The Right Things To Do When Your Horse Has A Colic

Colic is the main enemy of horses. But in most cases of colic, one can easily resolve with simple medical treatment.

Less than 10% of colic cases are severe enough to require surgery or cause to death. So, Colic is not a disease but it is a painful problem in the horse’s belly.

There are so many symptoms shows sign of abdominal pain. So, below we give you Signs of Equine Colic which you should not ignore.

Signs of Equine Colic in Horse:

Horse shows signs of colic in different ways. Below we list out some signs and symptoms which are helpful to you to identifying disease.

• Pawing
• Stretching out as if to urinate
• Continuously lying down
• Turning the head toward the flank
• Not eating food
• Kicking or biting at the belly
• Putting the head down without drinking water
• Repeated rolling with a grunting sound
• Fewer Bowel movement than normal
• Sitting like a dog or laying down on the back
• Holding the head in an unusual pose
• Depression
• Decrease digestive sound
• Plus rate increase
• Improper sweating
• Lip twirling unrelated to sexual interest
• Fast breathing

So, if you see any of the above signs in your horse, you should immediate concerned your Vet and keep looking after your horse.

Some colic cases are resolved without medical care while some need medical treatment. If you find your horse is suffering from colic then you should take the following actions immediately.

• Call your veterinarian
• Keep your horse under observation
• Let your horse rest
• In the night, arrange some lighting so that you can easily look after your horse.

So, after that call, your veterinarian about your horse is suffering from colic. If the colic problem is minor then a veterinarian may not come but it’s up to the vet.

Before making a call to your vet you should keep the  information below handy.

• Rectal temperature
• Sign of Colic and its harshness
• Gums colors
• Pulse rate or heartbeat
• The wetness of the gums
• Status of your horse Insurance
• Digestive sounds
• Any recent changes in feeding or exercise
• Medical history of your horse
• Pregnancy Status if the horse is a mare
• Bowel Movements with colors, frequency, and consistency

After telling this information, your vet will give you advice about what you have to do.  Follow your veterinarian’s advice and not supply any drug to your horse without asking your vet.

Equine Colic Treatment:

Treatment of colic is depending upon its severity and cause. As per the severity and cause, there are various treatment options available. So, let’s have a look….

• Surgery
• Pain- Relief medicine
• Enema for young foals with a blockage caused by maintaining meconium
• Fluid therapy either via intravenous infusion or nasogastric for proper dehydration and make your intestinal contents soften, and dry
• To run intestinal function normally, supply mineral oil like a laxative

Equine Colic Mistakes:

• Don’t uses wait and see approach before talking your vet.
• Make sure your horse doesn’t exercise aggressively.
• Do not permit access to feed as food could intensify the problem.
• Don’t medicate without your vet permission.
• Don’t give anything via a syringe or tube into the horse’s mouth.
• Do not pass any tube into a horse’s stomach
• Don’t give any intravenous injection to your horse
• Do not give anything to your horse by mouth especially liquids.
• To avoid inserting anything into the horse’s rectum.
• Don’t ride in the trailer.
• Don’t turn from your vet’s treatment plan.
• Don’t put your hands or finger on the surgical scratch.

How to Prevent Your Horse from Equine Colic?

Colic is a problem with your horse which involves many factors, some are under control while others are not. Some colic is easily curable but while others are not avoidable. Below we give you some colic prevention tips which improve your horse’s health and reduce the risk of colic.

• Feed a high-quality diet which comprised the high quality of hay, grass, haylage.
• Divide the daily feeding into three or more smaller feedings rather than one or two larger.
• Do daily exercise and workout
• Provide fresh and clean water all the time
• Establish your daily routine of feeding, exercise, and stick to it.
• Limit the amount of grain-based feeds
• Make changes in diet plan
• Reduce stress
• Make sure you put your horse feed on the ground
• Don’t give unnecessary medicine to your horse.
• Check hay, bedding, pasture, and environment for potentially toxic substance
• Keep accurate records of management, feeding practices, and well being.
• Pay special attention to animals

I hope you will get complete details about Equine Colic Mistakes and how to overcome those mistakes. If you find any of the above-given signs in your horse then you immediately concern your vet.

Author Bio:

Emily Davis works at Cheval Liberte as a community manager. Cheval Liberté has been designing, developing and producing stalls, internal stables, and stable equipment since 1995, Driven by their passion for horses, Cheval Liberté was founded by both riders and breeders and since 2005 this passion has been implemented in the UK, with our North Wales company being the sole importer of Cheval Liberté products for distribution and erection throughout the UK & Ireland.