The icy claws of fear set firmly into the spine of every horse owner upon hearing the very word spoken...  Colic. By definition, “colic” is simply a vague term for “pain” anywhere between the stomach and tail of the horse, and tells us next to nothing for a diagnosis. At some point in our equestrian lives, chances are good that we will have to deal with colic in some form or another. Whether it’s a horse of our own, a friend’s, neighbour’s, or we just happen to be in the right (or wrong!) place at the given time, every horse enthusiast should know a few basic things.

The Many Faces Of Colic

With approximately ninety feet of intestines, the variations of colic are numerous. Spasmodic, being the most common, occurs when a horse’s gut works “overtime,” contracting rapidly to cause cramping and pain. Gas colic is a build up of flatulence usually in the cecum, a large organ in the hindgut dedicated to the fermentation of fiber. Impaction colic is a blockage formed somewhere in the intestine, and is the next most common colic to spasmodic. Sand colic is an accumulation of sand and dirt, which can manifest as only minor discomfort before escalating to a major issue. Sand colic can eventually block an entire loop of intestine, which in turn leads to impaction or even rupture. Intestinal displacement and twisted gut are very serious cases. With such a long span of intestine floating free within the body, loops of it can become tangled or twisted. With intestinal displacement, the horse must either be allowed to roll the gut back into its proper place, or surgery must be performed to correct the problem. Twisted gut is similar, but blood supply can be cut off from the twisted section tissue. If that tissue begins to die, the situation can quickly deteriorate as toxins are released into the body and septicaemia sets in.

It is important to remember than no two horses are the same. What one horse exhibits as signs of pain may be another at play. Know what is normal for your horse and be able to read all his signs. Know the difference between pawing before a good roll to scratch just the right spot, and pawing in discomfort. Read his expression, no one knows your horse better than you!

Symptoms and Common Causes

Pawing, rolling, stretching, the flehmen lip, looking at or nipping sides, lethargy, restlessness, and rapid heart or respiration rates can all be signs that your horse is colicky. Unfortunately, many of these behaviours can also simply be regular expressions for some horses. They’ll nip their sides when itchy. Or stretch after a good nap. Or paw for their breakfast. Some horses will even express the “flehmen” face after tasting something unusual. Heart and respiratory rates can increase with exercise or hot weather. KNOW your horse, so that if something is wrong you’ll notice right away.

Changes in feed and even weather can be enough to cause colic; stress, ingestion of sand, over feeding of starches and carbohydrates, heat cycles (mares), dehydration, infection,  toxicity (mouldy feed),  and inactivity can all be culprits as well.

What to do and when to call the vet

As soon as you are certain your horse is acting colicky and unusual, call your veterinarian. The sooner the horse is attended to, the more likely he is to have a good prognosis. Do your best to provide any information your vet asks for and keep calm while you wait. Keep your horse safe and comfortable. Hand walking is acceptable as long as he isn’t thrashing. Move him to a quiet place where he will feel secure and do NOT offer him feed, particularly grain!

If you need help, call for it. Even if it’s just to help you keep calm.

Know how to take your horse’s heart rate and respiration rate. A normal, adult horse at rest should take eight to fifteen breaths per minute. Have someone with a watch count a minute while you watch his flanks. You can also hold a hand over his nose and count his breaths that way, or, using a stethoscope, listen directly to his windpipe. Exercise and hot weather will increase his respiration rate, but a horse with rapid breathing at rest is a good indication he’s in pain. To take his heart rate, try to locate the artery below his jaw with your fingers. ALWAYS use your fingers instead of your thumb; you may throw off your readings by picking up your own pulse. A horse’s resting heart rate should be 40-50 beats per minute. Have someone with a watch count 15 seconds while you count the horse’s pulse. Multiply your number by four and you have the number of beats per minute (bpm).

When your veterinarian arrives, calmly answer any questions he or she asks of you and do your best to help. Remember, never give your horse any form of medication prior to the veterinarian’s arrival. Some drugs will mask symptoms and throw off a vet’s diagnosis. Be honest with your vet. If the horse has undergone any major changes in his life—everything from feeding to exercise—say so; it will help your veterinarian develop a clearer idea of the case and how to handle it.

Two of the most common drugs administered to horses are buscopan and banamine. Buscopan is a smooth muscle relaxant commonly employed for spasmodic episodes where the horse is still passing feces and shows no evidence of impaction. These horses will have increased gut sounds, which you can hear if you press your ear to his flank, just behind his last rib. Buscopan temporarily stops the gut’s over activity with the hope of resetting the normal contractions of ordinary digestion.

Banamine is an anti inflammatory, much like bute, but of the intravenous variety. NEVER EVER attempt to administer drugs to your horse! You have a veterinarian for a reason!

An Ounce of Prevention...

Prevention is the best way to treat colic. Remember to:

-          feed  and manage to prevent colic, rather than try to treat it WHEN it happens

-           make changes to feed gradual, even hay

-           feed as much forage as possible

-          consider adding calories with fiber and fat, instead of sweetfeed

-          be wary of starches and carbohydrates

-          do your research

-          don’t overfeed “meals” of grain, split feedings into rations no larger than 5 pounds at one time

-          optimize turnout

-          encourage regular exercise

-          feed only good quality hay free of foreign bodies, debris, garbage, mould, dust etc as the main staple of your horse’s diet

-          always, always, ALWAYS provide fresh, clean water

-          know your horse; you’ll notice right away if he’s just a little “off” if you have a good idea of what’s normal for him

Always remember the importance of maintaining a good relationship with your veterinarian. You want to make sure you have the best help available when you and your horse need it most. Fortunately, with a good veterinarian, a bit of research, and good old fashioned horse husbandry, we can usually keep our companions safe, happy, and healthy.