A diagnosis of colic is a situation that concerns any horse lover. So what is colic in horses? What indicators should you look for?
Equine colic refers to pain originating in the abdomen. Normally horses will not handle pain of the abdomen well. So in the event of any disturbance of gut function they tend to show signs of distress.
Signs of irritation might be stretching, a stance as if to urinate, and hoofing the floor. If in more pain the horse will get up and down, and roll to try to get more comfortable.
The horse will likely start sweating. In more severe cases it will stand up and lie down and continuously roll.
What Should You Do?
If you believe your horse is suffering from colic, you should call an equine vet immediately. The vet will be in a position to provide emergency pain relief and decide whether further treatment is appropriate.
Is there anything you can do while waiting for the vet to arrive? Leading your horse for a walk can help. It can sometimes encourage his intestines to work normally and surpress any pain. It may also prevent him lying down and rolling. If however he is lying on the floor quietly then let him stay there.
It was previously thought that a horse could cause a twisted gut by rolling around. That has been proven to be probably not true. Though it is best to prevent him rolling around if you can. That way you will stop your horse injuring himself by banging himself on nearby walls. But be careful that you don’t cause injury to yourself. Horses often lose all their normal manners if in pain.
There are several differing reasons for horses to get colic. Frequently the signs look the same regardless of what caused it.
How does the vet investigate the issue? They will listen to the abdomen using a stethoscope to show them whether there is any more activity in the intestines than there should be.
Monitoring the heart rate provides a good indication of the severity of the discomfort and the seriousness of the colic. Usually a horse with a normal heart beat doen’t have a sever problem. Whereas higher heart rates are not such a promising sign.
A really helpful part of the examination is the rectal examination. By feeling the gut, your vet could be able to identify the root of the issue. Without doubt this is a incredibly skilled procedure, that could be dangerous for both the vet and the horse. But for an experienced equine vet the feedback it gives is incredibly useful in concluding the cause of the problem. It may reveal a blockage, or a swollen gut loop as a result of a loop or other intestinal issue.
In all but the most straightforward scenarios the vet may pass a tube through the horses’ nose into the stomach. Though it sounds uncomfortable but can make your horse more comfortable by releasing the built up pressure in the stomach. This process can also give the vet useful information as to whether the stomach is emptying correctly.
On occasion a horse might be so much pain that it is impossible for the vet to examine him properly without first giving a quantity of sedative.
Only by collecting all of the signs revealed by a careful examination is the vet able to make an initial diagnosis. Even then it might not be possible to diagnose exactly what the problem is.
Sometimes, after the first inspection, your horse needs surgery. But more usually your vet will choose to treat the horse with a short-acting painkiller and monitor his progress after a few hours. The majority of examples display a quick improvement. Although some will either not respond to the treatment, or they might respond at first, then start displaying signs of pain again later on.
Rather than having to call the vet out multiple times, it is usually better to move these cases to a specialist practice where they can be closely monitored and surgery can be performed if necessary.
Conclusion
Thankfully most cases respond quickly to medical treatment. But if surgery is needed – it is important to operate early. The chance of a successful outcome is much better if the operation is carried out before too much damage has taken place.
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