The Trouble with Colic

Colic Symptoms

Colic is the most common medical issue we see in horses. Colic is a broad term that indicates pain from the gastrointestinal tract. A common cause is an impaction, which is ingested material that is more dry than normal and not easily moved along through the intestines. Impactions can be from feed or fecal material, sand, or parasites. Another cause is gas which distends the intestines causing pain – often from new grass, other plants, or abundant grain. Another cause is spasms of the intestines, often occurring with electrolyte disturbances or bacterial overgrowth. There can also be displacements of sections of the intestine, twists, kinks, foreign bodies, and infection. A typical horse colic patient will show signs of pain: pawing, rolling, refusing feed, repeated lying down. These signs are cause for a call to the veterinarian. It is never appropriate to give a horse banamine for several days before consulting a vet. By that time it is often too late to effect a positive outcome. For example: a small slightly painful impaction grows larger, drier, and sticks to the wall of the intestine in which it is located. These further changes create more pain. The intestine becomes damaged, begins to leak, and the animal goes into shock. At this point the horse is not salvageable and euthanasia becomes the best choice.

Colic Treatment

A careful physical examination can often point the veterinarian towards the specific cause. If the patient is more than mildly painful, we often complete a rectal palpation to attempt a definite diagnosis. Because of the size of the average horse, we can only palpate approximately 30% of the abdominal contents, so diagnosis is still challenging. If further evaluation is required, an abdominal ultrasound can visualize the abdominal contents to some degree. The important goal is to treat the signs of pain, inflammation, and dehydration. Dehydration can be managed with either oral or intravenous fluids. We also treat the intestinal tract with mineral oil, psyllium, electrolytes or surfactants depending on the suspected cause of the colic.

Horse Colic Surgery

Most colics respond well to medical management, but those requiring a surgical treatment, must be quickly identified and referred to an appropriate referral center before their condition deteriorates. Some indications for surgery include increasing or unrelenting pain after treatment, rectal exam finding consistent with a surgical issue (enteroliths, foreign bodies, some displacements, significant distension), increasing heart rate or increasing abdominal distension.

Considering their size, horses are quite fragile when it comes to matters of the gastrointestinal tract. If you believe your horse is experiencing a colic episode, call your veterinarian immediately to discuss your options. Two days later is often too late.