- According to a recent National Animal Health Monitoring System survey, one farm out of every 10 will have about 2 percent of its horses experiencing colic. About 15 percent of fatalities in horses that are more than 30 days old are caused by colic. This is tragic because the initial signs of colic are fairly easy to recognize. If the horse owner spots the signs early enough, the animal can usually be saved without any adverse effects to its health.
- In the beginning stages of colic, the animal may simply seem lethargic. The owner will likely find it laying down, whether it is in a pasture or a stall. Some horses lay down to sleep, and others rarely lay down at all. It is important that the owner knows the animal's tendencies. If it is laying down more than usual, and acting somewhat distressed, this could be an early warning sign. The next step would be to try to get it to stand and walk around. If the animal does this willingly and seems to have normal behavior, then it is likely not colic. But if it struggles and is sluggish in its movements, then the possibility of colic should be considered.
- The owner should monitor the animal's bowel movements closely. If it is eating normally but is sluggish, laying down often and has had no bowel movements in 12 hours, this is a definite sign of colic. If not treated, the symptoms will escalate from here. The animal will begin pawing and turning its head to look at its abdomen. This is a sign that the animal is in pain. As the pain escalates, the animal may begin kicking its stomach and showing other signs of extreme stress. Horse owners should think of colic like severe constipation. The animal is not able to pass stool. It becomes bloated and anxious because of the stomach pain.
- The most dangerous part of colic is when the animal lays down and begins to roll because it is in pain. This is when the intestines often get twisted, and at this stage the animal usually cannot be saved. Surgery can sometimes work under this circumstance, but it is very risky.
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It is the owner's responsibility now to determine how severe the colic is. The first thing to do is to take all food away from the animal. Try to work through the buildup of gas and food in the abdomen by walking it around. This could take hours, but many times if it is caught early, the animal will work through the stomach pain, pass the stool and eventually get back to normal. It may still try to lay down and roll while the owner is walking it. It is important to try to keep the horse moving to prevent this.
If the animal becomes violent because it is in too much pain or refuses to stand up at all, the owner should call a vet immediately. -
The basics of preventing colic involve food and exercise. Horses need a regular feeding schedule, preferably with the same food every day. Changing up diet can be one cause of colic. If the owner does need to change the animal's diet for any reason, he must be sure to do this gradually.
The animal should be on a solid exercise program. This could mean being turned out in a pasture to run and play, or working it under saddle.
Be sure the animal has access to plenty of fresh, clean water. However, do not water or feed the animal until it has completely cooled off after a workout. Regular vet visits also are recommended to keep shots updated and maintain the animal's overall health.
