COLIC IN HORSES – SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

AGNES BANKS EQUINE CLINIC CLIENT INFORMATION SERIES ©ABEC2008

The material presented herein is provided by veterinarians from Agnes Banks Equine Clinic for guidance of clients of the Practice. You are advised to seek veterinary advice where appropriate, for all matters involving the health and welfare of your horse. While every effort is made to ensure that information is accurate and current, no further liability is assumed or implied.
COLIC IN HORSES – SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WHAT IS COLIC?

The term "colic" literally means abdominal pain, or "a pain in the belly", for which there are many causes. Usually we use the term to describe pain associated with the digestive system. Pain in other organs, such as the liver or kidneys, or conditions such as pregnancy can cause colic pain -some refer to this as "false colic".
Foreign material which was blocking the bowel
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF COLIC?

Rolling, pawing, sweating, raising the upper lip, looking at the flank, inappetence and lying down are all common signs of colic.

WHAT CAUSES COLIC?

A variety of different conditions cause colic and hence there are a number of factors which may predispose a horse to colic. Firstly, it must be said that the horse's digestive tract was not one of nature’s best designs! The various bowel loops are suspended on a long mesentery, or "stalk", which makes it easy for loops to become obstructed, displaced or twisted. Much of the digestion takes place in the "hindgut", which is a long way down the bowel, so there is room for error along the way. Secondly, human management tends to compound the problem. The horse was not strictly designed to be fed concentrated feeds, nor to be fed large amounts two or three times daily. Close confinement and associated parasite burdens pose a further challenge. Throw in lush food, sand, foreign objects, bad teeth and stress. It is no longer considered that allowing the horse to roll will "twist the bowel".

Intussusception – “telescoped” small bowel
Small bowel trapped by fatty lump
(“pedunculated lipoma”)
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT COLIC?

 Regular parasite control is the first step. Consult your veterinarian regarding the best control program for your situation. Don't forget that prevention of recontamination by regular removal of manure is as important as regular de-worming treatments. Feed at regular times each day and do not change feeds suddenly. Avoid poor quality feed. Teeth should be checked twice yearly for horses under 5 years and once yearly after that, or as discussed with the vet. Some may require more frequent care. Some horses consume large quantities of sand or gravel, and feeding practices should attempt to control this problem. Despite the best of care many horses will suffer colic at some stage, and some will be prone to repeated attacks.HOW DO WE TREAT COLIC? There are a number of ways to treat colic, depending on the cause. We have drugs to control simple pain and control bowel spasm. Faecal softeners and lubricants are administered by stomach tube, as well as water and electrolytes. Some cases may require intravenous fluid therapy. Specific disorders are treated accordingly. Walking and even gentle lunging may help. There is no harm in allowing the horse to lie quietly, although if it is rolling vigorously he should be walked to prevent self-injury. A warm bran mash will help some mild cases. Any persistent attack of colic warrants at least a telephone call to the vet. Inappropriate attempts at treatment can at best delay proper care, and at worst may cause deterioration or even death.

WHAT IF THE HORSE DOESN'T RESPOND TO TREATMENT?

In most cases, if a colic case doesn't respond to the first treatment, we recommend that it be brought to the hospital for further care. Despite their distress horses with colic usually stand well when travelling, and a float ride has often appeared to be beneficial! In hospital more intensive treatment, such as continuous intravenous fluid therapy, can be given, as well as a higher level of professional supervision. It is also more economical than repeated visits. Furthermore, should it be necessary, the horse is ready for surgery without further delay.THE SURGICAL OPTION Overall, at least 19 out of every 20 colic cases at Agnes Banks Equine Clinic ultimately respond to medical treatment. Unfortunately, in a small percentage of cases, deteriorating signs tell us that surgery holds the only real hope of saving the animal’s life. The operation is called an "Exploratory Laparotomy", in which we attempt to discover and correct the cause of the pain. The list of possible problems is too numerous to discuss, but a number of points should be made:

A horse having colic surgery 		* In the last 15 years vast improvements in techniques of anaesthesia and surgery have occurred, so that we can now offer quite good chances of success. However, overall success rate varies with each condition from 40% to 85%. Some conditions prove inoperable, such as malignant cancer and ruptured bowels. * The single most important factor in achieving good survival rates is an early decision to operate, before serious deterioration occurs.
* Colic surgery is not undertaken lightly, as it is hard work and emotionally draining for all concerned, as well as the obvious discomfort to the horse - although the horse often seems better fairly soon. There is also the significant expense to the owner. In 2008 it costs around $3000 just to operate on a colic case, even if it is to find that the condition is incurable. A typical bill for a horse leaving this hospital after successful surgery is currently $6000-$8000 (inc hospital care), and complications may drive costs much higher. A percentage of cases, which appear to do well at surgery, will suffer complications sooner or later which may require further surgery or even euthanasia. These consequences are impossible to predict, and can be quite heartbreaking. The horse is a living organism, and no guarantee can ever be given that its life can be saved. * On the bright side, there are many horses alive now, racing, jumping, hacking and producing foals that would not have survived without surgery. Colic surgery is not for everyone. Our job at Agnes Banks is to help you decide what is best for you and your horse