisy, knock on wood, has never coliced, and my other horse, Lucky, got very colicy a few times, but with persistent hand walking, he eventually came out of it. This is great stuff to know, though! Thanks for posting the article!

Posted On

Jun 04, 2009

Posted By

kent

There is one thing I do carry in my horses first aid kit is Banamine along with several srynges and keep them very handy it has come in very handy not only on my horse but have been able to help out others

Posted On

Jun 10, 2009

Posted By

Mary

I've had my horse colic two times,not sure what brought it on but both times I walked him and nothing happened so I decided to load him in the trailer and he started to pass his gas and then everything else flowed out well... It worked both times then he was back to his old self...I can't believe that you lost your horses from it,I feel so lucky and so bad for your loss I hope I never have to lose my horse from it,I do keep banamine on hand so I can give him a shot right away. I think everyone should keep some on hand at all times either in shot from or paste,they both work one just faster than the other. I do need to check on the amount of sand he has in his stool. I'm so sorry to all of you that have lost horses from this...Good luck to everyone else that may have a horse colic,God bless you all.:-)

Posted On

Jul 31, 2009

Posted By

Karen

I did the test for sand in the horse apples. I also started to see dug up places in my pasture. I have been using sand clear as it says so on the container and she is doing alot better this summer. I live in sand country in WI. I haven't had anymore scares.

Posted On

Oct 02, 2009

Posted By

sella

Colic is a terrible thing. Along with proactive, preventitive feeding practices like adding psyillium when feeding to reduce instances of sand colic. There are other solutions as well. One way I have found that works is controlling the amount of dirt that is injested by our horses when feeding with hay. I have designed a clamping system to keep the flakes from falling on the ground once the bale wire of twine is cut. As we all seem to do to reduce the waste of hay and mess creating when this ultimately happens is to just throw the dirty hay into the stalls. I have been told by my vet, to stop this practice as it can also lead to colic or at the very least, poor digestion and malnutrition. My clamp is made of a UV and chemical resistant polymer material and has a slider bar made of an ultra lightweight carbon fiber tube, also resistant to all substances found in the barn and is very 'Blingy' to boot. It will pay for itself in less than a week by reducing wasted hay and time wasted to clean up the mess, not to mention your vet bill. Please check it out at our website, www.THEPOOMOOVER.com.
It's called the POO HEY and can be found on our 'HEP YOURSELF' Store page. Thanks, Brad and the POO MOOVIN' Gang

Refresh comments list
RSS feed for comments to this post.

JComments