COLIC

Colic refers to abdominal pain in the horse, and has numerous causes. It is important that all cases are assessed promptly to maximise the chance of a positive outcome.

Clinical Signs

  • Off food or dull

  • Generally unsettled, pacing or pawing at the ground

  • Frequent rolling or lying down that is out of character for the horse or pony

  • Demonstrating the flehmen response

  • Kicking at their abdomen

  • Stretching, attempting to urinate

  • Sweating inappropriately

  • A rapid respiratory rate

  • Flank watching

  • Decreased faecal output

 What To Do If You Suspect That Your Horse Has Colic

It is important to contact your vet immediately for advice. Remove all feed and walk the horse if safe to do so. If the horse is continuously rolling, then the priority is your safety and you must not go in with the horse until the vet arrives. Horses should be walked on a suitable surface (field or arena) as this will be safer than a concrete yard if they do go down. Horses should only be walked for short periods to avoid exhausting them.

Do not administer any medications

 Veterinary Examination

First your horse will be assessed from a distance to understand the severity of the symptoms. If your horse is relatively settled then your vet may ask some questions at this stage. This is likely to include enquiring about any recent changes in management or previous colic episodes.

Next a clinical examination will be performed which will include checking their gums, taking a heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and listening to gut sounds. After this, your horse will be given intravenous medications which usually involve sedation and pain relief.

A rectal examination is performed in the majority cases. In some colics a definitive diagnosis (e.g. an impaction or a displaced colon) can be made with a rectal examination alone

A nasogastric tube may be passed. This allows your vet to check for any reflux in the stomach, and also to administer oral fluids if required. Large volumes of reflux may indicate an obstruction in the small intestine which is a surgical emergency.

Further diagnostic tests including a blood test, peritoneal tap or abdominal ultrasound may be necessary in some cases.

Your vet will discuss their findings and a treatment plan with you. Although most cases can be managed medically at home, some horses will require hospital admission. Horses with unrelenting pain, or large volumes of reflux will need referral for immediate surgical treatment. If you do not have your own transport, it is important that you have emergency contacts in the case of an emergency.

 Types of Colic

Spasmodic

Spasmodic colics are usually mild and often occur following turn out on new pasture.  In these cases, the GI tract is ‘overactive’ resulting in painful spasms. They generally have loud gut sounds and respond well to anti-spasmodic drugs.

Impactions

In the horse, impactions most commonly occur in the large colon. Horses that are suddenly on box rest e.g. following an injury are at risk of developing impaction colic. In addition, these types of colics are commonly seen in the winter when horses may drink less. The majority of cases will resolve with medical management which usually involves withholding food and regular administration of fluids via a nasogastric tube. A very small number of cases may require hospitalisation or surgical intervention.

Displacements

In these cases a portion of bowel, usually large colon, moves into an abnormal location. Some displacements can be treated with medical therapy (regular walking, fluids and pain relief). However, in some cases displacements will progress to torsions and require emergency referral.

Torsions and Strangulations

These cases require emergency surgery, as the blood supply to the bowel is cut off. This can be either due to a piece of gut being strangulated e.g. lipomas in older ponies, or when the bowel twists on itself e.g. large colon torsion. In both cases they must be addressed quickly as devitalised gut may require resection and puts the patient at risk of complications such as endotoxaemia.

Other

Some horses with colic may have peritonitis which is inflammation of the abdominal lining (peritoneum). This is usually diagnosed by taking a sample of peritoneal fluid from the abdomen. Alternatively, conditions such as colitis or liver disease may present with colic symptoms. Some horses with Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) may present with recurrent low-grade colic episodes.

Idiopathic

Frustratingly, there are many cases where the cause of the colic is unknown – these are termed idiopathic colics.

Preventing Colic

  • Make any changes to diet or routine slowly. If changes can’t be avoided e.g. an injured horse needs to be on box rest, then reduce the chance of impaction colic by optimising fluid intake. This can be done by feeding regular mashes and soaked hay.

  • Provide a constant supply of fresh water

  • Feed a high fibre diet

  • Maximise turn out

  • Avoid grazing on sandy areas

  • Keep up to date with your worming plan

  • Ensure your horse has regular dental examinations