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A diagnosis of equine colic is a situation that strikes fear into any horse owner. But what is equine colic? What signs should you look for?

Colic in horses is in reference to pain originating in the abdomen. Normally horses do not handle abdominal pain very well. So in the event of any disturbance of gut function they will usually show signs of pain.

Signs of discomfort 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 try rolling to get more comfortable.

The horse will likely start to sweat. More serious cases it will get up and down and roll constantly.

What Should You Do?
Should you believe your horse has colic, it’s best to call an experienced equine vet immediately. He or she will be in a position to supply rapid pain relief and decide whether further treatment is appropriate.

What should you do while you wait for the vet? Leading your horse for a walk can help. It may encourage his intestines to start working normally and surpress the pain. It may also stop your horse lying down to roll. If however he is currently lying down peacefully then let him stay lying down.

It was thought that horses could cause a twisted gut by rolling. That is probably incorrect. But it is best to stop him rolling over if you can. This way you will stop him harming himself by banging himself on the stable walls. But be careful that you don’t get injured yourself. Horses often forget all their manners if in pain.

There are many different reasons as to why horses get colic. Frequently the signs look the same regardless of what caused it.

So how will the vet look into the problem? He or she will listen to your horses abdomen using a stethoscope which will show them whether there is more or less activity in the intestines than there should be.

Monitoring the heart rate provides a good idea of the seriousness of the pain and the seriousness of the issue. Usually a horse with a regular heart beat doen’t have a serious problem. Whereas higher heart rates are not such a good sign.

A very helpful part of the examination will be the rectal examination. By physically feeling the intestines, your vet could be able to identify the root of the problem. It goes without saying that this is a highly skilled procedure, that hasthe potential to be hazardous for both the horse and vet. However for an experienced equine vet the feedback it gives is invaluable in concluding the cause of the problem. It may reveal an obstruction, or a swollen gut loop as a result of a loop or other problem with the intestines.

In all but the most straightforward scenarios vets may inset a tube through the horses’ nose into the stomach. Though it sounds uncomfortable but often may make your horse more comfortable by lowering the pressure in the stomach. This process can also give the vet useful information about whether the stomach is emptying properly.

In some cases a horse might be so much pain that it isn’t possible for the vet to diagnose properly without first applying a dose of pain killer.

Only by collecting all of the information provided by a detailed examination is the vet able to make a tentative diagnosis. Though it might not be possible to tell exactly what is going on.

Sometimes, after the initial examination, the horse requires surgery. But more usually your vet will decide to treat the horse with a short-acting painkiller and review his progress after a few hours. Most examples show a quick improvement. Although some will show no response to the treatment, or they will respond initially, then start displaying signs of discomfort again later.

In preference to having to bring the vet to your horse multiple times, it is normally better to transport these cases to a specialist equine practice where they can be monitored closely and surgery can be performed if appropriate.

In Conclusion
Luckily the majority of examples respond to medical treatment. But if surgery is necessary – it is vital to operate as soon as possible. The likelyhood of a successful outcome is much better if the operation is carried out before too much damage has taken place.

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