Equine Colic

Equine colic refers to a broad range of gastrointestinal disorders in horses that result in abdominal pain. It is a potentially life-threatening condition that can range from mild to severe. The term “colic” itself simply means abdominal pain, but in horses, it can signify different types of underlying issues. It can be difficult to spot the signs and symptoms of equine colic, with so many to watch out for. That’s why we’ve put together some of the most common symptoms of the gastric disorder, some risk factors you should keep in mind when monitoring your horse for colic development, and

Steps to reduce the risk of colic through feeding from nutritionist Lisa Elliot, MSc Did you know you can reduce the risk of colic by feeding your horse correctly? Horses have a unique digestive system, finely tuned to efficiently digest a constant supply of low starch, fibrous feed. Domestication and modern horse management have meant that horses are sometimes fed very nutrient-dense diets that the digestive system is not well adapted for. Unfortunately, a less-than-natural feeding regime can result in potential digestive health problems, one of which is colic. Colic is one of the most serious conditions a horse can suffer

Colic – The Vets Role #EverythingHorse So far this month we have taken a look at Colic – The Different Types of Colic followed by What to do if you Suspect Colic. Carrying on with our focus, here we look at the role the vet takes when visiting a horse with suspected Colic. The colic examination involves building up a picture of a number of clinical parameters and symptoms, providing vets clues as to what type of colic is occurring. A full clinical examination will be carried out assessing everything from respiratory rate to temperature as well as their general demeanour and condition,

Colicing Horse – What do I do? A colicing horse can look very unwell and it can be frightening to episode to watch, although in other cases symptoms can appear minimal which can leave you wondering why the horse doesn’t seem quite right. Either way, a colicing horse needs immediate veterinary attention. Sweating, box walking, rolling, lethargy, straining and continuously looking at the flank can all by symptoms that can signal equine colic, however here we take a look at what to do in case of an emergency. Guest article written by: Merete Hass BSC (Hons) BVSc MRCVS helps out

Types of Colic in Horses Here we review the types of colic in horses; Spasmodic/Idiopathic Colic, impaction colic, and Displacements, Torsions and Strangulations. Colic Overview Equine Colic is actually a relatively common disorder affecting the horse and can occur at any time for a plethora of reasons. Colic is not a specific disorder, but instead, a general term describing ‘abdominal discomfort’. Although colic usually occurs from discomfort originating from the gastro-intestinal tract, it can also be due to pain from other abdominal organs such as the kidney, liver or uterus, this is termed ‘false colic’. In addition ‘tying up’ (exertional