Understanding Equine Colic

Most horse owners have their own personal stories to tell about colic — but chances are that everyone’s tales about the dreaded disease are different. 

Episodes of colic can range from a mild case of abdominal pain that resolves with pain medications to a life-threatening event that requires emergency surgical treatment. With such a variable condition, it can be difficult for horse owners to determine the right course of action for their horse’s situation, says Dr. Carolina Duran, a resident in large animal internal medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).

As Duran explains, colic is generally defined as pain that comes from the abdomen or any structure in the abdomen. Colic is typically caused by a problem in the gastrointestinal tract, but other organs can be the source of the pain. As well, horses that are tying-up or foundering (experiencing laminitis) can often show clinical signs that are similar to colic.

Mild cases of colic can be difficult to identify. Affected horses may be uninterested in food or seem to be dull or lethargic. More classic signs of colic are sweating, pawing, and watching the flank as well as lying down and rolling. Some horses may curl their lips, arch their necks, or posture as if to urinate.

If your horse is colicky, you should call your veterinarian. But before you do so, check your horse and gather some information,” says Duran. She adds that the more information horse owners can provide, the better idea veterinarians will have of the horse’s situation.  

Horse owners can gather the following details for their practitioner: 

• Take your horse’s vital parameters including heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature.
• Look in your horse’s stall to see if it has passed any feces. If so, note the consistency and the amount.
• Think back over the past day or two; have there been any recent changes that could explain your horse’s colic such as changes in feed or a recent deworming?

“The other very important thing is that you shouldn’t give any drugs without asking your veterinarian,” says Duran. Pain medications can mask the signs of colic and make it difficult to determine how the horse is progressing. If you have given drugs to your horse, Duran says to tell your veterinarian which drug and which dose was given.