Bushy Equine Vets



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Colic

The term ‘colic’ is commonly used for any signs of pain associated with the gut. The term ‘false colic’ is sometimes used to denote a painful abdomen or pelvic condition unassociated with the gastro-intestinal tract (e.g. renal pain or the pain associated with foaling).

‘Colic’ is therefore a description of symptoms rather than a precise diagnosis. These symptoms vary from mild to severe and consist of all or some of the following:

What causes colic?

Colic can be due to something as simple as a gut ‘spasm’ resulting from a change in diet or routine or as serious as twisting of a part of the intestine with consequent strangulation of its blood supply. The most common causes include impaction where the intestine becomes clogged with semi-digested food material, or spasmodic colic where the gut contracts in painful spasms. Less common causes of colic include displacement of a segment of bowel from its normal position, torsion or twisting of a segment of gut, or strangulation of the gut by fatty tumours.

How is colic treated?

Different types of colic require different treatments. Simple impactions usually respond to treatment by lubrication with oil, salt and water given by stomach tube. Many cases, including spasmodic colics, respond quickly to analgesics (pain killers) and gut muscle relaxants. Some cases require urgent aggressive treatment - either medical or surgical, if the horse’s life is to be saved.

There are some colics that can only be treated by operating to correct the underlying problem.

What should I do if my horse has colic?

Call your vet immediately and explain the symptoms. Every colic case should be regarded as serious until it has completely recovered. Persistent severe pain usually indicates a serious problem and an emergency situation, although simple cases of spasmodic colic may resolve spontaneously.

Whilst waiting for the vet to arrive, the horse should be put in a roomy loose box with no obstructions or projections. The horse may be offered water but all food should be removed. In mild cases the horse can be walked around on the end of lunge line, but do not attempt to take the horse out of its stable if it is in uncontrollable pain.

At Bushy Equine Clinic we have a team of veterinary surgeons and nurses experienced in the medical and surgical management of colic.