Number one killer of horses next to old age
1. Follow a regular worming program.
2. Have your horse’s teeth checked.
3. Stick to a regular feeding program.
4. If you need to change their diet, do
it slowly over a period of 3-4 days.
5. After exercise allow your horse to
cool down before free access to water.
If you have a horse that has coliced,
take extra care, because they are
sometimes prone to colic again.
Some information obtained from:
Veterinary Treatment & Medications
for Horsemen Eqine Research Inc.
Abdominal pain in the equine.
Some of the common causes of colic
are:
1. Parasites, especially large
strongyles, (about 80-85% of all colics)
2. Nutrition, high in fiber or poor
quality, also sudden changes in
feeding habits.
3. Poor teeth or mouth injuries
resulting in improper chewing.
4. Digestion system infection.
5. Fatty tumors in the intestine.
6. Foal colic can occur shortly after
foaling due to the large space left in
the abdominal cavity allowing the
intestines to twist.
SIGNS OF COLIC
1. Loss of appetite.
2. Unusual behavior such as:
a. Biting at their abdomen
b. Kicking at their stomach
c. Lying down
d. Rolling
e. Pawing
f. Restlessness
3. Sweating.
4. Abnormal feces or lack of feces.
The signs listed are a few things you
can observe yourself. However, if you
suspect colic a veterinarian should
be contacted immediately.
Things that you can do until the
veterinarian arrives:
If the horse is lying down or standing
quietly he should be allowed to rest.
If he begins to roll, he should be
coaxed to his feet and walked, to
reduce the chance of injury or twisting
the gut.
Colic that is extremely painful could
cause the horse to become violent, in
which case you need to stay clear
to avoid injury to yourself.
Follow the advice of the veterinarian
until they arrive to treat your horse.
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