A diagnosis of colic is a situation that worrries any horse owner. So what is equine colic? What indicators should you keep an eye out for?
Colic in horses refers to pain originating in the abdomen. Normally horses do not handle pain of the abdomen very well. So if there is any abnormality in gut function they tend to display signs of pain.
Visible signs of discomfort could be stretching, standing as if to urinate, and pawing the floor. If in more pain the horse will stand up and lie down, and roll to try to become more settled.
It will start sweating. More serious cases it will get up and lie down and roll constantly.
What Should You Do?
If you believe your horse has colic, it’s best to call an equine vet straight away. They will be able to supply emergency pain relief and decide whether additional action is appropriate.
What should you do while waiting for the vet to arrive? Leading your horse for a walk often helps. It can sometimes encourage his guts to start working ina normal manner and soothe any discomfort. It could also stop the horse lying down to roll. If however he is already lying down quietly then let him stay there.
It used to be thought that a horse could cause a twisted gut by rolling. That has been proven to be probably incorrect. Though it is best to prevent him rolling if possible. That way you will prevent him injuring himself by knocking himself on any walls. Of course be careful that you don’t get injured yourself. Horses often forget all their manners if in pain.
There are many differing reasons as to why horses get colic. But often the signs look similar regardless of the cause.
So how will the vet investigate the issue? He or she will have a listen to your horses abdomen using a stethoscope to tell if there is any more activity in the gut than there should be.
Monitoring the heart rate helps give a good idea of the severity of the discomfort and the seriousness of the problem. A horse with a normal heart beat does not have a sever problem. Whereas a high heart rate is not such a promising sign.
A very useful part of the examination is the examination of the rectum. By physically feeling the intestines, your vet may be able to find the root of the issue. Without doubt this is a incredibly skilled examination, that hasthe potential to be hazardous for both the horse and vet. However for an experienced equine vet the information it gives is invaluable in concluding the nature of the problem. Revealing an obstruction, or a swollen area of gut as a result of a twist or another intestinal issue.
It’s likely that in all but the most straightforward scenarios vets may inset a tube through the nose an into the stomach. Though it sounds uncomfortable but helps make the horse more comfortable by releasing any pressure in the stomach. Doing this can also give the vet detailed information as to whether the stomach is emptying correctly.
Sometimes a horse might be so much pain that it is impossible for the vet to examine him fully without first applying a quantity of sedative.
Only by considering all of the signs revealed by a detailed examination is the vet able to make an initial diagnosis. Though it might not be possible to diagnose exactly what the problem is.
It might be the case that, after the initial inspection, your horse requires surgery. But more usually the vet will choose to treat the horse with a fast-acting painkiller and monitor his condition after a couple of hours. Most examples display a rapid improvement. However some will either not respond to the treatment, or they will respond at first, then start displaying signs of discomfort again later.
In preference to having to call the vet to your horse multiple times, it is usually better to transport these cases to a specialist practice where they can be closely monitored and surgery can be performed if appropriate.
Conclusion
Luckily the vast majority of examples respond quickly to medical treatment. Although if surgery is needed – it is important to operate early. The likelyhood of a successful outcome is far greater if the surgery is carried out before too much damage has taken place.
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