In a recent study, colic was second only to oldage as the leading cause of death in horses. Among domesticated horses, colic is a major cause of premature death, so knowledge of different types, signs and what to do are extremely important the incidence of colic in the general horse population has been estimated between 10 and 11% per year. If the horse fails to respond to initial treatment, then a more specific diagnosis will probably be necessary. Feeding choices for horses postcolic could help or. For the novice horse owner, colic is often a term that is poorly understood. Learn about the veterinary topic of overview of colic in horses. The severity of colic that results from parasites can vary from mild, intermittent colic to colic that needs surgery to correct the problem, and it can even be fatal. It has been reported that approximately 920,000 horses nationwide will suffer an episode of colic each year, and more than 64,000 horses will face potentially lifethreatening problems due to colic. Colic in horses symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment. Most horse owners understand how to handle a colicking horse, but managing a horse postcolic is a different animal.
Equine colic the term colic can cause fear in many horse owners. Colic in horses is a condition that can be quite distressing to the animals. Volume 25, issue 2, pages 193412 august 2009 download full issue. There are many causes of colic in horses, so veterinarians will focus on trying to categorize the type of colic a horse has rather than identifying a specific cause. Do check stool samples of horses prone to sand colic. This lecture is concerning about the most reason of horse death. Internal parasites are a primary cause of colic abdominal pain in horses and can cause or contribute to many respiratory, digestive, and performance problems. This bulletin is designed to address the common causes.
The term colic, or saying a horse has colic is similar to saying a horse has sinus pain, or leg pain. Put about two cups of manure in a gallon ziploc bag, fill the bag with water, close the bag tightly, then shake it up until all of the. Another report cites the incidence of colic at about 11 cases for every 100 horses per year. Receive an update when the latest issues in this journal are published.
White december 1999 colic is one of the most common causes of illness in horses and is often felt to be an inevitable occurrence at some time in the horse s life. Colic can be caused by many things but is often a clinical condition that can be controlled andor prevented with good management strategies. It can affect horses of all ages and types, and can vary from a mild bout of. Arabian horses may have an increased risk of colic, and horses at pasture may have a decreased risk of colic. Colic is a term used to describe all types of abdominal pain in horses. By veterinarians, colic is used as an actual symptom, or clinical sign, instead of a diagnosis. Overview of colic in horses merck veterinary manual. Colic and abdominal pain in horses hygain horse feeds. Find specific details on this topic and related topics from the merck vet manual. Horse colic free download as powerpoint presentation.