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Equine colic
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Introduction
The term colic is applied loosely to almost all diseases of the organs of the abdomen, that are accompanied by pain. It is one of the most dangerous and costly equine medical problems and it's the number one killer of horses. Equine Colic can originate from the stomach, the small intestine or the large intestine (colon). Horses get a lot of Colic but mostly it is not serious and individuals recover quickly.
Rolling horse with colic
This page shows the sections of the digestive system.
Signs of colic
The signs of colic will vary according to the severity of the particular conditions. Very few horses exhibit all the signs at one time.
• Pawing the ground, sometimes violently
• Restlessness
• Lack of appetite
• Lying down and getting up frequently
• Kicking at the abdomen
• Getting up and lying down repeatedly
• Looking around at the belly
• Stamping the hind feet
• Standing frequently as if to urinate
• Increased respiration rate
• Lying on the back
• Sweating, sometimes profusely
• Muscle tremors
• Repeatedly curling the upper lip
In the event that a horse colics, and is rolling violently, be very cautious for your own safety. A violently colicky horse will have no regard for anyone.
Some causes of colic
• Lack of water • Gorging on food (e.g. unsoaked sugar beet) • Gas build up e.g. from eating grass cuttings. • Worm damage
• Too much water and/or food after exercise • Sudden diet change or irregular feeding • Stress • Twisted guts from gas build up and subsequent rolling • Constipation caused by e.g. worms, bad teeth, poor feeding, sand build up etc. • Fatty growths that strangulate intestines.
Types of Colic
Pelvic flexure impaction
This is caused by an impaction of food material at a part of the large bowel known as the pelvic flexure of the left colon where the intestine takes a 180 degree turn and narrows. Impaction generally responds well to medical treatment, but more severe cases may not recover without surgery. If left untreated, severe impaction colic can be fatal. The most common cause is when the horse is on box rest and/or consumes large volumes of straw, or the horse has dental disease and is unable to masticate properly. This condition could be diagnosed on rectal examination by a veterinarian.
Spasmodic colic
Spasmodic colic is the result of increased peristaltic contractions in the horse's gastrointestinal tract. It can be the result of a mild gas buildup within the horse's digestive tract. The signs of colic are generally mild and respond well to spasmolytic and analgesic medication.
Ileal impaction
The ileum is the last part of the small intestine that ends in the cecum. Ileal impaction can be caused by obstruction of ingesta. other causes can be obstruction by ascarids (Parascaris equorum) or tapeworm (Anaplocephala Perfoliata) as mentioned below.
Sand impaction
This is most likely to occur in horses that graze sandy or heavily grazed pastures. The ingested sand acumulates in the pelvic flexure and right dorsal colon of the large intestines. As the sand irritates the lining of the bowel it can cause diarrhoea. The weight and abrasion of the sand causes the bowel wall to become inflammed and can cause peritonitis. Medical treatment of the problem is with laxatives such as liquid paraffin and psyllium husk. Some cases may need surgery. Horses with sand impaction are predisposed to Salmonella infection.
Enterolith
Enteroliths in horses often form around a piece of ingested foreign material. When they move from their original site they can obstruct the intestine. Enteroliths are not a common cause of colic but it usually requires surgery.
Colic caused by parasites: Large Roundworms
Occasionally there can be an obstruction by large numbers of roundworms. This is most commonly seen in young horses as a result of a very heavy infestation of Parascarus equorum that can subsequently cause a blockage and rupture of the small intestine. Deworming heavily infected horses may cause dead worms to puncture the intestinal wall and cause a fatal peritonitis. A blockage of the small intestines by worms may well require colic surgery. A more conservative approach can be to give a horse a laxative (eg liquid paraffin) prior to deworming if a heavy worm infestation is suspected. It is often the result of a poor deworming program. Horses develop immunity to parascaris between 6 months age and one year and so this condition is rare in adult horses.
Colic caused by parasites: Tapeworms
Tapeworms at the junction of the cecum have been implicated in causing colic.
Colic caused by parasites: Cyathostomes
Acute diarrhoea can be caused by cyathostomes or "small Stronglus type" worms that are encysted as larvae in the bowel wall, particularly if large numbers emerge simultaneously. The disease most fequently occurs in winter time. Pathological changes of the bowel reveal a typical "pepper and salt" colour of the large intestines. Animals suffering from cyathostominosis usually have a poor deworming history.
Left dorsal displacement
Left dorsal displacement is a form of colic where the left dorsal colon becomes trapped on the outside of the spleen and against the nephrosplenic ligament. It may necessitate surgery although often it can be treated with exercise and/or epinephrine. This condition can be diagnosed on rectal examination by a veterinarian.
Right dorsal displacement
Right dorsal displacement is another displacement of part of the large bowel. Although signs of colic may not be very severe, surgery is usually the only available treatment.
Torsion
Various parts of the horse's gastrointestinal tract may twist upon themselves. It is most likely to be either small intestine or part of the colon. Occlusion of the blood supply means that it is a painful condition causing rapid deterioration and requiring emergency surgery.
Intussusception
Intussusception is a form of colic in which a piece of intestine "telescopes" within a portion of itself. It most commonly happens in the small intestine of young horses and requires urgent surgery.
Epiploic foramen entrapment
On rare occasions, a piece of small intestine can become trapped through the epiploic foramen. The blood supply to this piece of intestine is immediately occluded. The intestine becomes trapped and surgery is the only available treatment.
Other causes that may show clinical symptoms of colic
Stricly spoken colic refers only to signs originating from the gastrointestinal tract of the horse. Signs of colic may be caused by problems other than the GI-tract e.g. problems in the kidneys, ovaries, spleen, testicular torsion, pleuritis, pleuropneumonia etc.
What to do
Stay calm yourself and keep the horse in a stable with plenty of bedding. If the horse is lying down do not disturb it but remove things in the stable which it might damage itself on if it starts to roll. A little walking outside may prevent a horse from rolling. If a horse does start rolling violently it may be best to move it to a more open area such as a safe field without ditches and fences.
Don't offer food and don't give colic drenches: they might go down the wrong way.
A horse showing severe signs of colic should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. If the signs of pain are acute and the cause of the distention is not removed, death often occurs within 12 to 48 hours. So rapid diagnosis and treatment are vital!
Preventing Horse Colic:
• Ensure a good worming program
• Use only good quality food
• Do not make a horse work directly after feeding
To be continued...
