Symptoms of Colic
May 4, 2009
An expert explains how the symptoms of colic differ from other ailments in horses.
Question:
How do the symptoms of colic differ between impaction, gas, change in feed or the pain from gastric ulcers?
Answer:
The different symptoms usually revolve around the duration (how long the signs have been present) and the severity (how bad it is) of the pain.
Typically, colic is secondary to impactions and gastric ulcers and will cause mild to moderate pain such as the horse being off feed, looking at their flank, laying down (but not rolling), kicking at their belly and/or grinding their teeth. Symptoms usually have a gradual onset over many hours or even days. Gas (or sometimes called “spastic”) colic can occur with weather changes, feed changes or even without explanation.
While gas colic can be mild, it also can easily mimic a surgical condition. Think of how you feel the day after partaking in an all-you-can-eat authentic Mexican buffet. It doesn’t feel very good. Neither does colic caused by excessive gas accumulation. A horse can be violently painful to the point of rolling, sweating, being very anxious and even throwing himself on the ground or against the wall in an effort to get away from the pain. This can resemble cases where intestine has become strangulated and requires surgery. These are cases that are typically very painful right away.
The answer to this question is also a good place to educate the owners of stallions or geldings on what is commonly thought of as a urinary problem. When a male horse is seen camped out and “trying to pee” without producing a stream of urine, this is often a sign of colic. Urinary tract infections are not common in horses and, by stretching out, some horses find a bit of reprieve from abdominal pain.
Dr. Jennifer Schleining, Ames, Iowa, member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners
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5 Comments on “Symptoms of Colic”
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May 14th, 2009 at 8:01 am
[...] types of research that should be conducted, that is, specific areas such as laminitis (founder), colic, lameness and [...]
June 11th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
I am new at owning horses. I am worried about my horses eating off the ground when their feed falls on it or they knock their feeders around. I was told to give a table spoon of fiber/metamucil Sp? Since my horse has lost weight and I can see his ribs.
June 11th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
It it good for the horses belly to rumble and make noises while eating?
August 9th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Tummy Rumble is almost always a great sign. “good gut sounds” is what you hear folks say when they describe a horse who is processing food normally. If you see poop, hear their belly occasionally and see them drinking, that is great stuff!
November 13th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
I have an 18yr. old gelding that you would concider obese. I went out to feed and he was all sweaty. I know he wasnt running or my other gelding would be hot too. He had no temperature. I checked him hourly, and got him cooled off. He is very fuzzy from his winter coat, and he always sheds out just fine, its not curly hair either.
I only feed him grass hay (brohm/cressed wheat), and he has a 20% lick-tub, so there is no grain. Any ideas if something is wrong?
Thanks,
Yvonne