There’s nothing worse than a tummy ache, especially when you just can’t pinpoint the cause. The term “colic” in horses refers to a symptom of abdominal pain with varying culprits, from gas to impaction in the intestines.
Colic is unfortunately common in the equine world. Because it’s difficult to distinguish a mild equine colic case from a more severe one, it’s crucial to catch colic early and notify your vet immediately.
What is Colic in Horses?
The broadly-used term “colic” refers to the symptoms of any of over 70 conditions that cause horses abdominal pain.1,2 Usually caused by a dysfunctional digestive tract, these conditions range widely in severity, but many can become serious.
While the typical prognosis for colic has improved in recent years, the umbrella term remains one of the leading causes of horse fatality. This is why early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for more severe cases of equine colic.
Like humans, horses are sensitive to any sort of stomach pain. Colic might be the result of intestines spasming and cramping, the gut being stretched by gas or food, or an intestine being “stuck” in an unusual position (which can cut off blood flow).
Other non-intestinal conditions (like bladder stones, certain ovarian conditions, or even the hoof condition laminitis) might also involve colic-like symptoms, earning them the moniker “false colic.”
Examples of conditions associated with colic include3:
- Impacted hay in the gut
- Adhesions strangulating or obstructing the small intestine
- Volvulus (rotation of an intestine until the blood supply is cut off)
- Previous colic surgery
The first line of defense, if you notice symptoms of colic in your horse is to call your veterinarian, and take your horse for a walk, as well as administer a veterinarian recommended dose of Banamine.. Walking often helps with pain relief and can stave off your horse’s instinct to roll on the ground, which can cause injury.
Is Colic Dangerous in Horses?
While less than 10% of all horse colic cases either result in death or require surgical intervention, most cases are mild and will resolve themselves with minimal treatment (or even no treatment at all).4
That said, it’s best practice to take every case seriously. Since symptoms are vague and it’s difficult to determine whether a case is serious early on, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Technically speaking, colic is not a disease at all, but merely a symptom of the 70+ different conditions associated with it. This means that if you notice your horse exhibiting signs of “colic” (see the list below), they might be afflicted with a number of underlying conditions.
Signs and Symptoms of Colic in Horses
There are a wide array of symptoms that may indicate colic, and they may seem like bizarre behavior. If you notice any of these common signs, keep an eye on your horse, and if they persist, contact your veterinarian immediately:
- Turning the head towards the flank
- Pawing at the ground
- Lack of appetite
- Lack of bowel movements or typical tummy rumbling
- Excessive sweating
- Rapid breathing, flared nostrils
- A pulse higher than 50 beats per minute
- Lip curling
- Tacky gums5
- Slimy manure
More severe signs include:
- Kicking (horse kicks) or biting the belly
- Stretching out as if preparing to urinate, but not peeing
- Lying down and standing up repeatedly
- Rolling or thrashing, often while grunting
- Sitting like a dog
- Lying on the back
- Holding the head in a strange position (i.e. rotated with the neck stretched)
- Putting the head down to water, but not drinking
- Depression
Some symptoms of colic are subtle and could be mistaken for those of another condition. For instance, you might not notice lip curling, lack of digestive noises, or sweating, or might not associate depression with colic. However, others are harder to miss, like rolling, horses biting at the belly, or sitting unusually. Keep all these signs in mind so that if you notice one, you can carefully observe your horse to ensure symptoms don’t compound or worsen.
What to Do If Your Horse is “Colicing”
Keep an eye on your horse once you notice something is off—if symptoms persist after you take him/her for a walk, take action immediately. In general, symptoms of a mild case of colic are intermittent or disappear on their own, while symptoms of a severe case persist and get worse over time.
Start by removing hay and grain from your horse’s surroundings, but leave water out and easily accessible. Allow your horse to rest (but keep walking him if he tries to roll). Closely observe your horse in a small, well-lit area until the vet arrives.
Potential Causes of Colic
Most of the afflictions that cause colic can be classified into the following categories, so look out for symptoms that might indicate each6:
Distention or Stomach Rupture
The wall of your horse’s intestine might be stretched by gas, partially digested food (particularly if they overeat fermentable feeds like grains, lush grass, or beet pulp), or fluid.
Signs might include severe abdominal pain, rapid heart rate, and retching, and once the stomach ruptures, your horse will likely seem either relieved or depressed. These cases are easily treatable if caught early, but stomach ruptures can be fatal.
Obstruction of the Small or Large Intestine
Colic is often the result of some sort of obstruction within your horse’s intestines. The most common small-intestine culprit is impaction (blockage caused by feed (particularly Coastal Bermuda hay), sand (from eating off of sandy soil), parasites (particularly tapeworm), or a foreign object the horse consumed.
For the large intestine, impaction can often be traced back to coarse feed, dehydration, or diseased teeth. These cases are also best caught early and often require surgery. Signs include severe abdominal pain, lack of digestive sounds, stomach reflux, and a racing heart.
Twisting or Displacement of an Intestine
Colic might mean that your horse’s intestines have twisted around themselves, reducing blood supply and causing rapid dehydration in horses. Signs include rapidly increasing pain and a rapid heart rate.
Parts or all of the colon might become trapped in a certain position without twisting, causing a more gradual decrease of blood supply and fluids. As long as these conditions are caught early, the outlook is positive (but about 20% of cases recur).6
Other, less common causes of colic include the following6:
Adhesions
Adhesions are fibrous connections that stick between organs, generally affecting the small intestine. They can often squeeze the intestines or create kinks that cause obstruction.
Adhesions are generally the body’s response to abdominal surgery, long-term distention (from gas or overeating), inflammation, or parasite migration. Signs are hard to catch, as they range from mild, recurrent colic symptoms to continual severe pain.
Surgery is often required, in addition to medication to reduce the formation of future adhesions (unfortunately, they also tend to recur.)6
Inflammation
Colic might be caused by inflammation, particularly of the first part of the small intestine. This might mean fluid or bleeding inside the intestine, or in severe cases, tissue death.
Any degree of abdominal pain might indicate inflammation, and laminitis (hoof inflammation) is a complication in about 25% of horses.6 Treatment might involve surgery or other interventions like a stomach tube or pain medication. Inflammation varies in severity and about half of all cases are fatal.6
Lipomas
Benign, fatty tumors known as lipomas can cause colic in horses over 10 years old, especially if they wrap around the intestines and cut off blood supply. Signs include rapidly worsening pain and depression. Surgery is typically required, but if the problem is detected early, your horse can recover.6
Scrotal Hernias
Scrotal or “inguinal” hernias occur when a horse’s intestine moves from the abdomen into the canal that connects the abdomen to the testes (typically following breeding, a traumatic event, or a hard workout). If caught within a few hours, a vet may be able to reverse the hernia by simply pushing on the trapped intestine, but otherwise, surgery is needed.6
Intestinal Stones
Known as “enteroliths,” these hard masses form around foreign objects that find their way into a horse’s large intestines (i.e. a rock your horse has eaten). These stones may cause blockages within the large intestine, leading to a recurrent colic case.
Signs include increased heart and respiratory rates, as well as pale or pink mucous membranes. Surgery is typically needed, but the outlook is quite positive (95% of horses survive in areas where the condition is common).6
Preventing Colic in Your Horse
Since each case of colic is unique, the cause of your horse’s colic may be out of your control. However, there are still preventative steps you can take to boost your horse’s gut health5:
- Provide fresh, clean water – Be sure your horse has constant access to drinkable water. Horses who lose access to water for just one to two hours have an increased risk of colic, and that risk increases tenfold for horses over six years old. Horses generally prefer to drink out of buckets, and to drink warm water in cold weather.
- Allow pasture turnout – Horses with access to two to three different pastures have a lower colic risk than horses without pasture access. Avoid allowing your horse access to round bales of hay in each pasture (due to weather exposure and the type of hay, eating from round bales has been linked to colic).
- Avoid feeding on sand – If there is sand in the soil where you live, use feed tubs or hay racks rather than letting your horses eat off the ground. Horses often consume enough sand from the soil that it becomes impacted in their gut.
- Avoid grain and pelleted feeds – Colic risk increases 70% per one-pound increase in whole grain or corn in a horse’s diet. Compared to a 100% hay diet, pelleted feeds create 6 to 9.5 times greater colic risk, and sweet feeds create 4 to 7.5 times greater colic risk.
- Float your horse’s teeth yearly – By filing down your horse’s teeth regularly, you’re ensuring he chews his food more thoroughly, decreasing the risk of food becoming impacted in the gut.
- Keep up with deworming – Horses with a regular worming program are at a lesser risk of colic.
In general, keep an eye on your horse, especially after making changes to their exercise routine, stabling arrangement, or diet, especially if they’ve colicked before, and especially if your horse uses bute (an NSAID known to mask symptoms of colic).
When to Call a Vet
When you notice symptoms of colic, try walking your horse and see if symptoms subside. If they don’t, it’s always best to call your vet for medical treatment.
You should also call your vet if your horse’s vitals are abnormal, or if you notice signs of colic after being away from your horse for several hours.
Overall Horse Health and Vetericyn
Preventing colic is a daily practice encompassing all aspects of your horse’s life, from diet and exercise to hydration to mobility. While colic is common and usually not serious, it’s best to take every measure you can to stave off a more severe case.
Vetericyn has you covered with a line of equine products designed to keep your best friend thriving. Our Equine Liniment helps alleviate muscle strain and soreness, supporting your horse on those colic-alleviating walks, and our collapsible bucket is ideal for on-the-go hydration.
We also offer antimicrobial dressing gel, to save the day in the unfortunate case your horse is wounded from thrashing or biting at his belly. Plus, check out our FoamCare Equine Shampoo, an easy way to deliver vital nutrients straight through your horse’s skin.
With Vetericyn, your horse’s struggles with tummy aches can be a thing of the past.
Reviewed by Solomon Benarroch, Veterinarian
Solomon Benarroch DVM has been a practicing veterinarian for over 30 years. His primary focus has been in equine soundness and performance sports medicine. Originally from Winnipeg, Canada he attended college at the Western College of Veterinarian Medicine. And completed an internship at the University of Minnesota. He is the father of three kids and when he isn’t working (which is rare), he enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.
Sources:
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Overview of Colic in Horses. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestive-system/colic-in-horses/overview-of-colic-in-horses
- University of Liverpool. What is colic? https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/equine/common-conditions/colic/what-is-colic/
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Diseases Associated with Colic in Horses by Anatomic Location. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestive-system/colic-in-horses/diseases-associated-with-colic-in-horses-by-anatomic-location
- American Association of Equine Practitioners. Colic: Minimizing its Incidence and Impact in Your Horse. https://aaep.org/horsehealth/colic-minimizing-its-incidence-and-impact-your-horse
- University of Minnesota Extension. Colic in your horse. https://extension.umn.edu/horse-health/colic-your-horse
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Specific Causes of Colic and Their Treatment. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/horse-owners/digestive-disorders-of-horses/colic-in-horses
