If you notice your horse exhibiting odd behavior, such as continually rolling, pawing, kicking his abdomen or refusing food and water, he may be suffering from colic. To tell the truth, colic is more a symptom than a disease in itself. There can be many problems that cause this type of discomfort, and they all have colic among their symptoms. Similar to a stomach ache in humans, colic is quite common in horses or ponies, but it can cause serious problems with their gastrointestinal tract. See your vet as soon as possible, as your pet may need to have surgery, depending on the cause. It is important to recognize and treat this disease before it gets out of hand.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Diagnosing and Treating Colic
Step 1. Know the symptoms of colic
They can usually vary based on the severity of the problem. Even if the pain is in the stomach, the horse may exhibit signs that do not necessarily affect this organ.
- In cases of mild colic, the horse may appear restless and stamp its paws on the ground. He may also pursue his lips or keep looking over his shoulder.
- In a moderate case, you may want to lie down more often and urinate more frequently.
- In severe cases, the animal can start rolling on the ground making violent movements; you may also notice rapid breathing and profuse sweating.
- In particular, the symptoms of gas colic are loud noises in the abdominal area and intermittent intestinal pains.
- Constipation colic can prevent the horse from defecating at which point the animal may decide not to eat; in addition, this type of discomfort causes abdominal pain. Horses must defecate at least 6 times within 24 hours, so it shouldn't be particularly difficult to tell if the animal is suffering from this type of colic.
Step 2. Check your horse's temperature
A normal temperature should be between 37.2 and 38.3 ° C. You can use a horse-specific rectal thermometer to check its temperature. If it is elevated, it is another sign that you may be suffering from colic.
Step 3. Take your equine friend for a walk
Try to treat the horse yourself only if it has symptoms of mild colic. If the ailment is already moderate or severe, you need to call your vet. The first thing to do to heal the horse on your own is to get it moving.
Walk him for about 30 minutes. Movement can help if the colic is caused by gas; moreover, it can also distract him from the pain he is experiencing. However, if you walk for too long, the animal may get tired, especially if it is already feeling bad
Step 4. Know when to call the vet
If the horse continues to look at its side and is also trying to bite that area, it is time to call the vet.
- If your pet lies down for too long, won't eat, and won't discharge, these are all signs that should prompt you to contact your doctor.
- Call the vet, even if his heart rate is over 50 beats per minute.
Step 5. Remove all food
Since colic is often related to the pet's food, it is important to keep it away from potential danger until the cause is found. If colic is caused by an obstructed colon, adding more food to your intestines won't help the situation.
Step 6. Let the professionals take care of the problem
When the vet arrives, he will perform a full examination on the horse, although he will likely not be able to pinpoint the exact cause. However, they will be able to tell you the severity of the disorder and what is the best treatment for the specific situation.
- Be prepared to answer her questions about her routine, worm care and diet.
- The vet may also perform a rectal exam or insert a nasogastric catheter into the stomach. This second procedure consists in sedating the horse and inserting a tube through the nose that reaches the stomach; this test can be useful in two ways: it allows you to determine if there is fluid in the stomach (in this case it must be emptied) and it is a way to give the horse mineral oil that could relieve pain thanks to its lubricating action on the organ walls. Furthermore, this process can also be a way to hydrate the animal.
- The rectal examination allows the veterinarian to check for any intestinal problems and perceive any obstruction.
Step 7. Give him painkillers
Based on the cause identified, the veterinarian may decide to treat the animal with analgesic drugs, such as Finadyne. Most horses need some type of pain reliever. In addition, the vet can give him laxatives; the mineral oil described in the previous step is an example of a laxative that can be used to treat an obstructive colic.
Step 8. Learn about intravenous fluid injections
If your equine is severely dehydrated, it may need to be given fluids intravenously to aid the rehydration process. Since his IV bag may need to be changed at some point, it is a good idea to ask your vet to show you how to do this if you are unsure of the correct procedure.
Step 9. Check when you can go back to feeding your horse
In the case of constipation colic, the animal should not eat until the occlusion is released. Ask the vet how long you have to wait once the pet has defecated before you can feed him again or if you have to wait for a particular sign to be able to feed him again.
Step 10. Get him back to his daily tasks slowly
Once the symptoms have disappeared or reduced, the horse can resume its normal daily activities. However, don't immediately put it on to do the usual normal job; leave slowly and gradually during the convalescence phase.
Step 11. Know that in some cases, surgery is required
Often, colic can be resolved with veterinary treatment to be followed directly in the stable. However, if the horse has a problem such as a bowel obstruction, it will probably be wise to take him to a veterinary hospital and have him undergo surgery.
- Just because your vet advises you to take him to a clinic doesn't automatically mean the horse will need to have surgery. In the hospital, the animal will first be examined to see if the treatment it is undergoing is effective and if it is working, in order to determine whether or not surgery is necessary. If not needed, hospital doctors can provide more intensive care when the case is really serious.
- In some circumstances, it is necessary to subject the horse to euthanasia, because colic is too painful, although this outcome is the least likely with current medical practices.
Step 12. Continue to monitor your pet
Once you have started treatment, check it every two hours to make sure your symptoms are starting to subside. If not, you need to call the vet again.
Step 13. Learn about the types of colic
These disorders can come in different forms. From constipation to gas and other diseases, the causes of colic in horses can be very different.
- Constipation colic occurs when food gets stuck in some area of the intestine. This is quite painful, because the animal's intestine tries to move the food, but the food is blocked.
- Another type of colic is caused by the formation of gas. Horses produce gas normally as a daily biological process, but sometimes when it is excessive it causes discomfort because it enlarges and swells the intestines.
- Yet another type of colic is caused by what is referred to as "intestinal torsion," which is injury to the abdominal organs, such as when the intestines contort or a dislocation of the colon occurs.
- In addition, stomach and intestinal diseases can also cause colic; for example, colitis and ulcers can manifest the typical symptoms of a colic.
- A "false colic" occurs when the horse has symptoms, but the cause is something outside the abdomen, such as laminitis or bladder stones.
Part 2 of 2: Preventing Colic
Step 1. Give your pet plenty of fresh water
One cause of constipation colic can be dehydration. Horses need to drink constantly; being without water for even an hour can create problems for them. It is also important that it is fresh, because if it is not to their liking, they may not drink it.
Step 2. Schedule of regular dental care
Dental health is important in keeping these animals healthy. Good dentition encourages the horse to chew properly, which makes intestinal obstruction less likely.
Step 3. Always ensure adequate amounts of dietary fiber for your specimen
Horses need it to make sure that food flows through the digestive system properly and adequately. Therefore, make sure that the animal always has fresh hay available or that it can graze freely every day.
Step 4. Place the food in the feeder
If you feed him on the ground, the horse may accidentally eat other things that are not edible and if he ingests too much, his intestines may suffer and become blocked. For example, he could eat too much sand along with hay and in this case digestive problems would arise.
Step 5. Make sure your pet is exercising regularly
Regular exercise allows the horse to remain active constantly and can also help with the digestive process. Therefore try to encourage exercise at least once a day.
Step 6. Have your pet treated for worms on a regular basis
Some treatments involve the daily administration of the drug, while others require a reduced frequency; the vet will be able to advise you on the best treatment for your specific specimen. This process allows you to keep the presence of any parasites under control, as an excess of intestinal worms can sometimes lead to colic in horses.
