Types of Equine Colic

Effects

• Unlike many animals, horses cannot vomit. What goes down must pass through. If something gets stuck, or if it causes a clog or stomach upset, the results can be fatal. The effects of colic, depending on the cause, can be a burst stomach or intestines, twisted gut, intestinal death or irreversible damage to the digestive tract which necessitates euthanasia. Colic is a serious condition that warrants immediate veterinary attention.

Types

• There are many types of colic. The most common type is obstructive colic. This is when the gut has become clogged by material such as feed, hay, sand or other ingested materials. When the gut becomes clogged, it causes pain, which usually begins in a mild form and than rapidly progresses in severity. Grass or gas colic is usually caused by the fermentation of too much fresh grass or other plant material, and is characterized by intense and severe pain that can cause a twisted gut as the horse thrashes around in agony. A twisted gut causes intense and severe pain which must be addressed immediately with surgery in order to save the horse's life; colic caused by intestinal death is an end-stage disease.

Identification

• Identifying the type of colic is important for treatment. In obstructive colic, the main symptom--besides pain, sweating, rolling, pawing and looking at their sides--is that there is no recent sign of the horse passing feces. Another sign is the lack of "gut sound." When you rest your ear against the flank of a horse, you should hear a lot of gut activity on both sides. Lack of this noise is a serious sign of trouble. Another sign of severe colic is the paling of the horse's gums. Normal gums are pink, while a horse in the shock of colic will have pale white gums that do not turn pink, even when pressed with a fingernail.
  An obvious sign of grass, gas or twisted gut colic is the intense, severe pain that the horse experiences. The horse will not want to stand, and will violently throw himself down and roll repeatedly. He will groan, moan, make belching sounds and sweat. A horse in the grip of any colic is not a pleasant sight, but a horse colicking intensely is a truly horrible thing to see.

Treatment

• If the horse is throwing itself on the ground and violently reacting, immediate action must be taken at a veterinary hospital in order to save the horse's life. If the horse appears to be uncomfortable, with only mild symptoms, a shot of pain killer and some walking may help to pass the obstruction or the gas. The safest thing to do, if colic is suspected, is to always call a veterinarian and have the horse examined. A mild colic can rapidly turn worse. In the worst cases of colic, immediate surgery is the only lifesaving option, and even then the prognosis is often poor. If colic is caught early, preventative medications given and proper management of the symptoms performed, then the outcome is much more favorable.

Prevention

• Prevention of colic is not always possible, as some animals are more sensitive than others. But there are easy steps that may help prevent colic from occurring. Make any feed changes gradual, over a period of many days. Never overfeed your horse. If grass is green or fresh, limit intake. If there is a drastic change in climate for the horse, watch her carefully and monitor her feed intake. Make sure the horse has and is ingesting plenty of water. Avoid feeding a horse when it is upset, overheated or has made a drastic change in location. Feed lightly in these situations, and then gradually increase the feed once the horse has settled down. Pastured horses are often less likely to colic as they can forage as nature intended, but they are not immune to this disease--especially when stressed or with rapid climate change.