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Colic

Unfortunately, colic is a very common medical problem encountered in veterinary practice. The word “Colic” is a broad term used to describe gut pain in the horse. The clinical signs of colic are rolling, pawing the ground, getting up and down, looking around at the abdomen, thrashing, sweating, lethargy and not passing droppings. Broadly speaking, colic can be catergorized into two groups. Medical colic that responds to treatments such as fluids, pain relief, gut relaxants, parafin oil etc. Surgical colic that requires specialist surgery to correct gut displacements, twists or torsions.

 

Colic is a condition that should always be checked by a vet. If your horse is rolling, encourage the horse to get up and walk around until we arrive. This could prevent the gut from twisting. It is very important to correctly determine whether the colic is medical or surgical. Early referral in surgical cases can give your horse a much better chance of survival. Thankfully, the majority of colic cases are successfully treated by correct medical intervention at your property.

 

There are numerous risk factors that could be involved in colic. Parasites, change of diet, change of season, stress and poor dental care are all possible causes of colic. The Equine Practice offers a 365 day 24 hour on call emergency service to help your horse during the stressful time when your horse gets colic.

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