Colic in Horses: Signs, What to Do Before the Vet Arrives, and How to Prevent It

Why horses are prone to colic

A horse's digestive system is built for grazing small amounts almost all day. Several features make it easy to upset:

• A small stomach for an animal its size, and horses can't vomit. Gas or food that builds up has only one way out.
• About 70 feet of small intestine that hangs loosely in the belly, which leaves room for it to twist.
• A large colon that folds back on itself with several tight turns where food can jam or the colon can shift out of place.
• A hindgut that depends on bacteria. Sudden diet changes upset that population, producing gas and acid.

Many colic cases start with something that interrupted the steady trickle of forage and water the gut is built for.

Signs of colic

Signs range from subtle to dramatic. A horse with mild colic may simply seem dull.

Early or mild signs:

• Not finishing feed, or showing no interest in it
• Lying down more than usual, or at an odd time of day
• Fewer piles of manure than normal, or dry, small manure
• Standing stretched out as if to urinate, without urinating
• Restlessness, shifting weight, curling the upper lip

More serious signs:

• Pawing at the ground
• Turning to look at, bite at or kick at the belly
• Getting up and down repeatedly, or rolling
• Sweating, especially patchy sweat on a cool day
• Fast breathing and a high pulse
• Rolling violently or throwing itself down

Pain level does not always match how serious the problem is. Some horses with a dangerous twist become quiet once part of the gut dies. Follow the vet's advice, not just how the horse looks.

What to do while you wait for the vet

Call first, then do these things while you wait. Your vet will ask for most of this information on the phone.

1. Take the horse's pulse. Feel under the jaw where the artery crosses the bone, or listen behind the left elbow with a stethoscope. Count for 15 seconds and multiply by four. A normal resting pulse is 28 to 44 beats per minute. Above 60 is a sign of significant pain.
2. Take its temperature. Normal is about 99°F to 101°F. A fever points toward an infection or inflammation rather than a simple gas colic.
3. Check the gums. They should be moist and pale pink. Press with a finger; color should return within two seconds. Dark red, purple or gray gums are an emergency sign.
4. Listen to the belly. Put your ear against the flank on both sides, high and low. Normal gut makes gurgling and rumbling sounds. Silence is a worry.
5. Remove all feed, including hay. Leave water unless the vet says otherwise.
6. Look for manure in the stall or paddock, and note when the horse last passed some and what it looked like.
7. Keep the horse somewhere safe. A well-bedded stall or a small grass paddock gives it space to lie down without getting cast against a wall.

Write down what you find and the time. Changes over 30 minutes are useful to the vet. A digital horse thermometer belongs in every barn, as does a basic kit. See horse vital signs and first aid.

What not to do

• Don't give painkillers without the vet's say-so. Flunixin, sold as Banamine, is very effective at relieving colic pain. That is the problem: it can mask how sick a horse is and make the vet's assessment harder. If your vet does tell you to give it, ask how. Injecting it into the muscle can cause a serious infection; vets give it into a vein or as an oral paste.
• Don't walk the horse for hours. Gentle hand-walking helps if a horse keeps trying to roll violently, and a little walking can ease gas. But walking a horse to exhaustion doesn't fix colic.
• Don't put yourself at risk. A horse in severe pain may throw itself down without warning. Never kneel or crouch beside a horse that is trying to roll.
• Don't give oil or home remedies. The vet may give mineral oil by stomach tube. Pouring it into a horse's mouth can send it into the lungs.

Common types of colic

Your vet decides which type is likely after an exam that may include a rectal exam, passing a tube into the stomach, ultrasound and bloodwork.

Colic surgery: decide in advance

Some colic can only be fixed in surgery, and the decision often has to be made within a few hours. Colic surgery typically costs $8,000 to $15,000 or more including hospital stay and aftercare. The horse needs months of rest afterward.

Outcomes are much better than they were a generation ago, especially for a horse that gets to the hospital quickly. Talk with your family and your vet now about whether you'd choose surgery, how you'd pay, and where the nearest surgical hospital is. Knowing your answer ahead of time takes some of the panic out of the night it happens. Insurance with major medical coverage can help; see the cost of owning a horse.

How to lower the risk of colic

Most prevention is good everyday management.

• Keep forage in front of the horse. Long gaps between meals raise the risk. Slow feeders and hay nets stretch hay over more hours.
• Make feed changes slowly, over 7 to 10 days. That includes a new load of hay.
• Keep grain meals small. Large grain meals reach the hindgut undigested and ferment there. Split concentrates into several small meals.
• Make sure the horse drinks, especially in winter. Horses drink less when water is icy. A water heater and salt in the diet both help.
• Give as much turnout as you can. Movement keeps the gut moving. Horses that suddenly go on stall rest are at higher risk.
• Keep up with dental care so the horse chews its food properly. See horse teeth and dental care.
• Control parasites with a plan built around fecal egg counts. See our deworming guide.
• Don't feed on sandy ground if sand colic is a problem in your area. Use mats or feeders.

Sources

• University of Minnesota Extension: Colic in Your Horse
• Penn State Extension: Colic: What Are the Signs and How to Manage?
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Overview of Colic in Horses
• AAEP: Be Prepared for an Equine Health Emergency