Colic
Colic in horses can be defined as anything that causes abdominal pain. Horses with abdominal pain will commonly show the following signs:
- Inappetance (reluctant to eat)
- Stretching out as if to urinate
- Looking at their flanks
- Pawing the ground
- Lying down
- Rolling
If your horse is showing any of these signs please give Oakford Equine Hospital a call immediately. Whilst many types of colic are mild and easily treated, others can be life threatening.
Causes of Colic
There are many different causes of colic, however in the Perth area the most common cause of colic is sand colic. Sand is commonly ingested when horses eat the new shoots emerging from the soil after the first rains. Once eaten it usually settles in the large intestine and can cause impactions and irritation of the intestinal mucosa. Sand can also be ingested if horses are stabled or yarded on a sandy surface, particularly if they are “messy eaters” and tip their food onto the ground.
Other causes of colic can include, but are not limited to; gas colic, sudden changes in diet, large intestinal impactions, worms, gastric ulceration, caecal impactions, large intestinal displacements and small intestinal strangulation. Other diseases that are not associated with the gastro-intestinal tract can also present with signs of abdominal pain, for example peritonitis, kidney disease and severe tying up episodes.
Initial treatment of Colic
The veterinarian will first do a quick clinical examination. This involves taking rectal temperatures, heart rates, respiratory rates, assessing mucous membranes for hydration status and listening for gastro-intestinal motility (“gut sounds”). Many cases of sand colic can be diagnosed at this stage due to the characteristic sound heard on auscultation of the gastro-intestinal tract. After the initial evaluation the veterinarian will usually give a pain killer (finadyne) and administer a paraffin oil drench via a stomach tube.
With most cases of mild colic this is all that is required. However more serious colic’s may not respond, or only partially respond to this treatment. If this is the case then further diagnostics and treatment may be necessary.
With colics that do not respond well to initial treatment, we will often recommend intravenous fluid therapy, particularly if early blood work shows that they are dehydrated. This can help maintain the circulatory system and soften any impactions.
Further Diagnostics
- Blood Tests – Assess hydration status, cell counts, biochemistry etc
- Rectal Examinations – Can give the veterinarian more information about whether the colon is sitting in the correct position. Certain impactions can also be diagnosed this way. There are limitations to rectal exams though.
- Abdominocentesis (“belly tap”) – This involves taking a sample of abdominal fluid via the midline with a needle. This can give us information as to the health of the intestinal tract.
- Assess for naso-gastric reflux – Many colics involving the stomach or small intestine will result in the accumulation of fluid in the stomach. Left untreated this can result in rupture of the stomach. Due to their anatomy horses cannot vomit so any build up of fluid needs to be released via a stomach tube.
- These diagnostics can help us answer the question “Is this colic surgical or non surgical?” If it is a surgical colic then the next step is referral to Murdoch University. However this may not be an option with every case. Multiple factors must be taken into consideration including the age and health status of the horse, the type and duration of the colic and finances. If surgery is not a viable option, horses with surgical colic that have no hope of resolving medically should be euthanased for humane reasons.
Prevention of Colic
Whilst not every case of colic is preventable, there are certain measures that can be taken to ensure that the incidence of colic is as low as possible. These include ensuring that any changes in feed are introduced slowly, as well as keeping up to date with worming programs and routine dental care.
Sand colic is highly prevalent in the Perth area due to our soil types. Sand colic can range from very mild and easily treated to surgical impactions. For this reason prevention is much better than cure! Strategies to reduce the incidence of sand colic include:
- Avoid overstocking your property
- Keep horses off any paddocks that have a new shoots coming up after the first rains of the season if possible
- Provide horses with adequate hay - hay rolls out in the paddocks are ideal, especially in drier months
- Avoid using sand as bedding in yards and stables. If this cannot be avoided then place feed bins over rubber matting or an old piece of carpet that can be swept clean of sand daily. This way you can avoid sand being ingested with spilled feed.
- Routine drenching with paraffin oil, particularly in the weeks after the first rains.
- Psyllium Husk – this can be purchased from most feed stores. When it combines with fluid in the gastro-intestinal tract it forms a gel which can aid in clearing sand. Psyllium husks should not be fed continuously as the intestinal flora begins to adapt to and digest the psyllium, making it less effective. For horses with large sand loads that will not eat psyllium husk it can be administered by stomach tube daily. For more information on feeding psyllium husk please refer to the psyllium husk guide.
- Schedule in regular sand checks at Oakford Equine Hospital to see if you are on track! Sand is often readily audible with a stethoscope to a trained ear.
In conclusion colic can cover a wide range of diseases, from the mild to life threatening. We treat all cases of colic as potential emergencies. If you suspect your horse may have colic please give Oakford Equine Hospital a call straight away.
