Symptoms of colic

The symptoms of serious colic – you
should call your vet immediately – are:

groaning or rolling, shallow
breathing, sweating and swelling of the abdomen. Mild colic symptoms
include lethargy, loss of appetite, fewer droppings and stomach ache, the
horse showing the latter symptom by pawing the ground with anxiety,
kicking its belly or examining its flanks.

Why
is colic so common? Why are horses predisposed to colic?

A
horse’s intestine is long and can become tangled easily.

The digestive process involves the production of gas through
fermentation, and gas can fill loops in the intestine which if then
tangled causes a blockage.

Unlike humans the horse can’t vomit to rid itself of unsuitable
material.

As a grazing animal a horse is used to a gentle, regular feeding pattern
throughout the year, getting fat when suitable pasture is abundant,
getting thin when it isn’t.

As a quick moving animal with lots of stamina a horse can travel long
distances to find the necessary diet variety it needs to thrive.

Causes
of colic

Irregular
exercise and feeding pattern

Lack of water

Sudden diet change

Too much intense exercise

Low grazing

Too much feed concentrate or unsoaked sugar beet

Stress

Sandy soil causing constipation/blockages

Previous abdominal surgery

Too much water and /or food after exercise

Gas build up from eating grass cuttings

Lifestyle
and Colic Risk

There is an increased risk of colic if you have a full time job, a
hectic social round, a DIY stable environment and don’t have sufficient
hired help to maintain a high level of care, especially during the winter.

There is also increased risk of colic if the grazing is overcrowded or
available less than 8 hours a day, horse droppings rarely removed and lack
of sufficient grazing compensated by various forms of feed concentrate; or
If exercise is also limited during the week and concentrated on week-ends
.

What
to do if you think it is serious colic

Whilst waiting for your vet to
arrive – or give initial advice over the phone – here are some tips:

q
Keep your horse stabled with lots of bedding, and keep calm!

q
Should the horse be lying down remove anything which might harm it if
were to roll.

q
If the horse does try to roll violently
try moving it to a field without fences and ditches.

q
Don’t offer food.

q
Don’t give colic drenches – they might go down the wrong way.

Prevention of colic

q
Fresh
Water
– make sure there is plenty available, and that it is not liable to
freeze. You may have to invest in a trough heater or arrange to break the
ice regularly. Remember, winter roughages generally contain less than 20%
moisture whereas summer and spring grass contains 75% or more. Without
sufficient liquid the food being processed
becomes dry and prohibits easy bowel movement i.e. peristaltic
action. Don’t, however, give a horse anything but small amounts of warm
water after it gets overheated.

q
Routine
– have a regular exercise and feeding schedule.

q
Feed
your horse
mainly roughage and only a little grain or energy-rich supplement and
divide the daily feed in to two or more rations. Twice as much energy
should come from the hay or forage than from supplements.

q
Don’t
put hay or other feedstuffs on the ground, especially where the soil is sandy; and
check regularly for twine, plastic bags and other human detritus which
might be ingested by your horse.

q
Worming
– have a regular programme.

q
Keep
stress to a minimum by eliminating the need for transportation or shows.

q
Proneness
to constipation. In consultation with you vet, use Psyllium
Husks regularly in the feed.

Stephen
Ashdown answers over 100 Frequently Asked Questions
on www.freevetadvice.co.uk

and provides a free helpline

Other
horse related pages on Hints and Things

Horse
Lameness

Mud
Fever

Skin
condition in Horses

Herbs
for Horses

Horse
Breed/Horse Mating

Skin
Condition in Horses

Stress
in Horses