What Are the Signs That My Horse Has a Twisted Gut?

Horses have complex digestive systems designed to allow them to eat cellulose fiber, such as grass, which is hard to break down. Feed passes through two intestines: the small and the large (also called the hindgut). These intestines fold back on themselves several times and also differ in diameter, so any interruption to the normal flow of feed can cause colic. Colic in horses can be an extremely painful and potentially fatal condition, exacerbated as the digestive system only works in one direction and a horse cannot vomit. A twisted gut is the most severe form of colic and normally requires surgical intervention.

  1. About Colic

    • Colic is an extremely common equine condition, and most horses will have at least one attack in their lives, becoming more susceptible as they get older. Colic simply refers to abdominal pain, and it can be caused by a number of factors. The most common types are impaction (a blockage in the gut, caused by a foreign object or dry feed getting stuck) and gas colic (a build up of gas that temporarily blocks the intestines). Twisted guts (also known as torsions) are comparatively rare but extremely serious.

    About Twisted Guts

    • A horse is said to have twisted a gut when it has abnormal mobility in the intestines. A piece of intestine will turn around itself or another piece of gut and become distended with gas, effectively shutting down the digestive system. As well as causing extreme pain, the gut will start to die around the site of the torsion. Twisted gut can sometimes be spontaneous (often as a result of parasite damage) and sometimes follow on from a more minor form of colic. Gas colic, for example, can cause the gut to distend to the point where it flips over and twists.

    Signs of a Twisted Gut

    • Any horse with colic will be in pain and normally shows it by kicking and possibly biting at its stomach. It will also show signs of pain, such as dull eyes and coat, and general discomfort. Its temperature may be elevated, and there may be an increase in borborygmi (stomach noise) or an absence of it. Horses with twisted gut will be in extreme pain, and may even appear to go completely berserk, rolling frantically and throwing themselves around the stall.

    Treatment for a Twisted Gut

    • Twisted gut almost always requires surgical intervention, where a veterinarian will remove the compromised portion of gut and re-join the healthy gut. Unfortunately, horses are not good candidates for this operation as it requires sedation and inversion, and according to the Royal Veterinary College the success rate is only 50 percent. Very occasionally, twisted gut may cure itself spontaneously, but this is rare. Encouraging the horse to move around may help, but if the horse is in extreme pain, it may be aggressive and should not be handled. Call a veterinarian as soon as possible, as any delay will reduce the chances of a recovery.