COLIC - Signs, Causes & Treatment

Your Horses Health

COLIC - ABDOMINAL PAIN

Signs

• Not eating, looking at sides, kicking at belly, laying down more than usual, rolling, stretching, sweating, sometimes violent rolling, getting up and down, unable to keep on feet.

Causes

• Impaction - blockage of intestine by food material that dries excessively.
  • a. dry hay with many stems
  • b. lack of adequate water intake
  • c. change of feed
• Gas Colic
  • a. excess grain
  • b. leafy alfalfa
• Large Intestine displacement
  • a. bowel only attached to right flank
  • b. foaling
  • c. feed change
  • d. bowel motility changes
• Blockage of Arteries to Bowel by Bloodworms
  • a. irregular deworming program
• Small Intestine Displacement
  • a. changes in bowel motility
  • b. holes in mesentary

  Spasmodic Colica.

  • spontaneous
  • barometer changes
  • excess grain

  
  Prevention

• Select quality hay
• Don't over-feed grain
• Regular deworming
• Avoid sudden dietary changes
• Decrase roughage to broodmares 2-3 weeks prior to foaling

Treatment

Immediate veterinarian attention

Attempt definitive diagnosis

Treatment depends on diagnosis: a) impaction - oil, water, IV fluids, reduce pain; b) gas - releive pain, trocarize to relieve gas; c) large and small bowel displacement - surgery - history and drugs given are important; d) bloodworm colic - varies; e) spasmodic - relieve pain, anti-spasmodic drugs. Early proper treatment may prevent displacements.

Common Questions

• Walking
• Drugs
• Bran
• Treatment by owner or trainer

Colic other than GI tract

• Urinary tract
• Ovarian
• Peritonitis
• Tumors
• Abcesses