Horses Colic - How to Know if a Horse has Colic

Horses generally have a good disposition and are rather easygoing. However, if your horse has colic, you will notice some immediate changes. Just like humans, horses will exhibit physical symptoms as an indication that there is something wrong. As an owner, you must know what to look for so you can address the problem immediately. If colic is left untreated, it can cause the horse severe pain and there may be other underlying health issues that need to be treated.

Here’s how to know if a horse has colic.

* Observe the disposition of the horse. Does the horse seem restless? Does it pace around or does it look apathetic to you? If your horse seems disoriented, wanders off or seems to be not himself, check to see what the problem is.

* Does the horse roll around on the ground? In an attempt to relieve itself of any discomfort, horses will roll on the ground. Usually, it will drop to the ground on its belly, shake around then get back up. For horses with colic, the horse may remain on the ground shaking violently. This is an indication that the horse is in pain. If your horse does this repeatedly, then that means the horse is not finding relief from the pain it is experiencing.

* Does the horse kick itself? If the horse kicks its abdomen, it could be because it is experiencing pain from colic. At the same time, is your horse sweaty even though you haven’t exercised it?

* Observe your horse’s food consumption. If your horse suddenly stops eating or has lost its appetite, this is a significant warning sign that there is something wrong. Loss of appetite is a symptom of many various illnesses, so be mindful.

* Check for any changes in bowel movement. If you notice that your horse has stopped defecating or there is a significant reduction in its bowel movement, there may be a problem.

* Check the vital signs. If your horse has a fever or an elevated temperature, this is a warning sign that you must not ignore. A vet can check the pulse and the respiration rate. If the respiration rate of the horse is only at 8-16 a minute, it is depressed. If the pulse is higher than usual, between 27 and 43 beats per minutes, there is a problem.

* Have the vet check the horse. The sure way to determine what’s wrong with your horse is to contact the vet immediately. As an owner, you will have a pulse for your horse, so you will know if anything is out of the ordinary. Your vet will ask you about the horse’s recent behavior. He should also check the vital signs of the horse. The vet may also check if your horse has been dewormed, and ask to see its water and food containers.

It can be quite distressing to see your animal in pain. If the vet finds that your horse is suffering from colic, he will need to rule out other causes to determine what caused the condition in the first place. Once it has been determined and your horse has been given the proper care, your horse should start feeling better in no time!

Colic: What you can do for your horse until the Vet arrives…

IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANY EQUINE COLIC RELIEF AVAILABLE.

Every horse owner dreads the moment when they realize their horse is sick. Colic is a common ailment that seems to strike in the blink of an eye. Statistics tell us that most will face a bout of colic in our horse’s lifetime.  Colic is a broad term, covering several gastric problems, and therefore can include anything from relatively mild stomach upset to a life threatening emergency.  For this reason, it is important to call your vet when you suspect colic.  Symptoms of colic include, but are not limited to, refusal of food, sweating, rolling, agitation, reduced (or lack of) gut sounds and kicking or biting at flanks or belly. It’s a good idea for every horse owner to have a cheap stethoscope to assess gut sounds as well as basic competency evaluating heart rate, respiration, capillary refill time, and dehydration levels. Your veterinarian will be happy to teach you simple techniques for each. Be sure to keep your skills honed and and set normal parameters by checking vital signs when your horse is well.

Conventional wisdom about how to help your equine until the vet arrives has changed a lot in the past 10 years.  Horse owners used to feel compelled to walk their horses until treatment.  While some horses will want to move, others will not.  Forcing a sick horse to walk around for a hour or more may tire the animal, making him more miserable and less able to recover.  Some vets even recommend letting the horse lie down if he feels like it, so long as he does not roll.  I prefer to keep my horse standing, but to not constantly walk him unless he feels like it.  If you can’t stay with your horse, have someone watch him to make sure that he does not roll or become cast in his stall. While some owners may give pain medications such as Banamine to make the horse comfortable, this practice can mask symptoms of colic, making the doctor’s diagnosis harder. Ask your vet before administering any drugs to a colicky horse. If your horse needs surgery, pain medication may be counter- indicated.

If your horse is hot and/or sweaty and the weather is agreeable, sponging or hosing with cool water can make him more comfortable.  For a hot horse, concentrate the bath on the insides of the back thighs, throat latch, neck, chest, and belly.  To reduce agitation, keep your horse near his stable mates in a quiet area while you wait. Continue to assess the colic symptoms every 15 minutes or so to be able to give your vet a full briefing. Horses with serious colic or twisted intestine will deteriorate rapidly, so observe the horse for increased agitation, pain, or rapid change in vital signs.

When the vet arrives, be sure to relate all of your horse’s symptoms, his recent activity, and his medical history if the vet is unfamiliar with the horse.