Colic in the horse

It's a major fear for every horse owner: colic. It's terrible to see your horse in pain from stomach ache. There are various types of colic, and the severity can range from discomfort to the death of the horse. The good news is that colic is preventable in many cases! Pharmacy4pets helps you recognize colic in your horse and provides tips to prevent it.

What is colic in horses?

Colic means abdominal pain. Colic can have various causes. The causes can be located both inside and outside the gastrointestinal tract. In this article, we mainly discuss 'true colic', colic originating in the gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms of colic in horses

The signs of colic can vary and range from fairly mild to very severe. While severe symptoms are often caused by serious intestinal problems, even mild symptoms of colic can indicate significant changes in the abdomen. So, do not wait and always consult a veterinarian if you notice symptoms of colic. Common symptoms of colic include:

Rolling.
Looking at, striking, or biting their belly.
Yawning.
Sweating.
Frequently lying down and getting up or throwing themselves down.
Lying down a lot / lying on their back.
Raising the upper lip.
Decreased / no appetite.
Signs of restlessness: scraping with the front legs or swishing the tail.
Lethargy.
Abnormal posture (for example, excessively stretched).
Belly becoming distended.
Frequently urinating small amounts.
Walking backwards.

Types of colic in horses

We distinguish different types of colic in horses, which directly indicate the cause. The cause, treatment, and prevention of the different forms will be discussed separately.

Sand colic

Horses kept on bare pastures or in sand paddocks can ingest sand while eating. This sand gradually accumulates in their intestines, which can lead to colic, weight loss, decreased appetite, and diarrhea.

You can check if your horse has ingested sand by suspending a few fecal balls mixed with water in a transparent glove. If sand is present, it will settle in the fingers of the glove. Do this several days in a row, as the sand is not continuously excreted from the intestines.

Psyllium or flaxseed helps remove the sand from the intestines. If your horse is at risk of ingesting sand or you indeed discovered sand in the feces with the 'glove test', it's best to give your horse a course of, for example, Sectolin Sand Relief Psyllium.

Of course, preventing the ingestion of sand is the best method to prevent sand colic:

Prevent feed from getting on the sandy ground by offering it in tubs or laying a rubber mat under the hay net in the paddock.
Do not let your horse graze in pastures where the grass is very short: short grass is often pulled out with root and all, which obviously can lead to your horse ingesting a lot of sand.
Ensure a balanced diet to prevent mineral deficiencies: sometimes horses actively eat sand if they have a mineral deficiency.

Spasmodic colic

Spasmodic colic occurs when the intestine cramps, causing pain. It can be caused by sudden changes in the horse's management, such as feed changes, transitioning from stable to pasture or vice versa, changes in training. Stress and worm infections can also lead to intestinal cramps.

In many cases, spasmodic colic can be prevented by taking the following measures:

Avoid sudden changes in feed.
Gradually implement changes in the training schedule.
Minimize stress as much as possible.
Accompany a change of stabling: provide calmness, feed as consistently as possible at the same times, ensure a gradual transition from stabling to grazing or vice versa.
Deworm your horse according to schedule.
Probiotics support healthy intestines and good digestion.

Gas colic

Gas colic can arise from excessive production of gases in the large intestine, often as a result of incomplete digestion of sugars in the small intestine. This can happen when horses eat very sugary grass or too much sugary concentrate. The bacteria in the large intestine break down these sugars and cause gas formation.

Gas colic can largely be prevented by taking the following measures:

Gradually increase pasture time in the spring.
Avoid sudden changes in feed.
Divide the feed into many small portions instead of giving a lot at once or twice.
Ensure a fiber-rich diet and avoid too much sugary concentrate.
Limit grazing when the grass contains a lot of sugar, for example, during dry and sunny weather.

Colic due to impactions in the intestine

At certain spots, the diameter of the horse's intestine suddenly narrows, making impactions more likely to occur. This often happens after eating a lot of straw, coarse hay, flax, or other bedding.

Impactions are also more likely to occur if the intestinal content dries out, for example, if the water trough is frozen or blocked. Horses with dental problems chew their roughage poorly, leading to the ingestion of large clumps, which increases the risk of an impaction.

Preventing colic due to impactions:

Ensure your horse always has access to drinking water.
Be alert to the consumption of straw or other bedding.
Have your horse's teeth checked regularly, especially if you notice your horse eating slower, dropping feed or 'clumps' from the mouth, or losing weight.

Colic due to displacements of the intestine

The intestines of the horse are quite loose in the abdomen. There's a chance the intestines can twist around themselves and get 'tangled'. This can lead to part of the intestine being pinched off. Displacements almost always need to be treated, and treatment has the greatest chance of success at an early stage. Another reason to always consult your veterinarian if your horse shows signs of colic.

What can you do yourself in case of colic?

If you notice (mild) symptoms of colic in your horse, you can calmly walk your horse around. Many cases of spasmodic colic recover on their own through the movement and if your horse defecates. If the symptoms do not disappear after fifteen minutes or are very severe, it's best to call your veterinarian for advice.

The diagnosis and treatment of colic

The treatment of colic depends on the type of colic, the cause, and the severity. The veterinarian will first conduct a general examination to determine the clinical condition of the horse. The heart rate, breathing, and temperature will be recorded, the color of the mucous membranes assessed, and the abdomen listened to. Then, the veterinarian will perform a rectal examination to examine the horse's intestinal tract. Sometimes inserting a nasogastric tube, endoscopy of the stomach (checking for the presence of stomach ulcers), a blood test, or examination of the abdominal fluid is necessary.

Based on the findings of this examination, treatment will be initiated or it may be advised to go to a specialized clinic. In cases of mild colic, treatment often starts with a pain reliever and/or a muscle relaxant for the intestines. In most cases of colic, a single injection is sufficient to normalize intestinal function and allow the horse to recover. Sometimes, gas or feed needs to be removed from the stomach with a nasogastric tube, or gas needs to be released from the intestine through an abdominal puncture. Depending on the cause, a specific treatment will be initiated: deworming, paraffin for an impaction, a sand treatment for sand colic, and antacids for stomach ulcers. In cases of displacements and severe impactions, surgery in a horse clinic is often the only chance for recovery. Unfortunately, severe colic can sometimes be fatal.

Colic is common, but most cases of colic can fortunately be treated well with medication. Good management, a balanced fiber-rich diet, and timely deworming can prevent a lot of trouble. Pharmacy4pets is happy to help you keep your horse as healthy as possible!

If you have a question about our products or about colic in horses, please contact us.