Colic in horses: what to do while you wait for the vet

What is colic?

Colic simply means abdominal pain. It is a sign, not a single disease: causes range from a build-up of gas or a mild impaction that resolves with treatment at home, through to a twisted or displaced bowel that needs surgery within hours.

Because you can't tell the mild cases from the dangerous ones by looking, every colic should be treated as urgent until a vet has examined the horse.

What are the signs of colic in a horse?

Common signs are pawing, repeatedly looking or kicking at the flank, lying down and getting up again, rolling, sweating, stretching out as if to urinate, going off feed and passing little or no manure.

• Mild: dull, off feed, lying down more than usual, occasionally looking at the flank, reduced manure.
• Moderate: pawing, repeatedly lying down and getting up, kicking at the belly, curling the lip, sweating in patches.
• Severe: throwing itself down, rolling violently, drenched in sweat, rapid breathing, pale or dark gums. This is an emergency.

What should I do first?

Call the vet straight away — don't wait to see if it passes. Then remove all feed (leave water), move the horse to a safe area such as a yard or small paddock, and keep it calm while you wait.

1. Call the vet. Describe what you're seeing and how long it has been going on. During business hours call Christian on 0466 648 119; after hours, call your nearest equine hospital.
2. Take feed away. No hay, no hard feed, no grass. Water can stay unless the vet tells you otherwise.
3. Move to a safe place. A sand yard, round yard or small bare paddock where the horse can't get cast against a fence or hurt itself if it goes down.
4. Walk only if it helps. Gentle walking can settle a horse with mild gas colic and stop it rolling. Don't walk a horse to exhaustion, and don't try to stop a horse that is determined to go down — stay safe.
5. Gather information for the vet (see below).

What should I NOT do?

Don't give pain relief, sedatives or any medication unless the vet has told you to. Anti-inflammatories such as bute or flunixin can mask the pain that tells the vet how serious the colic is, without fixing the cause.

• Don't give oil, electrolytes or home remedies by mouth — a horse with a blocked gut can inhale them.
• Don't let the horse eat, even if it seems brighter.
• Don't assume a horse that's stopped showing pain is better. Some of the worst colics go quiet when the bowel dies.
• Don't put yourself between a rolling horse and a fence.

What will the vet want to know?

When the pain started, how severe it is, whether the horse has passed manure or urine, what and when it last ate, any recent changes in feed, work or paddock, and whether it has had colic before.

If you can safely do so, it also helps to note the horse's heart rate (normal resting is roughly 28–44 beats per minute; a persistent rate above 60 is concerning), the colour of its gums (should be salmon-pink and moist), and whether you can hear gut sounds on both flanks. Don't worry if you can't — just make the call.

What happens when the vet arrives?

The vet will examine the horse — heart rate, gum colour, gut sounds, temperature, usually a rectal examination and often a stomach tube — then give pain relief and treatment based on what's found, and tell you honestly whether the horse can be managed at home or needs referral.

Most colics in this region are treated successfully on the property. The minority that need surgery do best when the decision to refer is made early, so Christian will give you a clear recommendation rather than waiting to see.

How can I reduce the risk of colic?

• Make feed changes gradually over one to two weeks.
• Feed mostly forage, split hard feed into several small meals, and avoid feeding on sandy ground.
• Make sure clean water is always available — more colic occurs in cold snaps when horses drink less.
• Keep teeth checked so feed is chewed properly (see how often a horse needs its teeth done).
• Worm strategically based on faecal egg counts.
• Keep turnout and routine as consistent as you can.

Frequently asked

This guide is general information for horse owners in south-east Queensland and is not a substitute for a veterinary examination of your horse. If you are worried about a horse, call a vet.