Horse Colic 

Dealing With Colic - Fast Action Could Save Your Horses Life!

Equine colic is said to be the number one killer of horses. Knowing the symptoms, and how to deal with it, could save your horse’s life. It can be one of the most frightening events for horse owners.

There are three main types of horse colic, these include, gas, impaction and sand. Impaction happens when digested matter builds up in the intestinal tract and does not pass through. Gas colic is just as it sounds, the horse has a severe build up of gas. Sand colic occurs when a horse is allowed to eat on sandy ground, such as eating hay inside a sandy arena.

Symptoms

  • Kicking at belly
  • Turning to look at and/or biting at belly or flank.
  • Restlessness
  • Sweating
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nosing at water, but not drinking.
  • Pale gums
  • Grunting or groaning
  • Pawing at the ground

    • You should never allow a horse with this problem to lie down and roll. He can twist his gut, and then you have major problems. A twisted gut occurs when a portion of the intestine becomes wrapped around itself. In such cases, the blood supply is cut off and will cause severe pain and possible shock.

    If you suspect equine colic, call the vet immediately. Remove any hay or feed from his stall and keep him moving. Make sure he has free access to water. Walking your horse may alleviate some of the pain and will sometimes get the gut moving again.

    Don’t take it personally if your horse acts up. He doesn’t understand why he’s hurting or that you are just trying to help him. Good leading skills and a good relationship with your horse are a must at times like this.

  • Rolling or lying down and getting up frequently
  • Abnormal gut sounds or no sounds at all.

Causes

1. Inadequate water intake - Horses need at least 8 gallons of water a day. Depending on his diet, exercise level and how hot it is, it could be considerably more.

2. Sudden feed Changes - We know to make changes in grain, over a period of about a week. What you may not know, is that hay can do just as much damage. Even though you may feed the same kind of hay, hay grown in two different fields will have different levels of sugar, starch and protein.

3. Too Much Grain - Most horses these days are fed way too much grain. Grains are low in fiber and high in starch. A horse has a limited ability to digest starch. Sugars and starches that don’t get digested, end up in the bowel, where they can cause major problems.

4. Inadequate de-worming program - Worms in horses are high on the list as a cause for this ailment. That’s why it is so important to set your horse on a regular de-worming schedule.

5. Lack of exercise - Regular exercise promotes intestinal mobility. A horse that is kept stalled all the time is an accident waiting to happen.