Colic is a term used to describe a symptom of abdominal (belly) pain, which in horses is usually caused by problems in the gastrointestinal tract. There are over 70 different types of intestinal problems that cause colic symptoms, which range from mild to severe (life-threatening) in nature. Some of the common causes of colic in horses include:
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Impaction: This occurs when there is a block in the digestive tract due to coarse feed (poorly chewed), dry feed, poor water intake, dehydration, or poor motility.
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Obstruction: A common cause of colic in horses is obstruction of the large intestine by dried digested food, sometimes mixed with sand.
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Displacement: This can be caused by gas build-up in the gut that makes the intestines buoyant and subject to movement within the gut.
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Diseases of the intestinal tract: Colic can be caused by several disorders of the stomach and intestines, such as distention and rupture of the stomach, gastrointestinal obstruction (blockages), and infections.
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Changes in diet: Abrupt changes in feed, high grain-based diets, low forage diets, and moldy/tainted feed can cause colic.
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Parasite infestation: Parasites can cause colic by damaging the intestinal lining and causing inflammation.
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Lack of water consumption: This can lead to impaction colics.
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Antibiotics: Antibiotics may lead to colic because they alter the microbial population in the gut, which in turn affects starch digestion.
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Dental problems: Dental problems may cause colic if the horse is unable to chew its food sufficiently.
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Age: Older horses fed coarse hay are at greater risk of impaction colic.
Signs of colic in horses include frequently looking at their side, biting or kicking their flank or belly, lying down and/or rolling, little or no passing of manure, fecal balls smaller than usual, passing dry or mucus (slime)-covered manure, poor eating behavior, change in drinking behavior, and heart rate over 45 to 50 beats per minute. Not all cases of colic in horses can be prevented, but there are measures you can take to greatly reduce your horse’s risk of developing this painful condition. Most of these measures revolve around managing and feeding horses as naturally as possible.
