Most horse owners are familiar with and fear this scenario. The horse suddenly stops eating, becomes restless, scrapes its hooves and kicks its belly. Colic basically describes any type of abdominal pain in horses. Unfortunately, colic in horses is a very complex problem and should never be taken lightly.
The first signs may be that our horse is restless and no longer wants to eat. If the restlessness increases, the horse scrapes the ground and rolls around, then we should definitely take a closer look. If our four-legged friend starts to snort, look around its belly, or even start kicking under its belly, these are clear symptoms of colic. The term colic does not describe the actual disease, but rather a syndrome. Characteristic symptoms include pain, the causes of which are mostly found in the horse's digestive tract. To escape this pain and relieve the intestines, the horse throws itself down, rolls around and sometimes remains in a supine position. Heavy sweating, labored breathing and severe restlessness can be further signs. Our four-legged friend is experiencing circulatory problems and needs urgent veterinary attention.
Colic generally indicates a malfunction of the digestive tract. It therefore indicates that there is a problem in the gastrointestinal area. This can have a wide variety of causes, which is why different types of colic are distinguished. Horses are inventive when it comes to getting their feed. Self-service from the apple tree next to the paddock or an open feed chamber can lead to a horse consuming large quantities of unfamiliar or even unsuitable feed. This causes fermentation in the horse's intestines, which leads to excessive gas formation. Normal intestinal activity is disrupted and painful intestinal cramps occur. This so-called gas or cramp colic is one of the most common forms of colic. Stress or changes in weather can also upset the balance of the horse's intestines. A long trip in a trailer, an exciting day at a competition, or new and unfamiliar tasks that affect the horse's mood can cause cramp colic.
Another form of colic is constipation colic. It can be caused by insufficient water intake, too much straw or spoiled feed, and insufficient exercise. An excess of feed and too solid a diet cause poor digestion and intestinal activity comes to a standstill. Constipation usually develops slowly, so that in the early stages the animals often show only mild symptoms such as increased lying down and looking around for their belly.
In the case of intestinal displacement or volvulus, the bending or twisting of certain parts of the intestine completely prevents the transport of food. Certain digestive disorders or malfermentation can lead to severe gas accumulation in the intestine or complete cessation of intestinal activity, both of which can cause parts of the intestine to shift. Untreated gas or cramp colic can also quickly develop into intestinal displacement. Therefore, immediate action is always required in the event of colic.
It is important to act quickly in the event of colic. Each horse expresses pain in a very different way. Therefore, never judge the severity of colic based on your horse's symptoms. If you suspect that your horse is suffering from colic, call the vet immediately and do not leave your horse unattended in its stall or paddock. Prevent the horse from eating anything and walk it at a slow pace in the indoor arena or outdoor arena to prevent injuries in the stall (or paddock). The movement stimulates intestinal activity and keeps the circulation stable. Contrary to previous expert opinion, the horse may also roll around if it wants to. This does not increase the risk of intestinal displacement. Sometimes, rolling around can even cause a displaced part of the intestine to return to its normal position.
Special antispasmodic and pain-relieving medication is used to try to relax the abdominal cavity. In many cases, this medication is sufficient to restore normal bowel function. The nasopharyngeal tube is an excellent tool for veterinarians and is used to get an idea of the stomach contents. A long, flexible tube is inserted through the nostril, past the larynx and esophagus of the horse, and into the stomach. The nasogastric tube can be used to assess the fullness of the stomach and remove any reflux (backflow of small intestine contents into the stomach). Stomach overload can quickly become life-threatening for horses because they are unable to vomit due to the anatomy of their stomach.
In the event of obstructive colic, laxatives can also be administered via the nasogastric tube. In the event of twists, displacements, or complete blockages of the small or large intestine, surgery is almost always necessary to reposition displaced parts of the intestine or manually remove severe blockages. In the case of severe gas colic, it may be necessary to puncture the distended area of the intestine to allow gas to escape. It is important for us horse owners to observe our animals closely so that we can act quickly if colic strikes. If in doubt, always consult a veterinarian.
The best prevention is proper nutrition. High-quality, pure feed, clean drinking water, and sufficient exercise must be a matter of course. Horses should always be given sufficient roughage and only as much concentrated feed as necessary. Always feed hay or haylage before concentrated feed. Chewing roughage stimulates saliva production and "prepares" the stomach for concentrated feed. Mash, an easily digestible mixture of oats, bran, and grist that is soaked in warm water before feeding, can be a gastrointestinal-friendly alternative to concentrated feed.
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