Dr. David Moss: Colic - ‘Tis the season

from Western Wasatch November 2020 Issue

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Colic: ‘Tis the season

Equine colic is the number one cause of death in horses. The term colic is defined as abdominal pain. In the horse world it is used to describe any disease that causes abdominal pain. As such it encompasses hundreds of diseases that can cause similar symptoms rather than being one specific disease. Some of the most common types of colic are impaction colic, spasmodic (or gas) colic, displacement or entrapment colic, torsion colic, etc.

To equine veterinarians, fall signifies the start of colic season. As the storm fronts start moving through and the nights get colder we see an increase in the number of colic cases. This increase in colic is most likely due to two factors. The first is that as it gets colder horses tend to drink less water thus making them more susceptible

A VET’S ADVICE

Dr. David Moss, DVM Large Animal Vet Northside Animal Clinic

to impaction type colics. The second is as the storm fronts move through horses become more stressed and are more prone to spasmodic colics which in turn can lead to displacements, torsions, ulcers and other digestive disorders.

Colic symptoms can vary depending on the type of colic and the individual horse. Some of the most common symptoms that we see are: Anxiety, depression, pawing, continually looking at flank, rolling, lying down, lack of bowel movements, lack of appetite, and frequent attempts to urinate. Any time your horse shows symptoms of colic you should contact your vet. The most important thing to know about colic is all colics are emergencies, and all should be treated as life threatening. There is

no such thing as a non-serious colic.

Next issue we will continue the discussion on colic talking about treatment options, prevention and what to do when transporting your horse to the vet or while waiting for him to arrive at your farm.