COLIC

Dr. Brady Hellman, DVM

Every horse owner cringes when they hear the word ‘colic’. The word ‘colic’ simply means abdominal discomfort. Some signs of colic include: loss of appetite, lying down frequently, rolling, stomping, pawing, kicking at the belly, or ‘flank watching’ (looking at the belly). What many people do not understand is that colic can be caused by a variety of problems and the treatment is dependent on the cause. Colic can be the primary problem, or it may be brought on as side effect of a separate illness. Fortunately, much of the time, the colic can be resolved with medical treatments. Some common causes of colic include: gas, an impaction, or gastric ulcers.

Gas colic can be very painful to the horse and often comes on very suddenly. It may follow a change in feed or pasture. Introduction to grass in the spring, switch to hay in the fall, and changes in grain should be done gradually to decrease the likelihood of gas colic. This form of colic is generally alleviated with pain medication and an antispasmodic.

An impaction occurs when fecal material within the intestines becomes dry, and gut motility deceases, creating a blockage of the digestive tract. Impactions are common in the winter as animals are less likely to drink in cold weather or may not have water readily accessible in frigid conditions. Dehydration leads to less water content in the fecal material and the dry manure builds up in the GI tract. Most cases respond to
the administration of water and laxatives through a nasogastric tube. More severe cases require IV fluids to correct the problem.

Gastric ulcers (see article on gastric ulcers for more information) are common in horses of all ages, breeds, and disciplines. Gastric ulcers form when stomach acids eat away at the lining of the stomach. This often results in occasional to frequent low-grade bouts of colic, often following a meal. Oral medications are available to treat this condition in horses.

Some cases of colic are caused by conditions that cannot be managed medically. These cases require abdominal surgery, which can be quite costly. However, if caught early enough, many of these animals do very well
following surgery. Your veterinarian will perform a physical exam and rectal exam as first steps in determining the cause of colic and, therefore, the appropriate treatment plan. If caught early enough and treated appropriately, most cases of colic resolve quickly with a happy outcome.