A horse with equine colic is a situation that strikes fear into any horse owner. But what is colic in horses? What indicators should you be aware of?
Colic in horses is in reference to pain originating in the abdomen. Generally horses will not hide abdominal pain very well. So if there is any disturbance of gut functioning they will usually display signs of distress.
Signs of mild discomfort could be stretching, standing as if to urinate, and pawing the floor. If the pain is greater the horse will stand up and lie down, and roll to try to become more comfortable.
It will likely start sweating. In more severe cases it will get up and down and continuously roll.
What Can You Do?
If you believe your horse has colic, you should call an experienced equine vet straight away. The vet will be able to supply rapid pain relief and make a decision whether additional action is necessary.
Is there anything you can do while waiting for the vet to arrive? Taking your horse for a walk often helps. It may encourage his intestines to start working ina normal manner and soothe the discomfort. It may also stop your horse lying down to roll. If he is currently lying on the floor peacefully then let him stay there.
It was previously thought that a horse could cause a twisted gut by rolling around. That is probably not true. But it is best to prevent him rolling if possible. That way you will prevent him causing injury himself by striking itself on the stable walls. But take care that you don’t hurt yourself. It’s likely horses will lose all their normal manners if in pain.
There are several different reasons for horses to get colic. Often the signs look similar regardless of the cause.
How does the vet investigate the issue? They will have a listen to the abdomen using a stethoscope to tell if there is more or less activity in the gut than normal.
Monitoring the heart rate provides a good idea of the severity of the pain and the severity of the issue. Usually a horse with a regular heart rate doen’t have a serious problem. However a high heart rate is not such a promising sign.
A really helpful part of the examination is the examination of the rectum. By physically feeling the gut, the vet could be able to identify the cause of the issue. Without doubt this is a incredibly skilled procedure, that could be dangerous for both the vet and the horse. However for an experienced vet the knowledge it gives is invaluable in concluding the cause of the issue. Revealing a blockage, or a swollen area of gut as a result of a loop or another intestinal issue.
It’s likely that in all but the most straightforward cases vets may inset a tube through the nose into the stomach. Though it sounds unpleasant but often may make the horse more comfortable by releasing any built up pressure in the stomach. Doing this can also give the vet useful feedback as to whether the stomach is functioning properly.
On occasion the horse might be so much distress that it is impossible for the vet to examine him fully without first giving a dose of sedative.
Only by collecting all of the signs revealed by a careful examination is the vet able to make a tentative diagnosis. Though it might not be possible to tell exactly what the problem is.
It might be the case that, after the initial examination, your horse requires emergency surgery. However more usually the vet will decide to treat the horse with a fast-acting painkiller and monitor his condition after a few hours. The majority of cases display a rapid improvement. But some will show no response to the treatment, or they might improve at first, then start showing signs of discomfort again later.
Rather than having to call the vet to your horse several times, it is usually better to transport these cases to a specialist equine practice where they can be closely monitored and operations can be performed if necessary.
In Conclusion
Fortunately the majority of cases respond to medical treatment. But if surgery is necessary – it is vital to operate early. The chance of a successful outcome is much better if the surgery is carried out before too much damage has occurred.
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