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Definition of Colic
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According to the article "Equine Colic," the term colic refers to abdominal pain, with more than 100 types of colic recognized in veterinary literature. The most common types of colic can be divided into gas, impaction and twisted intestine.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
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An elevated heart rate is a symptom of colic. Colic symptoms may vary depending on the type of colic, but some of the most common ones are pawing, kicking or biting at the abdomen, profuse sweating, rolling or attempting to roll, reduced or absent bowel sounds and an increase in heart rate. An increase in heart rate is probably the best indicator of colic severity.
Severity
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While the normal heart rate of a horse is 25 to 40 heart beats per minute, a horse with colic will often have a heart rate of 60 beats per minute or more. Almost all colic cases requiring surgery will experience the higher rates.
Surgical Cases
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Horses undergoing colic surgery usually have heart rates of more than 60 beats per minute. According to the Colic Surgery Guide on the Horse Channel, horses undergoing colic surgery may actually experience heart rates as high as 100 beats per minute. In addition, the horse will breathe faster, and there is often a fever of 101 degrees or more. They usually do not react to pain medication either.
Surgery Survival Rates
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The first 72 hours after colic surgery are considered critical with survival rates often determined by how soon colic surgery was performed. Most horses undergoing surgery will make a complete recovery, although many will be more susceptible to future bouts of colic.
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The Heart Rate in a Colicky Horse
Colic is probably the most dreaded diagnosis that any horse owner can receive. While some cases can be mild and require little intervention, other cases can turn deadly in a short period of time.