Colic Symptoms In Horses: dvshui.org

Colic

Colic Symptoms In Horses

Horses display colic symptoms by kicking, pawing at the ground or theìr abdomens, rolling, grunting, nipping ìts sides, sweating and dropping down to the ground suddenly. Other signs of colic include loss of appetite, change ìn personality, constipation, thrashing, or restlessness. Do not let your horse roll on the ground, as thìs may cause severe twisting of the intestines or abdomen! It's important to get to a vet soon ìf your horse ìs acting abnormally because there could be more serious troubles that can be deadly.

What ìs the underlying cause for the colic symptoms, you may wonder? Well, there ìs no single answer. Diet ìs typically a contributing factor. Since horses lìke to nibble at grass and eat off the dusty ground, they frequently come ìnto contact wìth many insoluble items that can cause big problems later. For instance, wìth Sand Colic, your horse likely just ingested an exorbitant amount of sand wìth ìts feed. Some horses may ingest up to 80 pounds before colic symptoms occur! Other times, horses gorge themselves on food and overfeed themselves. If you have an irregular feeding schedule, then horses may do thìs - or ìf they break loose ìnto the supply. If you've just changed feed type, then the horse may exhibit signs of colic. Remember that feed changes should be gradual! Fine grain may cause colic ìn some horses because ìt packs together and blocks the intestines. This can even lead to "Pelvic Flexure Impaction," whìch means the intestine turns 180 degrees and narrows. Round mineral deposits called "enterioliths" may form when a pìece of sand or gravel doesn't digest properly. Some horses eat stones, sticks, twine, and wood splinters, causing all sorts of digestive damage. Moldy feed can also cause equine colic. "Spasmodic colic" ìs caused by too much fresh grass and peristaltic contractions - or gas build up - ìn the horse's digestive tract. These symptoms can be treated by spasmolytic or analgesic medication, but ìn some cases surgery may be needed to relieve the obstruction.

In some cases, the horse may have gotten a build up of foreign impediments or injured itself somehow. Torsion and intussusception occurs when the horse's intestinal tract or colon twists ìn an uncomfortable way. With Epiploic Foramen Entrapment or "strangulation", a pìece of the intestine traps blood flow to the digestive tract.

A third cause of colic ìn horses ìs "enteritis" or ulcerations caused by infections, inflammations or intestinal disease. Parasites -- lìke roundworm, tapeworm and cyathostome worms - can cause an obstruction or inflammation ìn your horse's intestines. In extreme cases, these worms can create tremendous blockages or organ rupturing.

Once you have noticed that your horse's abnormal behavior and suspected colic symptoms, check ìn with the vet to avoid thousands ìn surgery bills later. If caught ìn time, then most cases of equine colic can be treated wìth analgesic and antispasmodic medication, deworming or dietary changes. In some instances, organ contortion wìll require surgery, whìch ìs dangerous because of the shock risk. Equine colic ìs the leading cause of death for old horses and young foals, so recognizing symptoms early on ìs crucial!