The Treatment for Colic Pain

The treatments for colic vary with the type of colic your horse is suffering. Colic is not a disease in itself. Instead, it's a term used to describe any kind of abdominal pain or discomfort. In other words, colic is a bellyache regardless of the species of the patient. However, what is usually a minor matter in a human becomes considerably more serious in an animal that can't burp and can't throw up. Due to the nature of his physiology, your horse can't do either of those things. When he gets a bellyache, failure to act can cost him his life. According to the January 2010 issue of Horse &Rider magazine, colic is the primary cause of death in horses.

  1. Types

    • A colicky horse knows only that he hurts, not why he hurts.

      There are several types of digestive colic. Intestinal dysfunction is the most common. This occurs when something in the digestive system prevents it from working normally. The most frequent type of intestinal dysfunction occurs when the intestinal tract is blocked by built-up sand, undigested feed, excessive gas or any combination of those elements. This is called impaction colic. Since your horse's digestive system only works in one direction--from front to rear--the horse must pass whatever is causing the problem.

      Another type of colic occurs when there has been an accident to the digestive system through an injury, internal damage such as a hernia or rupture, strangulating tumors or a twist in the horse's bowel. A twist of the horse's bowel is referred to as displacement colic, because part of the horse's intestinal tract is not where it's supposed to be.

      The third major type of colic includes inflammations, viral or bacterial infections, or poisoning.

    Causes

    • Sand impactions or poor feed can cause colic.

      Impaction colic, whether the impaction is feed, gas or sand, is usually caused by improper or irregular feeding schedules, overfeeding, sudden changes in feed or in the weather, chilling, poor feed, excessive grain followed immediately by water, insufficient forage, allowing the horse to graze in an already overgrazed pasture, or allowing a horse to drink very cold water immediately after vigorous exercise. Displacement colic can also be traced to these causes, as the bowel can become pushed out of place by distention caused by gas or impaction.

      Intestinal parasites and viral or bacterial infections are another primary cause of colic. Bloodworms and roundworms can cause severe damage to the intestinal tract, and can cause impactions.

      A strangulating tumor is a type of displacement colic that occurs when part of the bowel becomes trapped in the wrong part of the horse's abdominal cavity, thus cutting off circulation and causing impaction. Given that a horse's gut is approximately 100 feet in length, it takes very little for something to be pushed out of place. Gas or feed impactions can contribute to this, as well as parasitical infections.

    Symptoms

    • Rolling, thrashing or biting at the belly can be signs that your horse is colicking.

      Colic symptoms can range in severity from mild to extremely violent. A horse showing even mild symptoms of discomfort should be tended to at once to prevent the condition from escalating to a dangerous level. The most frequently seen signs of colic are: lack of appetite; turning his head toward his flank or nipping or kicking at his belly; curling his upper lip time after time; stamping or pawing the ground more than usual; lying down more than usual; standing stretched out as though to urinate without doing so; rolling, getting up and lying down repeatedly; groaning and thrashing; sweating; inability to defecate; lack of gut sounds; discoloration of his gums, and sudden change in attitude or depression. If you observe any of these behaviors in your horse, call your veterinarian immediately.

    Veterinary Treatment

    • Knowing your horse well is key to spotting changes in his behavior.

      The first thing your veterinarian will do is examine your horse to determine what kind of colic she's dealing with. She will give the horse a medication to ease his pain, especially if the horse is violent. A rectal examination will reveal blockages and will give her a place to start. She may gently introduce a tube into the horse's stomach through its nostril in order to relieve gas or to administer an intestinal muscle relaxant or a laxative such as mineral oil. In addition, she may take blood samples to screen for parasites, poisons or any other abnormalities.

      If her preliminary measures do not alleviate the horse's condition, your veterinarian may decide that the horse must be taken to the hospital for further examination and possible surgery. Surgery may involve replacing a displaced section of bowel, straightening a twisted bowel, or removing impacted feed, sand or fecal matter that the horse was unable to pass. The surgeon may have to remove damaged sections of bowel and reattach the ends. In very rare cases, a twisted bowel is inoperable due to its location, and the horse's life cannot be saved. If that is the case, the surgeon will recommend that the horse be euthanized. However, most horses treated for colic recover with little or no ill effects, and often without hospitalization.

    Home Treatment

    • Walking a horse can help relieve mild colic.

      While you're waiting for your vet to arrive, observe your horse's behavior and symptoms carefully and note any changes. If you saw the attack begin, note the time and severity. What was your horse doing at the time?

      If your horse is safe to approach and handle, there are things you can do to help relieve his distress. Walking him for about 10 minutes or so can help distract him, but be careful not to tire him. As long as he's not thrashing or trying to roll, he can lie quietly and rest.

      If you know how and can safely handle your horse, try to take his vital signs. Do not, however, give him any food, water or medication without instructions from your vet.

      If your horse's pain is severe and he's violent, there is little you can do. Don't attempt to approach him, especially if he's rolling or thrashing. He's not safe, and you could easily find yourself bitten, kicked, stepped on, or pinned under him. All you can do in such a case is monitor the horse from a safe distance, noting everything you see, wait for your veterinarian and let her do her job.

    Prevention

    • With care, love and attention, you will make your horse a lifelong friend.

      There are many things a horse owner can do to minimize the chances of colic. Providing plenty of turn-out and access to fresh water, providing quality feed and avoiding overgrazing your pastures are important starting points. Follow a consistent program for controlling internal parasites. Be consistent in your horse's feeding and exercise schedules, and avoid sudden changes. Introduce new feeds gradually, and discard any hay or grain that is moldy or musty. Feed hay and water before you give your horse grain, and be sure that at least 60 percent of his digestible energy comes from hay or grass. Don't feed or water a horse after a working session until the horse has cooled down, and do not allow the horse to drink water that is extremely cold. Blanket your horse in cold weather to avoid chilling, especially after a working session.

      Your knowledge of your horse is key to spotting colic symptoms. If he's normally a good feeder and loses interest in his food, if he's usually up and around and you see him continually lying down, suspect colic. You are your horse's best friend and only source of help in times of trouble. The better you know your horse, the better prepared you'll be to help him when he needs you.