Understanding Colic appeared first on South 40 Equine.
"> Understanding Colic appeared first on South 40 Equine. " />Colic is the number one killer of horses. The good news is that most cases of colic are mild and resolve with simple medical treatment, and sometimes with no specific treatment at all. Less than 10% of all colic cases are severe enough to require surgery or cause the death of the horse. Nevertheless, every case of colic should be taken seriously, because it can be difficult to tell the mild ones from the potentially serious ones in the early stages.
Colic is not a disease; it is merely a symptom of disease. Specifically, colic indicates a painful problem in the horse’s abdomen (belly). There are dozens of different conditions that can cause a horse to show signs of abdominal pain. Most (but not all) involve the digestive system, most often the stomach or intestines.
Recognizing Colic
Horses show signs of abdominal pain in a wide variety of ways. Some signs, such as curling the upper lip are subtle and easily overlooked, whereas other signs, such as repeated rolling or violent thrashing, are hard to mistake. Among the more common signs of colic are these:
Usually, a horse shows only a few of these signs during an episode of colic. Seeing any of these signs should prompt you to take a closer look and keep a watchful eye on the horse.
In general, the more obvious the signs of pain, the more serious the problem. Also, in horses with serious conditions, the signs of pain usually persists and may even worsen with time, whereas in horses with mild colic, the signs of pain may be intermittent or may disappear after a short time.
Take Immediate Action
While some cases of colic resolve without medical care, a significant percentage of horses with colic require medical treatment. Time is perhaps the most critical factor if colic is to be successfully treated, particularly if the horse has a condition that requires emergency surgery.
If you suspect your horse is suffering from colic, the following action plain is suggested:
*Alert your veterinarian from the outset that your horse is suffering from colic. The veterinarian may not need to come out and examine the horse immediately if the colic signs are mild, but leave that decision to the veterinarian. When you call, be prepared to provide as much of the following information as possible:
After evaluating this information, your veterinarian will advise you on the appropriate course of action. Follow your veterinarian’s advice exactly. Do not administer any drugs to the horse unless specifically directed to do so by your veterinarian. Sedative or pain-relieving drugs can camouflage serious problems and interfere with accurate diagnosis.
Things To Avoid
Unless you have the necessary training, equipment and experience, do not attempt to do any of the following:
1. Pass any kind of tube into the horse’s stomach.
It is very easy to damage the horse’s nasal passages, throat or esophagus with improper equipment or technique. Also, the tube passes more readily into the trachea (windpipe) than into the esophagus, potentially damaging the trachea. Any liquid poured down the tube will be delivered directly into the horse’s lungs.
2. Give the horse any substance by mouth, particularly liquids.
Most horses resist swallowing liquids given by mouth, and some of the liquid may be inhaled into the horse’s lungs. Mineral oil is particularly harmful when inhaled. Horses can easily choke when liquids are forced into the mouth due to their particular anatomy. If the animal does not want to drink, it may be due to a full stomach caused by massive obstruction in which case adding more content can make the stomach rupture, resulting in the horse’s death.
3. Insert anything (your hand, a hose or any other kind of tube or device) into the horse’s rectum.
The rectum is easily damages, and rectal tears can be fatal. Also, intestinal blockages generally cannot be relieved simply by removing manure from the horse’s rectum or giving the horse an enema. Rectal exams are necessary for the veterinarian to identify abnormalities in the horse’s abdomen by indirect palpitations of the organs, and it is not a therapy to remove impaction. It takes a very well-trained veterinarian to properly identify those problems without hurting the animal, and properly restrained, quiet horse.
4. Give any intravenous injections.
Even with practice, every intravenous injection carries some risk.
Note: Home remedies such as castor oil, kerosene and turpentine are useless for colic and are dangerous; they should never be given orally to horses. Over-the-counter remedies that contain bella donna extract (e.g., Dr. Bell’s) should also be avoided. They may relieve mild spasmodic (crampy) colic, but overuse or use in horses with more serious types of colic can be disastrous.
Evaluating The Problem
Your veterinarian may use a variety of procedures to determine the type and severity of the colic and devise an appropriate treatment plan. Procedures include the following:
*These techniques may not be performed in every case. For example, the veterinarian may decide that they are unnecessary in a case of mild colic, or that they are unsafe in a particular situation.
Classifying Colic
Determining the type of colic is important in deciding how best to treat the horse. Even though there are myriad causes of colic, most cases fall into one of three groups:
1. Intestinal Dysfunction. This is the most common category and simply means that the horse’s bowels are not working properly. It includes such things as spasms (disordered motility), gas distention, impaction and decreased motility (ileus). These types of problems usually respond well to medical treatment.
2. Intestinal Accidents. These occur less frequently and include displacement, twists (torsion, volvulus) and entrapment of a section of intestine in a tight space. Some horses seem anatomically predisposed to such problems. Intestinal accidents almost always require emergency surgery.
3. Inflammation or Ulceration. These problems are named according to the bowel segment involved; e.g., gastritis (stomach), enteritis (small intestine) and colitis (large intestine). They can be caused by numerous factors, including stress, medications, infection and parasites. Medical treatment is generally required.
Treatment
Treatment of colic depends on its severity and the likely cause. Treatment options include the following:
When your horse has colic, it can be reassuring to remember that most cases of colic resolve with simple medical treatment (analgesics and either fluids or laxatives).
Note: If your horse’s is insured, contact the insurance company immediately if surgery seems likely or if euthanasia is a possibility.
Preventing Colic
Colic is a problem with many potential causes and contributing factors, some of which are beyond our control. However, management plays a key role in most cases of colic, so colic prevention centers on management. Although not every case of colic is avoidable, the following guidelines can maximize your horse’s health and reduce the risk of colic:
Summary
The key to minimizing the incidence of colic is good management. The key to minimizing the impact of colic (i.e., increasing the chances of a good outcome) is to identify the problem early and call your veterinarian immediately. Treat every incident of colic as potentially serious and involve your veterinarian from the outset; try never to jeopardize your horse’s health for the sake of a few dollars.
“Article Courtesy of Bayer Animal Health”
AAEP website: myhorsematters.com
Bayer equine website: yourhorseshealth.com
For more information regarding Colic, contact your veterinarian or the American Association of Equine Practitioners
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The post Understanding Colic appeared first on South 40 Equine.