| Colic:
 Colic
is the most common equine emergency , and also one of
the most frightening for owners. Symptoms can range from
mild , such as a lack of interest in food, to severe
such as violent rolling or falling to the ground. What
can you do to help your colicking horse while waiting
for the vet to arrive?
First of all, remember to stay safe despite your
concern for the horse. A violently rolling horse can be
extremely dangerous, especially in close quarters such
as a stall. A horse in pain will forget his training and
may step on or trample a person. Get someone to help
before considering going into a stall or approaching a
very painful horse. Do not go into a stall with a very
painful horse alone.
Second, if possible, begin walking the horse. Walking
promotes the movement of gas and manure through the
horse’s intestinal tract, and also keeps them on their
feet. Take care not to exhaust the horse, however.
Although the very painful horse will benefit from lots
of walking to keep them standing, it can be overdone. If
the horse is only showing milder signs, such as flank
watching or lack of interest in food, you can walk him
for 15 minutes at a time and then give him a break for
several minutes. If at any point a colicking horse
begins panting or trembling, they may need a chance to
rest. The very sick horse can be allowed to lay down
quietly as long as they are not attempting to roll. In
recent years colic specialists have questioned the
long-held belief that rolling contributes to GI twists,
and it is now thought more likely that violent rolling
is a symptom of a twist rather than a cause of one.
However, rolling can injure the horse, and it is still
recommended to keep the horse moving periodically with
hand walking.
While you are walking your horse, call your spouse,
friend, barn owner, or whoever else you can think of who
will be able to give you physical and moral support. If
the colic is severe, there may be difficult financial
and emotional decisions to make, such as whether to
refer for surgery. If you do not have a trailer, try to
locate a friend who is available and does, in case the
horse needs to be transported for surgery. If your horse
is insured, contact the insurance company. Also think
over any changes you may have made in your horse’s
management, or any unusual events that may have recently
occurred that could help explain the colic.
It is best to remove hay and grain until a diagnosis is
made. However, the horse should be allowed to drink as
much as they want.
If you have any on hand, and are familiar with its
use, Banamine can be administered to help relieve some
pain. DO NOT under any circumstances give injectable
Banamine in the muscle, however. Intramuscular Banamine
injections are known to cause severe and potentially
deadly muscle infections in horses. Make sure you inform
your veterinarian if you have done this because a horse
that has received Banamine may show less severe signs of
colic.
Once your vet arrives, the horse will receive a
physical exam , including checking his gums, heart rate,
respiratory rate, and GI sounds. A rectal exam will be
performed to check for any abnormalities that can be
felt. A tube will be passed through the horse’s nostril
into its stomach to check for reflux ( fluid back up
into the stomach which can indicate a severe problem
requiring surgery) and to administer electrolytes and
other medications. A decision will then be made on the
severity of the colic and its likely cause, and a plan
made to treat or refer the horse.
A colicking horse should be observed after treatment
for a reoccurrence of pain, so whenever possible you
will want to arrange to be at the barn at least
periodically over the next 12-24 hours. It is best if a
horse is not left alone for more than 2 hours for the 12
hours following a colic episode in case signs of pain
reoccur.
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Denise Bickel DVM
Whole Horse Veterinary Services
Phone # 517-474-4050
Fax # 517-764-7710
3906 Seymour Rd
Jackson, MI 49201
EMAIL US
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