Colic Articles

Colic Prevention Tips

Colic - California Style
Colic: Minimizing its Incidence and Impact in your Horse
Can You Prevent Colic?

Colic Prevention Tips
Te follo!ing article is provided as a courtesy and service to te orse industry "y te
#merican #ssociation of $%uine Practitioners&
Te num"er one 'iller of orses is colic& Colic is not a disease( "ut rater a com"ination of signs
tat alert us to a"dominal pain in te orse& Colic can range from mild to severe( "ut it sould
never "e ignored& Many of te conditions tat cause colic can "ecome life treatening in a
relatively sort period of time& )nly "y %uic'ly and accurately recognizing colic * and see'ing
%ualified veterinary elp * can te cance for recovery "e ma+imized&
,ile orses seem predisposed to colic due to te anatomy and function of teir digestive tracts(
management can play a 'ey role in prevention& #ltoug not every case is avoida"le( te
follo!ing guidelines from te #merican #ssociation of $%uine Practitioners -##$P. can ma+imize
te orse/s ealt and reduce te ris' of colic:
0& $sta"lis a daily routine * include feeding and e+ercise scedules * and stic' to it&
1& 2eed a ig %uality diet comprised primarily of rougage&
3& #void feeding e+cessive grain and energy-dense supplements& -#t least alf te orse/s energy
sould "e supplied troug ay or forage& # "etter guide is tat t!ice as muc energy sould "e
supplied from a rougage source tan from concentrates&.
4& 5ivide daily concentrate rations into t!o or more smaller feedings rater tan one large one to
avoid overloading te orse/s digestive tract& Hay is "est fed free-coice&
6& Set up a regular parasite control program !it te elp of your e%uine practitioner&
7& Provide e+ercise and8or turnout on a daily "asis& Cange te intensity and duration of an
e+ercise regimen gradually&
9& Provide fres( clean !ater at all times& -Te only e+ception is !en te orse is e+cessively
ot( and ten it sould "e given small sips of lu'e-!arm !ater until it as recovered&.
:& #void putting feed on te ground( especially in sandy soils&
;& Cec' ay( "edding( pasture( and environment for potentially to+ic su"stances( suc as "lister
"eetles( no+ious !eeds( and oter ingesti"le foreign matter&
0<& =educe stress& Horses e+periencing canges in environment or !or'loads are at ig ris' of
intestinal dysfunction& Pay special attention to orses !en transporting tem or canging teir
surroundings( suc as at so!s&
>irtually any orse is suscepti"le to colic& #ge( se+( and "reed differences in suscepti"ility seem
to "e relatively minor& Te type of colic seen appears to relate to geograpic or regional
differences( pro"a"ly due to environmental factors suc as sandy soil or climatic stress&
Importantly( !at tis tells us is tat( !it conscientious care and management( !e ave te
potential to reduce and control colic( te num"er one 'iller of orses&
2or more information a"out colic prevention and treatment( as' your e%uine veterinarian for te
?Colic@ "rocure( provided "y te #merican #ssociation of $%uine Practitioners in partnersip !it
$ducational Partner Aayer #nimal Healt& Te #merican #ssociation of $%uine Practitioners(
ead%uartered in Be+ington( Cy&( !as founded in 0;64 as a non-profit organization dedicated to
te ealt and !elfare of te orse& Currently( ##$P reaces more tan 6 million orse o!ners
troug its 7(6<< mem"ers !orld!ide and is actively involved in etics issues( practice
management( researc and continuing education in te e%uine veterinary profession and orse
industry&
posted: :80381<<1& Bast updated: :80381<<1
Colic - California Style
by J.R. Snyder, DVM, PhD, Diploate ACVS, Chief of !"#ine
S#r$ery % &aeness, Professor, 'niversity of California,
Davis
!"#ine Colic
5eat from colic is t!ice as ig as oter diseases( including trauma( in a normal farm
population& Colic signs can "e derived from eiter te intestinal tract of a orse or from non-
intestinal causes& Don-intestinal causes may include: tying up( founder -laminitis.( pneumonia-
pleuritis( ruptured "ladder in foals( uterine torsion( eart failure( urinary stones& Intestinal causes
include: distension of te intestine( o"struction of te intestine -feed impaction( round !orm
impaction( enterolit( sand( foreign "ody.( strangulation of te intestine( gastric ulcers&
My (orse has Colic, )hat do * do+
Euestions to consider:
,ic orses !ould "e considered for surgery?
Ho! muc money are you prepared to spend?
Ho! !ill you transport te orse and to !at ospital !ill you ta'e im?
,ill your insurance policy -if any. cover surgery?
,o is responsi"le for ma'ing decisions in your a"sence?
Initial steps for your orse:
=emove all food and !ater&
Dotify your veterinarian&
Ceep te orse as calm and comforta"le as possi"le&
If orse is rolling or "eaving violently( attempt to !al' slo!ly&
It/s o' to let te orse roll as long as it/s safeF
5o not administer any drugs unless specifically directed to do so "y your veterinarian&
2ollo! your veterinarian/s advice&
,at a veterinarian migt as' for on te pone:
Pulse rate
=espiratory rate
=ectal temperature
Color of mucus mem"ranes
Capillary refill time
Aeavioral signs
Gut motility noises
Ao!el movements
Canges in management
Medical istory
Insurance status
,at your veterinarian may do at te farm:
Complete pysical e+amination
Pass a stomac tu"e
=ectal e+amination
Alood tests
#"dominal tap
#dminister analgesics or sedatives
#dminister la+atives
If te a"ove treatments do not improve te orse/s condition( your veterinarian may suggest
sending te orse to a referral ospital& #t te ospital a surgeon may recommend advanced
diagnostic tecni%ues or e+ploratory surgery& #fter surgical intervention( te orse !ill receive
intensive care including te follo!ing:
Intravenous fluids
#nti"iotics
#nalgesics
Slo! re-introduction to feed
Monitoring
Te ris's of surgical intervention include:
=ecovery
$ndoto+ic soc'
Infection
#desions
Hernia of te a"dominal !all
5iarrea
Baminitis -founder.
Prevention of Colic
Te follo!ing tips may elp prevent colic in your orses:
Provide a constant source of fres drin'ing !ater&
Maintain at least 7<H forage in te orse/s diet&
2eed grain only as needed for !eigt and performance&
#void rapid canges in feed&
Provide routine and regular e+ercise every day&
5evelop a parasite control program !it your veterinarian/s elp&
Maintain proper dental care&
Minimize transportation stress&
5evelop a feed program to aid in te prevention of enterolits&
Control sand pro"lems&
If necessary( use medications to manage orses !it gastric ulcers&
Colic - ICalifornia StyleI "y J&=& Snyder( 5>M( P5( 5iplomate #C>S( Cief of $%uine Surgery K
Bameness( Professor( Lniversity of California( 5avis
posted: 781481<<1& Bast updated: 781481<<1
Colic, Minii-in$ its *ncidence and *pact in yo#r (orse
Colic is te num"er-one 'iller of orses& Te good ne!s is tat most cases of colic are mild and
resolve !it simple medical treatment( and sometimes !it no specific treatment at all& Bess tan
0<H of all colic cases are severe enoug to re%uire surgery or cause te deat of te orse&
Deverteless( every case of colic sho#ld be ta.en serio#sly "ecause it can "e difficult to tell
te mild ones from te potentially serious ones in te early stages&
Colic is not a diseaseM it is merely a symptom of disease& Specifically( colic indicates a painful
pro"lem in te orseNs a"domen -"elly.& Tere are dozens of different conditions tat can cause a
orse to so! signs of a"dominal pain& Most -"ut not all. involve te digestive system( most often
te stomac or intestines&
R!C/01*2*10 C/&*C
Horses so! signs of a"dominal pain in a !ide variety of !ays& Some signs( suc as curling te
upper lip are su"tle and easily overloo'ed( !ereas oter signs( suc as repeated rolling or
violent trasing( are ard to mista'e& #mong te more common signs of colic are tese:
Turning te ead to!ard te flan'
Pa!ing
Cic'ing or "iting at te "elly
Stretcing out as if to urinate( !itout doing so
=epeatedly lying do!n and getting up( or attempting to do so
=epeated rolling( often !it grunting sounds
Sitting in a dog-li'e position( or lying on te "ac'
Holding te ead in an unusual position( e&g& !it te nec' stretced out and te ead
rotated to one side
Beaving food or "eing completely disinterested in food
Putting te ead do!n to !ater !itout drin'ing
Bac' of "o!el movements or fe!er "o!el movements tan normal
=educed or a"sent digestive sounds
Inappropriate s!eating -e&g& unrelated to ot !eater or e+ercise.
=apid "reating and8or flared nostrils
$levated pulse rate -greater tan 6< "eats per minute.
5epression
Bip curling unrelated to se+ual interest
Lsually( a orse so!s only a fe! of tese signs during an episode of colic& Seeing any of tese
signs sould prompt you to ta'e a closer loo' and 'eep a !atcful eye on te orse&
In general( te more o"vious te signs of pain( te more serious te pro"lem& #lso( in orses !it
serious conditions( te signs of pain usually persist and may even !orsen !it time( !ereas in
orses !it mild colic( te signs of pain may "e intermittent or may disappear after a sort time&
TA3! *MM!D*AT! ACT*/1
,ile some cases of colic resolve !itout medical care( a significant percentage of orses !it
colic re%uire medical treatment& Time is peraps te most critical factor if colic is to "e
successfully treated( particularly if te orse as a condition tat re%uires emergency surgery&
If you suspect your orse is suffering from colic( te follo!ing action plan is suggested:
0& Call your veterinarian immediately&O
1& =emove all food from te orseNs surroundings( "ut leave te orse some !ater&
3& If necessary( move te orse to a small enclosure -e&g& a stall or yard. so you can !atc it
more closely&
4& If it is already dar' or approacing nigtfall( arrange for some ligting so tat you -and( if
necessary( your veterinarian. can e+amine te orse properly&
6& #llo! te orse to rest if it simply !ants to stand or lie %uietlyM !al' te orse around if it
is continually rolling or in danger of urting itselfP "ut do not tire te orse !it relentless
!al'ing&
7& Ceep te orse under close o"servation until te signs of colic resolve or te veterinarian
arrives&
O #lert your veterinarian from te outset tat your orse is suffering from colic& Te veterinarian
may not need to come out and e+amine te orse immediately if te colic signs are mild( "ut
leave tat decision to te veterinarian& ,en you call( "e prepared to provide as muc of te
follo!ing information as possi"le:
Specific signs of colic( and teir severity
Pulse or eart rate -"eats per minute.( measured over te eart -Qust "eind or a"ove te
left el"o!. or over an artery -e&g& at te sides of te fetloc' or on te underside of te
lo!er Qa!.
=espiratory rate -"reats per minute.( measured "y !atcing te rise and fall of te flan'
!it eac "reat
=ectal temperature
Color of te gums -!ite( pale pin'( dar' pin'( red or "luis-purple.
Moistness of te gums -moist( tac'y( or dry.
=efill time for gum color -te time it ta'es for te color to return to te orseNs gum after
you "riefly press on te gum !it your tum"M normal is 0*1 seconds.
5igestive sounds -if any.
Ao!el movements( including color( consistency( and fre%uency
#ny recent canges in management( feeding or e+ercise
Medical istory( including de!orming and any past episodes of colic
Areeding istory and pregnancy status if te patient is a mare( and recent "reeding
istory if te patient is a stallion
Insurance status of te orse
#fter evaluating tis information( your veterinarian !ill advise you on te appropriate course of
action& 2ollo! your veterinarianNs advice e+actly& 5o not administer any drugs to te orse unless
specifically directed to do so "y your veterinarian& Sedative or pain-relieving drugs can
camouflage serious pro"lems and interfere !it accurate diagnosis&
Thin$s to avoid
Lnless you ave te necessary training( e%uipment and e+perience( do not attept to do any of
the follo4in$,
0& Pass any .ind of t#be into the horse5s stoach. It is very easy to damage te orseNs
nasal passages( troat or esopagus !it improper e%uipment or tecni%ue& #lso( te
tu"e passes more readily into te tracea -!indpipe. tan into te esopagus( potentially
damaging te tracea& #ny li%uid poured do!n te tu"e !ill "e delivered directly into te
orseNs lungs&
1& 0ive the horse any s#bstance by o#th, partic#larly li"#ids. Most orses resist
s!allo!ing li%uids given "y mout and some of te li%uid may "e inaled into te orseNs
lungs& Mineral oil is particularly armful !en inaled& Horses can easily co'e !en
li%uids are forced into te mout due to teir particular anatomy& *f the anial does not
4ant to drin., it ay be d#e to a f#ll stoach ca#sed by assive obstr#ction in
4hich case addin$ ore content can a.e the stoach r#pt#re, res#ltin$ in the
horse6s death.
3& *nsert anythin$ 7yo#r hand, a hose or any other .ind of t#be or device8 into the
horse5s rect#. The rect# is easily daa$ed, and rectal tears can be fatal. #lso(
intestinal "loc'ages generally cannot "e relieved simply "y removing manure from te
orseNs rectum or giving te orse an enema& =ectal e+ams are necessary for te
veterinarian to identify a"normalities in te orse/s a"domen "y indirect palpation of te
organs( and it is not a terapy to remove impactions& It ta'es a very !ell-trained
veterinarian to properly identify tose pro"lems !itout urting te animal( and a properly
restrained( %uiet orse&
4& 0ive any intraveno#s in9ections. $ven !it practice( every intravenous inQection carries
some ris'&
1ote, Home remedies suc as castor oil( 'erosene and turpentine are useless for colic and are
dangerousM tey sould never "e given orally to orses& )ver-te-counter remedies tat contain
"ella donna e+tract -e&g& 5r& AellNs. sould also "e avoided& Tey may relieve mild( spasmodic
-crampy. colic( "ut overuse or use in orses !it more serious types of colic can "e disastrous&
!VA&'AT*10 T(! PR/:&!M
Your veterinarian may use a variety of procedures to determine te type and severity of te colic
and devise an appropriate treatment plan& Procedures include te follo!ing:
#ccurate istory -including feeding and de!orming programs( medical pro"lems(
vaccination scedule( etc&.
=evie! of your o"servations and evaluation of te orseNs "eavior
Complete pysical e+amination -including vital signs and presence and %uality of
intestinal sounds.
=ectal palpation( loo'ing for evidence of intestinal "loc'age( distention( displacement or
oter a"normalitiesO
Passage of a nasogastric -stomac. tu"e to identify te presence of e+cess gas or fluid in
te stomac -and to relieve te pressure if te stomac is distended.O
Collection of fluid from te a"dominal cavity -peritoneal or I"ellyI tap. and analysis for
a"normalities !ic migt indicate compromise of te "o!el !all or infectionO
Alood tests( loo'ing for evidence of deydration( electrolyte or meta"olic a"normalities or
infectionO $valuation of te response to treatment O Tese tecni%ues may not "e
performed in every case& 2or e+ample( te veterinarian may decide tat tey are
unnecessary in a case of mild colic( or tat tey are unsafe in a particular situation&
Classifyin$ colic
5etermining te type of colic is important in deciding o! "est to treat te orse& $ven toug
tere are myriad causes of colic( most cases fall into one of tree groups:
0& *ntestinal Dysf#nction. Tis is te most common category and simply means tat te
orseNs "o!els are not !or'ing properly& It includes suc tings as spasms -disordered
motility.( gas distention( impaction and decreased motility -ileus.& Tese types of
pro"lems usually respond !ell to medical treatment&
1& *ntestinal Accidents. Tese occur less fre%uently and include displacements( t!ists
-torsion( volvulus. and entrapment of a section of intestine in a tigt space& Some orses
seem anatomically predisposed to suc pro"lems& Intestinal accidents almost al!ays
re%uire emergency surgery&
3& *nflaation or 'lceration. Tese pro"lems are named according to te "o!el
segment involvedM e&g& gastritis -stomac.( enteritis -small intestine. and colitis -large
intestine.& Tey can "e caused "y numerous factors( including stress( medications(
infection and parasites& Medical treatment is generally re%uired&
TR!ATM!1T
Treatment of colic depends on its severity and on te li'ely cause& Treatment options include te
follo!ing:
Pain-relievers -analgesics. or sedatives to relieve pain !ile intestinal function returns to
normal or furter treatment is instituted
2luid terapy( eiter "y nasogastric tu"e or intravenous infusion( to correct deydration
and soften dry( firm intestinal contents
Ba+atives( suc as mineral oil( to elp reesta"lis normal intestinal function
$nema for young foals !it a "loc'age -impaction. caused "y retained meconium -te
first manure produced "y a ne!"orn foal.
Surgery -usually !it te orse under general anestesia.
,en your orse as colic( it can "e reassuring to remem"er tat most cases of colic resolve
!it simple medical treatment -analgesics and eiter fluids or la+atives.&
1ote, If your orse is insured( contact te insurance company immediately if surgery seems li'ely
or if eutanasia is a possi"ility&
PR!V!1T*10 C/&*C
Colic is a pro"lem !it many potential causes and contri"uting factors( some of !ic are "eyond
our control& Ho!ever( management plays a 'ey role in most cases of colic( so colic prevention
centers on management& #ltoug not every case of colic is avoida"le( te follo!ing guidelines
can ma+imize your orseNs ealt and reduce te ris' of colic:
$sta"lis a set daily routinePincluding feeding( e+ercise and turnout scedulesPand
stic' to it -even on !ee'ends.&
2eed a ig-%uality diet comprised primarily of ig-%uality rougage -pasture( ay( ay
cu"es( aylage.& $+cept for young foals( all orses sould "e fed at least 0H of teir
"ody !eigt -or 0 l" per 0<< l" "ody !eigt. of good %uality rougage per day& #void
Aermuda ay -Coastal or Tifton. and avoid round "ales !ic promote overeating and
spoil faster&
Bimit te amount of grain-"ased feeds -grain in any form( s!eet feed( pellets in !ic te
main ingredients are grains.& 2eed tese only as a supplement( and not more tan 6<H
of te diet&
5ivide te daily concentrate ration into t!o or more smaller feedings( rater tan one
large one( to avoid overloading te orseNs digestive tract& Hay is "est fed free-coice&
Set up a regular parasite control program !it te elp of your veterinarian& Lse fecal
e+amination to determine its effectiveness&
Provide e+ercise and8or turnout every day&
Ma'e any canges to diet( ousing and activity level gradually&
Provide fres( clean !ater at all times&
#void giving your orse medications unless tey are prescri"ed "y your veterinarian&
Cec' ay( "edding( pasture and environment for potentially to+ic su"stances( suc as
"lister "eetles( no+ious !eeds and oter ingesti"le foreign matter&
#void putting feed on te ground( especially in sandy soils&
=educe stressM orses e+periencing canges in environment or !or'loads are at ig ris'
for intestinal dysfunction&
Pay special attention to animals !en transporting tem or canging teir surroundings(
suc as at so!s&
)"serve foaling mares pre- and post-foaling for any signs of colic&
Pay particular attention to orses tat ave ad previous "outs of colic( as tey may "e at
greater ris' for repeated episodes&
Maintain accurate records of management( feeding practices and ealt&
S'MMAR;
Te 'ey to minimizing te incidence of colic is good management& Te 'ey to minimizing te
impact of colic -i&e& increasing te cances of a good outcome. is to identify te pro"lem early and
call your veterinarian immediately& Treat every incident of colic as potentially serious and involve
your veterinarian from te outsetM try never to Qeopardize your orseNs ealt for te sa'e of a fe!
dollars&
posted: 780681<<1& Bast updated: 781;81<<6
Can ;o# Prevent Colic+
Colic& Te very !ord ma'es you sudder& It seems to appen at any time and place and to any
orse& #s common as colic is( it remains misconstrued and lac's singular e+planation& Tousands
of dollars ave "een invested in colic studies( yet it is still an offender of even te ealtiest
orses&
Ta"er/s Medical 5ictionary defines colic as a spasm of any soft or ollo! organ( suc as te
a"domen( tat is accompanied "y pain -2&#& 5avis Co& 0;:;.& Te #merican #ssociation of
$%uine Practitioners classifies colic in orses into tree groupsM intestinal dysfunctions( intestinal
accidents and enteritis or ulcerations&
Classifyin$ Colic
Tere are a myriad of causes( "ut most colics fall under tese tree groupsM Intestinal
5ysfunctionPTis is te most common category and simply means te orse/s "o!els are not
!or'ing properly& It includes suc tings as gas distention( impaction(spasms and paralysis&
Intestinal #ccidentsPTese occur less fre%uently and include displacements( torsions and
ernias( !ere"y sections o te intestine "ecome trapped or pinced in "ody cavities& Tese
almost al!ays re%uire emergency surgery&
$nteritis or LlcerationsPTese are colics relate to inflammations( infections and lesions !itin
te digestive tract& Tey can "e caused "y numerous factors including stress( disease(
salmonellosis and parasites&
Colic appears to "e preceded "y many complicated factors( and moreover is a maQor cause of
disease and deat& You are forlornedM your ands are tied "eind you "ac' as you !atc colic
spontaneously attac' te orses you ave so diligently tried to 'eep ealty&
Tere are many signs of colic including lying do!n and getting up or attempting to do so( rolling(
sitting in a dog-li'e position or lying on te "ac'& Tal' to your veterinarian a"out e oter signs of
colic&
Aut are you truly elpless? Can you do someting to prevent colic from affecting your orses?
#ccording to a colic study "y 5r& Doa Coen from Te+as #K M Lniversity( tere are preventative
measures you can ta'e to avoid colic occurrence& Tis uni%ue study !ent "eyond te la"oratory
and into private practices trougout Te+as to determine !eter or not management factors
influence te onset of colic&
?Studies at veterinary ospitals represent only a small( selected su"set of e general e%uine
population(@ 5r& Coen comments& ?,e conducted a study to investigate te cases of e%uine colic
treated of actual( practicing veterinarians&@ =esearcers !anted to identify factors related to
medical istory( us"andry and ealt management tat migt induce te cance of colic in a
orse& Tey evaluated a variety of situations including logistics of farm environment( sta"ling
conditions( feed management( ealt and dental care( and recent transport or cange in diet and
activity& $igty-t!o veterinarians provided data from :10 orses !it colic for specific
management factors for a06 mont period&
Te participating veterinarians !ere as'ed to record various data from colic cases& Colic !as
defined as a orse giving sins of intra-a"dominal pain& Tey !ere ten as'ed to record te same
data for a non-colic case -suc as a laceration or lameness treatment. tat immediately follo!ed
te call to te colic case& Te latter data !as used as a ?control@ to te colic results to o"viate any
seasonal "ias in coosing te comparison population&
Te results are une%uivocal& Horses !it a istory o colic are si+ time more li'ely to develop colic
again& Horses !it previous a"dominal surgery are five times more li'ely to develop colic&
Ho!ever( tese antecedents are non-altera"le ris' factors&
Tree management factors are found to influence colic onset& Cange in diet seems to
significantly increase te illness& Horse tat ad a cange in sta"ling conditions t!o !ee's prior
to te time of e+amination ave a iger pro"a"ility of colic'ing also& In addition( a cange in
activity tends to induce te cance of colic onset&
?# recent cange in diet is te most important management factor tat predisposes orses to
developing colic(@ 5r& Coen notes& ?In fact( aving a recent cange in diet appears to dou"le te
ris' of colic& Ho!ever( "ecause te study !as so e+tensive( !e !ere una"le to e+amine detailed
dietary practices tat predispose orses to colic& ,e are see'ing funding for tese studies tat
!ill provide specific( practical suggestions for orse o!ners&@
So( if you avoid can avoid canging your orse/s feed( you/ll never ave a colic'y orsePrigt?
Do& Toug not found to "e associated !it colic( sound management factors suc as
de!orming( dentistry and vaccination sould al!ays "e integrated "y every orse o!ner&
?,e "elieve tat preventative medicine is essential for decreasing te "urden of disease in
orses(@ 5r& Coen adds& ?Good( consistent management as important ealt and economic
conse%uences&@
2or more information on colic( please contact your veterinarian( or te Aayer !e"site(
ttp:88!!!&yourorsesealt&com( for a Aayer "rocure on understanding colic( te digestive tract
and its function& Posted: July 1<<<
Copyrigt R 0;;7-1<<< #merican #ssociation of $%uine Practitioners& #ll rigts reserved&
Aerican Association of !"#ine Practitioners 4<96 Iron ,or's Par'!ay S Be+ington( CY
4<600 Pone: :6;-133-<049 S 2a+: :6;-133-0;7:
posted: 780681<<1& Bast updated: 780681<<1