Colic in Horses

Colic in horses is the second most common death!

It is extremely painful for the horse and very distressing for the horse owner.

Colic is basically the common term for abdominal pain. There is different types of equine colic depending on its cause and location in the digestive system.

Causes for colic in horses:

• Sudden change in feeding, over-feeding on high energy foods


• Change in weather


• Ingestion of non-digestible items like plastic
• Intestinal obstruction or twisted intestine. These can often be life threatening and require surgery.


• Parasites causing obstruction in the intestines. Deworming horses with a high parasite burden can also cause colic.


• Infections elsewhere in the body.


• Horses with stable vices like cribbing or bolting are more prone to it


• Ingestion of sand (sand colic)


• Bad quality food like gone-off silage or mouldy hay


• A high concentrate diet with little fibre


• Lack of water


• Teeth problems


• Stress (e.g. transport)

The signs of colic in horses are variable depending on the cause and the location of the pain.

Signs of colic:

• Repeated pawing with the front feet
• Curling the upper lip
• Restlessness and rolling on the ground
• Lying down and getting up repeatedly
• Looking back at the belly
• Kicking with hind legs towards belly
• Sweating
• Horse might not be able to defecate
• Loss of appetite
• Pulse and breathing increased

The intensity of the symptoms can vary greatly depending on the severety of the disease.

Always call your vet immediatedly if you suspect a colic in your horse!!!

What to do until the vet arrives:

• Don´t allow your horse to eat or drink
• Don´t give any medications
• Check pulse and respiration
• Light hand walking can sometimes help

Treatment

Upon arrival your vet will examine the horse and give a painkiller. He might use a lubricant like mineral oil that will coat the inside of the intestine. This will aid in the movement of food through the gut.

Your vet might also use a gastric tube that is put through a nostril down into the stomach to evacuate intestinal content or to hydrate the horse.

With a rectal examination your vet can further diagnose and treat the cause of the colic.

In severe cases the horse might be refered to a clinic. If there is a mechanichal obstruction of the intestine the horse will need surgery. This is a life threatening condition!

How to prevent colic in horses:

• Keep feeding consistently.

  Introduce new feeds gradually over a period of 5-7 days. Introduce your horse slowly to pasture.



• Exercise your horse regularly


• Make sure there is always clean and fresh water available. Make sure it stays ice free in the winter!



• Have a regular worming schedule.



• Have your horses teeth checked every 6-12 month.



• Avoid feeding your horse on sandy surfaces.

  Use feeders or haynets.



• Some (stabled) horses tend to eat a lot of straw, often out of boredom. Feed more hay if possible and use small mesh haynets. Use shavings a bedding instead of straw.


• Make sure food is of good quality and not mouldy!


• Don´t give hard feeds within an hour of exercising the horse.



• Keeping horses as natural as possible with access to pasture or ad lib hay can avoid colic in horses.

  Stabled horses are more prone to colic.




• A high fiber low carb grass/hay diet is better than a high concentrate grain mix diet

  Hay is the most natural feed for horses. Feed concentrates only if the work load requires the additional energy. Break the concentrate food down into several small portions throughout the day. Mix with chaff to to prevent bolting and increase chewing time.

  Horses are designed to eat 16-20 hours a day and their stomach produces acids 24/7!! Therefore you should provide forage 24 hours a day. Horses should never be without food for longer than four hours.

  Use small mesh haynets to slow down eating. A consistent gut fill helps to keep the digestive system healthy!

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