Colic is a very broad term that refers to any condition that causes abdominal pain in a horse. It has a wide range of severity resulting in anything from mild discomfort to death, depending on the circumstances.
Horses are monogastric animals, meaning they have a relatively small stomach without any compartments. The stomach empties into the small intestines, which is divided into the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. The small intestines connect to the cecum and then to the colon or large intestines. The inability to vomit, and a long intestinal tract- which narrows in some places and sits freely in the abdomen- combined with a large deep-chested animal makes colic a common problem for horses (Merck & Co., Inc, 2008).
5 Common Types of Colic (Posnikoff, 2005)
- Gas or Spasmodic: The cecum and colon become distended with gas and overstretches the intestinal wall. This causes the intestines to spasm instead of contracting to move the gas along.
- Obstruction: Food material, sand, or even parasites cause an impaction in the intestines. This most commonly occurs in the left colon where it folds back on itself and the diameter narrows substantially. Blood supply may also be cut off.
- Twist or Torsion: A twist can occur in either the jejunum due to its length, or the left portion of the colon, because of the lack of attachment to the body wall. This causes a complete obstruction and cuts off blood supply, resulting in damage or death to the intestines. As the intestines die, toxins are released into the horse’s body.
- Lipoma: Fatty tumor which wraps around the small intestines cutting off blood supply and obstructing food and liquids moving through.
- Enteroliths: Intestinal stones that develop inside the large intestines causing an obstruction, or death to the intestines.
Symptoms (Posnikoff, 2005), (Merck & Co., Inc, 2008)
- increased heart and respiration rate
- pawing the ground
- looking, kicking, or nipping at sides
- stretching, restlessness, circling
- sweating and other signs of distress
- getting up and down, rolling
- abdominal distension
- decreased or lack or bowel movements
If your horse is showing symptoms of colic, contact your veterinarian immediately. Don’t administer any medications without your veterinarian’s approval as this may interfere with your vet’s ability to evaluate your horse. Walking often helps, but be careful not to exhaust your horse, and never put yourself in danger. Monitor your horse’s vital signs. Knowing ahead of time what is normal for your horse is very valuable because normal vitals vary from horse to horse. You should also decide ahead of time whether surgery is an option for you and your horse, since your vet may need an answer very quickly.
According to Janice Posnikoff, DVM, most cases of colic are mild enough to be treated with intravenous pain meds, mineral oil through a tube passed down the horse's nose into the stomach, and a rectal exam. Your vet may also recommend running laboratory tests. Horses suffering from more severe cases may also require hospitalization and intravenous fluids as well as continuing care.
However, for an estimated 10% of horses, surgery is their only option. Janice Posnikoff, DVM, states that this 10% often doesn’t respond to pain-meds, and typically the symptoms are very severe and come on quickly. Colic surgery is very expensive, and not without risks. Anesthesia itself can be dangerous, and these patients' intestines are often so distended, breathing is difficult for them. There are often complications after surgery, and recovery for some horses takes months. Also, horses who have undergone a colic surgery previously are at a greater risk for reoccurrence. The good news is that Merck Veterinary Manual estimates survival rates for surgical colics are greater the 70%, and many horses go on to live healthy, happy lives.
Merck & Co., Inc. (2008). The Merck Veterinary Manual. Retrieved October 14, 2008, from Colic in Horses: Introduction: http://www.merckvetmanual.com
Posnikoff, J. D. (2005.). Colic Surgery Guide. Retrieved October 15, 2008, from Horse Channel: http://www.horsechannel.com
