Classifying Colic

Colic is the word used to describe any type of
abdominal pain in horses. In general, there are
three basic types of colic: intestinal dysfunction,
intestinal accidents, and enteritis or ulcerations.
Intestinal dysfunction is the most common type of
colic and refers to the case where the horse's bowels
are not functioning properly. As a result, the bowels may
experience gas distention, impaction, and spasms.
Intestinal accidents are a result of the equine anatomy.
Equine intestines are free-floating within the bodyand
may at times become trapped or pinched in body cavities.
Consequently, displacement, torsions, and hernias of the
intestines may occur. The last type of colic, enteritis
or ulcerations, is typically a result of some type of
physical damage to the digestive tract itself
such as inflammation or lesions.

 

Symptoms & Causes

The symptoms of colic vary in intensity depending on
the type of colic, the degree of illness, and individual
differences among horses. Nevertheless, almost all
horses exhibit one or more of the following symptoms
regardless of the type of colic. Probably the most
common symptom seen in horses is stretching
or turning to look at or kick their abdomen.
Also commonly seen is restlessness, pawing, lying down,
rolling sometimes violently, and sweating.

The causes of colic also vary. Probably the greatest contributor
to the predisposition to colic is domestication. Horses evolved
as free-range, grazing animals; however, today many horses
live in facilities where they must be fed and exercised on
a schedule. These large, infrequent feedings together
with inconsistent exercise may result in intestinal
dysfunction. Other causes may include changing the
diet too quickly or simply changing stabling conditions.
More serious causes include ingestion of sand, parasite
infestation, and poor dental practices. These causes
are particularly dangerous because they have the
potential to cause actual damage to the digestive
tract resulting in enteritis or ulcerations.

 

Treatments

The main goal in all cases of equine colic is to break
the vicious cycle of pain as well as combat shock in
severe cases. However, as noted earlier, equine colic
can vary in intensity and type requiring treatment
to be determined on an individual basis. Due to
the fact that equine colic can deteriorate from
an apparently mild attack to a severe life-threatening
attack in a very short amount of time contact with a
veterinary surgeon at onset is always recommended.
During the interim or if no veterinarian is available
the course of action consists of one of two treatments.
First, a horse that is lying down should be permitted to do so.
Second, a horse that appears restless or is sweating, pawing,
or rolling should be walked in order to stimulate intestinal
mobility. Once a veterinarian is available, the horse is
typically assessed as to the severity of colic by "listening
to intestinal sounds, checking the pulse, evaluating
membrane color for shock, passing a stomach tube,
and performing a rectal exam. In non-emergent cases,
treatment may vary from simple pain medication
to forced ingestion of mineral oil to lubricate the
intestines. In more severe cases, intravenous fluids
and surgical correction may be required.

 

Prevention

The general consensus among veterinarians and equine
scientists is that the best defense against equine colic is prevention.
Although some mitigating factors of colic such as breed, age, and
climate, cannot be controlled, prevention of equine colic can often
be attained through sound management practices. The following
four management factors have been found to have a significant
impact on the occurrence of equine colic: diet, stabling conditions,
activity, and general health maintenance. Nutritional causes of
colic include abrupt changes in diet, consumption of moldy
grain or hay, overfeeding at a single feeding, and ground
feeding of grain. Stabling conditions that may precipitate
colic may include a sudden change from an open area to a
small confined area, shipping between destinations, and
groups of horses stabled or confined to a relatively small
area. Activity causes of colic may include a sudden change
in the exercise program. For example, ground work rather
than roundpen work, or irregular exercise such as hard work
once per week or biweekly. Lack of general health
maintenance may also be a major culprit. Horses are
especially susceptible to parasite infestation and
disease, thus, deworming, annual vaccinations,
and regular dentistry are suggested as major
components of any health maintenance program.

 

Conclusion

As most horse owners, trainers, and veterinarians
can attest to, equine colic is a frightening and debilitating
disease that occurs all too frequently. The disease itself can
range in type as well as intensity. Equine colic can cause
mild discomfort or it can result in the death of the animal.
The treatment of equine colic depends on the type of colic
as well as the presence of specific symptoms. In any case,
the best defense against equine colic is the prevention
of the disease. Sound management practices including
diet, stabling conditions, activity, and general
maintenance should always be essential
component parts of horse ownership.