Colic is a broad term which includes many conditions which cause abdominal pain in horses. There are many symptoms of colic. Some horses will begin to sweat, look at their flanks, curl their upper lip, and walk aimlessly. As pain become more severe, they lay down, often getting up and laying down frequently, circling, pawing and rolling. They may stretch out and attempt to urinate (this may lead one into thinking that the horse cannot urinate however this is seldom the case).
Spasmodic colic may be the result of intestinal spasm (contractions) which can be caused by nervousness, hunger, and rapid drinking of large amounts of cold water. Fortunately, most of these colics last less than an hour. Dipyrone is appropriate for this type of colic.
Gas colic can occur when there are feed changes or when fermentable rations (i.e. grain) cause a large production of gas. Light exercise such as walking the horse may help the movement of gas through the bowel and relieve the distress.
Obstruction within the intestine can interfere with the passage of gas and food material. The severity of the colic will be related to the location and type of obstruction. Enteroliths (intestinal stones), sand, non-digestible material (nylon cord), and feed can all be causes of obstructive colic.
First aid will consist of walking and dipyrone, large amounts of mineral oil (i.e. one gallon) by stomach tube may assist in the passage of the obstruction.
Colic due to intestinal displacements such as twist or torsion are usually severe and fatal. Medical care consists of pain relief until veterinary care can be obtained for diagnosis. Early surgical correction of the displacement may often be the only hope for recovery.
We seldom know the cause of a horse's colic at the beginning. The initial therapy for most colics can be light walking and dipyrone. Most colics will be due to spasm, gas or obstruction within the bowel These have a reasonable chance of recovery within 2-3 hours. Prolonged and increased pain with failure to respond to walking and dipyrone indicates the possibility of a more severe problem. The decision to seek help should be made early if the horse is to have the best opportunity for recovery. Those of us in veterinary practice recognize a therapeutic trailer ride as a colic remedy. Often time the horse has recovered by the time it reaches the veterinary hospital. Such a trip should not be considered a waste of time since had the horse not recovered it would certainly be in dire need of veterinary diagnosis and care.
There are as many home remedies for colic as there are horsemen. The use of Bell's drops, onions per rectum, turpentine on the navel, soapy enemas, garlic pastes, chewing tobacco, and drenching with kerosene have all been used to "successfully" treat colic. An old adage of medicine is "do the patient no harm". As long as these remedies are not harmful, they may accepted. However, if there is a delay in diagnosis and proper treatment due to their use they may be of questionable benefit.
Conditions which may seem similar to colic are: Muscle spasms, muscular exhaustion, tying up, excess saddle or girth pressure.
Your veterinarian can instruct you on how to evaluate the vital signs of your horse i.e. pulse rate, respiratory rate, and capillary refill time. Your veterinarian can also recommend appropriate medication for colic therapy. Some of the drugs are "prescription" label and require instruction as to their dosage and use.