Colic In Equine

1
Colic In Equine

• Keith Vander Velde
• UW Extension Livestock Specialist
• Montello, Wi

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Colic

• 1 Killer of Horses
• Not a disease, it is a sign of abdominal pain
• Any malfunction, displacement, twisting,
  swelling, infection or lesion of digestive system

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Colic

• Management plays important role in prevention
• Establish regular feeding and exercise routine
• Feed high quality high forage diet
• Avoid feeding excessive grain or energy rich
  diets
• Divide concentrate rations into two or more
  feedings rather than one

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Colic

• Management to Prevent colic
• Set up regular parasite control program
• Provide exercise or turnout on a daily basis
• Provide fresh, clean water (except when horse is
  hot from vigorous exercise
• Avoid medications unless they are prescribed by
  vet, especially pain-relief drugs(analgesics),
  which cause ulcers
• Check hay and bedding for blister beetles,
  noxious weeds, and ingestible foreign matter

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Colic

• Management to Prevent Colic
• Avoid feeing on ground, especially in sandy area
• Do not let horse graze pastures short in sandy
  soils
• Make dietary and management changes gradually
• Reduce stress, horses experiencing changes in
  environment or workloads are at a high risk of
  internal dysfunction

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What to Do if Horse Colics

• Put in comfortable Stall
• Remove feed and water
• Allow horse to lie down if it appears to be
  resting
• If it wants to roll or is behaving violently,
  attempt to walk it slowly

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Questions your Vet might Ask

• Temperature, pulse and respiratory rate
• Color of mucous membranes and capillary refill
  time( press against gums, release and count
  second to return to original color
• Behavioral signs, such as pawing, kicking,
  rolling, depression
• Digestive noises or lack of
• Bowel movements including color, consistency and
  frequency
• Medical history, deworming and past episodes,

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Founder

• Laminitis is a non-infectious inflammation of the
  laminae of the hoof, most frequently affecting
  of feet
• Caused by digestive disturbances
• Over feeding of grain
• Overeating on new pasture
• Drinking large quantities of clod water when
  overheated

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Founder

• Signs
• Engorged vascular system with nerve endings
  press again rigid hoof wall
• Build up of lactic acid
• Horses resist moving
• Try to bear weight on hind feet
• Place front feet weight on heels not entire foot

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Founder

• Treatment
• Antihistamines to reduces swelling
• Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
• Administer Laxatives if detected early
• Elimination of grain from diet
• Removal of shoes
• Blood transfusions from healthy horses

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Founder

• Treatment
• Grooving of hoof wall with ¼ inch grooves
  vertically, 1 1/2 inches apart to relieve pain,
  bandage hoof for 1-2 weeks following grooving
• Rest and no exercise
• Aftercare, light steel bar shoe to prevent hoof
  contraction with rolled toes

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Colic Prevention

• Keep horse on all forage diet
• If grain is feed limit to less than 5 lbs, horses
  receiving 5-11 lbs of grain have a 5 times higher
  risk of colic, horse receiving more than 11 lbs
  of grain had a 6 times higher risk of developing
  colic
• Allow horse to be turned out for 12 hours or
  more per day
• Use a regular worming schedule