A Frightening Fact
THIS LENS IS NOT meant to be a way to bypass treatment by a vet; it is offered for informational purposes only. You should know your horse well enough to notice when he is "off", and all horse owners should be able to recognize the signs of colic. Having 10 horses, we have had to learn how to deal with most cases of colic (but we still call the vet if we need to). If you have experience dealing with colicky horses, then this page may be a handy reference for you. If you are a new owner or somewhat inexperienced you are still welcome to use this page to learn more about colic in horses, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE call your vet if your horse shows signs of colic (don't take unnecessary chances!)
PHOTO: This Palomino is exhibiting a classic sign of colic; lying down and looking at his flank (he is not one of our horses).
Our simple [but effective] arsenal
Mineral Oil, Stethoscope, Banamine AND a cell phone (not pictured :o)
Our Favorite Colic Preventive
Equi Aid CW Continuous Wormer, 10 Lb
Amazon Price: $45.50 (as of 01/02/2010)
This has worked the best for us; it's in pelleted form and when mixed with the horse's regular feed it is impossible for them to eat around :o)
Handy Medical References
(I have the first two)
How to Be Your Own Veterinarian (Sometimes): A Do-It-Yourself Guide for the Horseman
Amazon Price: (as of 01/02/2010)
A-Z of Horse Diseases and Health Problems
Amazon Price: (as of 01/02/2010)
Understanding Basic Horse Care: Your Guide To Horse Health Care And Management (ILLUSTRATED)
Amazon Price: $13.22 (as of 01/02/2010)
What is Colic?
Colic in horses is defined as abdominal pain, but it is a clinical sign rather than a diagnosis. The term colic can encompass all forms of gastrointestinal conditions which cause pain as well as other causes of abdominal pain not involving the gastrointestinal tract. The most common forms of colic are gastrointestinal in nature and are most often related to colonic disturbance. There are a variety of different causes of colic, some of which can prove fatal without surgical intervention. Colic surgery is usually an expensive procedure as it is major abdominal surgery, often with intensive aftercare. Among domesticated horses, colic is a major cause of premature death. The incidence of colic in the general horse population has been estimated between 10 and 11 percent on an annual basis. It is important that any person who owns or works with horses be able to recognize the signs of colic and determine whether or not a veterinarian should be called.
Source: Wikkipedia
What are the signs of colic?
(these are not our horses)
The horse will turn his head repeatedly to look at his side (as if to say, "What's wrong in there??) He will sometimes kick at it; and often lays down and gets up several times in succession (while frequently looking at his flank) in an attempt to ease the pain).
What is Sand Colic?
This is a more common form of colic that occurs when a pasture is overgrazed and the horse is eating close to the ground. Usually, the horse is already carrying around about 30 to 80 pounds of dirt or sand by the time it becomes a problem. One way to prevent this from happening is to feed a digestive aid like "Sandblast". (We use Equi Aid)
Source: How to be your own Veterinarian (James)
(these are not our horses either)
Horses that live in sandy areas (like Florida) are more likely to develop Sand Colic, however, all horse owners need to be familiar with it.
Sand Blast
SandClear Natural Psyllium Fiber Crumbles, 3 Lb
Amazon Price: $20.75 (as of 01/02/2010)
What is Impaction Colic?
Mild to severe pain that develops over a short period of time (one or two days). Piles are smaller and drier than they should be; often the horse becomes severely constipated before signs are noticed. Horse will usually adopt the classic pose of laying down and looking at their flank, and/or stretching out on their side with the head extended and periodically raising it to look at their flank.
Source: A-Z of Horse Diseases (Hawcroft)
A dose of mineral oil and some walking (not riding) will often do the trick. If symptoms do not improve, call your vet.
(This is not one of our horses)
This horse is showing signs of colic; swinging her head around to look at her flank in confusion.
Durvet Mineral Oil Gallon - 01 1111202
Amazon Price: $32.84 (as of 01/02/2010)
What is Spasmodic Colic?
Sudden and severe pain followed by periods of calmness. Horse will paw at the ground, stamp feet, and kick at stomach. They may also stretch out (see photo below). As the pain become more frequent, the horse may thrown himself to the ground and roll violently. Very loud gastrointestinal sounds may be heard. A immediate shot of Banamine or similar medication will be needed.
Source: A-Z of Horse Diseases (Hawcroft)
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, CALL YOUR VET!
This horse has stretched out attempting to ease the pain
(This is not one of our horses either-either)
You have only to look at his expression to see how miserable this poor fellow is.
What is Obstruction Colic?
This is a more severe colic that is caused by a twisted bowel or foreign body lodged in the intestines. No stomach sounds and the horse's mucous membranes (gums and eyes) will be brick red to bluish to white. This type of colic is much more intense and the horse will usually appear desperate: kicking violently, throwing himself to the ground and thrashing about.
Source: A-Z of Horse Diseases (Hawcroft)
THIS IS "THE BIG BAD ONE" - CALL YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY!
So what exactly does it look like in there?
A closeup of the digestive tract
Poking through the poop
Okay it's gross, but it CAN provide you with very important information
Your horse's poop should be rounded and easily break apart when it hits the ground. While the poop in the photo looks normal, it actually contains small strongyles, which are sometimes very difficult to spot.
Aspire to Inspire
Horses are creatures of habit and tend to poop in the same general area. Walking a colicky horse through their "poop zone" after medicating, can help them to go.
On the Lighter Side: Cranial Colic????
Oh yeah, this one is ALL ours...
This is Shadow, our resident drama queen. His bouts of cranial colic have been dubbed "Dramatic Episodes, (he usually has at least one per month). He doesn't actually have colic in this photo, he is simply pouting.
Documenting A Dramatic Episode
Shadow showing signs of colic
Shadow has the real thing (chronic colic) in addition to his dramatic episodes. It took me quite awhile to catch on, and the poor guy has (I'm sure) received a number of unnecessary shots of Banamine in the past. Because colic is so serious, each of Shadow's episodes must be approached as "the real thing". A small dose of Mineral Oil, a stroll through the poop for inspiration, and a thorough check for signs that something has upset him usually help us to ferret out the truth :o)
Want to know the cause of all the drama in the above photos? Max got in a lucky kick.
Check out our supersecret weapon for battling Shadow's bouts of cranial colic:
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a.....Blankie?!?!?
Yep, our Shadow has a blanket fettish (which we discovered quite by accident). A small dose of mineral oil, a stroll through the poop, and (most importantly) some special time with Blankie help our resident Drama Queen return to his sassy self in no time.
...and nope, I'm not kidding :o)
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I'm so very happy you stopped by...
Please take a minute to just say "Hi"
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Reply
- MiaBellezza MiaBellezza Jul 7, 2009 @ 8:23 am
- Such an informative lens about horse colic symptoms, causes, and remedies 5*! Thanks for sharing.
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Reply
- 24websurf 24websurf Jun 17, 2009 @ 8:19 pm
- As Shadow's biggest fan, other than you, I just think he's so precious. It's as if he just needs attention because he's been neglected in the past. I'm glad I know the signs now. Thank you for the information.
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Reply
- aj2008 aj2008 Jun 11, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
- One of our ponies got colic and I spent what seemed an eternity just walking her around to ease it. Luckily it was the only time I ever had to deal with it.
Another brilliant lens and Angel Blessings to you.
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Reply
- Meghann Meghann Jun 10, 2009 @ 11:54 am
- Very informative! Colic is the scariest thing known to horse people, and your descriptions of the varying types is great. I do, however, find the 'cranial colic' kind of funny, and the security blanket absolutely hysterical. Poor Shadow!
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About Me
Lensmaster Wysiwigs has been a member since April 21 2008, has rated 941 lenses, favorited 631, and has created 53 lenses from scratch. Jen donates their royalties to Epic Farms. This member's top-ranked page is "All About Taya". See all my lenses
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