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First Aid for Colic

First Aid for Colic in Horses

by Robert N. Oglesby DVM

Introduction

Introduction » Assessing A Colic » First Aid » Second Assessment » Is My Horse Normal Now » Why Did My Horse Colic? » More Info & Discussions

While your horse is colicky, try to have him walked while work through this assessment / treatment / referral paradigm.

Colic is the term used for those symptoms seen when a horse experiences pain from the abdomen (belly). Colic is not a diagnosis, it is a set of symptoms seen in a number of diseases. Many of these diseases are mild and transient but some are life threatening and without early diagnosis and proper therapy will end in death.

So should every colic be seen by a vet? This depends on many factors but often colics in well managed horses are mild transient events that do not have a obvious cause, even following a thorough exam. Simple symptomatic treatment will cure such problems but here are some important points you should consider before attempting to treat a colic without professional help:

  • If there is a disease that compromises the integrity of the bowel wall, early referral for surgery greatly improves the horses chance of recovery.
  • The lack of a thorough physical by a experienced examiner makes the outcome a little less certain as some problems might be missed.
  • Such an exam may yield a diagnosis that results in better management to reduce the incidence of colic in the future.
  • The quickest way to relieve the pain of a medical colic is often a dose of Banamine.
This article describes the key diagnostic signs for colic, grading their severity, and a step by step approach to deciding when to call the veterinarian, what to do until the vet arrives and first aid for colic for horses and equines.

Assessing A Colic

Introduction » Assessing A Colic » First Aid » Second Assessment » Is My Horse Normal Now » Why Did My Horse Colic? » More Info & Discussions

Though serious diseases can have mild symptoms early, severity of pain loosely correlates with severity of the disease. Use the table to the right to assess the amount of pain your horse is in. Note: excitable breeds react stronger to a given amount of pain and conversely cold bloods will not show as much pain with growing severity.
Key symptoms of colic taken roughly in order of severity of pain are:
MILD
heart rate 40 to 50
  • He looks a little off, distracted, or occasionally some horses appear excited.
  • Appetite is depressed or absent (offer only a small handful to test)
  • Horse looks at his sides occasionally
  • Paws the ground occasionally
  • Horse parks out like he is urinating
MODERATE
heart rate 50 to 60 		He does some of the above and one or more of the below:
  • Horse looks at his sides often
  • Paws the ground often
  • Sweating
  • Laying down quietly and he lays back down when gotten up.
SEVERE
heart rate over 60 		He does some of the above and one or more of the below:
  • Sweating profusely
  • Horse throws himself to the ground
  • Rolls onto back and up again repeatedly
  • Rolling violently
  • Horse has abrasions from his rolling

1. Is your horse moderately to severely uncomfortable?

The more severe the pain the more likely it is serious disease is present.
  1. If YES: he is in moderate to severe pain you should go ahead and get professional help. Go to Need to Get the Vet Out
  2. If NO: and he is standing quietly or laying quietly remove all feed and you can take a minute to decide what to do next. Go to 2.

2. Consider All the Diagnostic Possibilities

Though there might be the very rare exception, horses with colic will have depressed or absent appetite and some of the symptoms described above. At this point you should take your horses temperature with a rectal thermometer. Horses with colic do not usually have a fever. Also of interest are the bowel sounds. By putting your ear directly on the lower belly of the horse you can make out most horses normal bowel sounds. Horses with colic often have altered bowel sounds either decreased or increased. With these symptoms other possibilities to consider are:
  • Fever causes depression and inappetence so take his temperature...more.
  • Colicky horses often are reluctant to move but if on exam he has hard, stiff, painful muscles in the rear consider tying-up...more.
  • If the horse appears more weak than painful consider causes of ataxia and weakness...more.
  • If he is parking out but still has an appetite consider urinary obstruction or stones...more.
  • Symptoms started while eating or shortly after being fed may indicate a esophageal obstruction, often called choke by horsemen...more.
After studying the above do you still believe your horse has colic?
  1. If YES: after studying above you believe he still has colic go to # 3.
  2. If NO: now that you look at it carefully I think my horse has some other problem and carefully consider whether you need help with the problem.

3. Is your horse a surgical candidate?

That is, would you go through the expense, maybe 5,000 - 10,000 US dollars, and time to get him to a surgical unit and provide the after care with a prognosis of 60% he will come home and a good chance you might have recurrent small medical episodes following surgery?
  1. If YES: go to Need to Get the Vet Out.
  2. If NO: you do have the problem of early referral in the case of surgical disease. You may still need to have veterinarian out but you have a little more time than those who would have surgery done. Go to #4.

4. Are you comfortable with trying to treat your horse yourself to see if this might just be a transient mild episode of colic?

Any complicating disease factor like (but not limited to) fever, difficult breathing, remarkable diarrhea, possible dehydration, history of grain overload or exposure to a toxicity is a indication you need a veterinarian. Also, increasing severity of pain is a indication you need a veterinarian.
  1. If NO: go to Need to Get the Vet Out.
  2. If YES: your horse is not too uncomfortable and you are comfortable trying to treat this. You should call your veterinarian and let him know what is going on, discuss with him your plans, and to get further instructions. Different vets will have different protocols and the following should be approved with your vet. Go on to Treatment.

Before you consider treating your colic yourself it is important you consider all the questions above carefully.

First Aid

Introduction » Assessing A Colic » First Aid » Second Assessment » Is My Horse Normal Now » Why Did My Horse Colic? » More Info & Discussions

                       
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