Skip to main content

Colicos in horses - Symptoms and treatment

Colicos in horses - Symptoms and treatment

The equine colic is the first cause of mortality in horses and many horse owners have to face it once since it is the most frequent disease of the adult horse.Colic syndrome is defined as a abdominal pain of varied origins .

The horse is a hypersensitive animal and the external manifestations of the colic can be impressive.Some specificities of the horse can complicate the situation: a horse cannot vomit, so that the food that has reached the stomach is forced to follow its path in the digestive tract.In addition, certain parasites such as strongils cause a narrowing of the arteries of the digestive system, which can make the condition worse.

Fortunately less than 10% of horses with colic require surgery.case colic syndrome is a of the most important equine pathologies for their severity and frequency, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will tell you everything you need to know about the colic in horses .

Symptoms of colic on the horse

Colic or colic syndrome is defined as abdominal pain, usually the origin is intestinal, less frequently the cause can be renal.The ultrasensitive nerve detectors of the intestines react to the slightest discomfort that can be expressed in ways different according to the horse.

The intensity of the symptoms is not necessarily related to the severity of the problem: some horses are very expressive or even a little actors and exaggerate the signs while others try to hide their discomfort.Signs should get your attention and make you suspect a colic:

  • Your horse has lack of appetite but the belly may be swollen, may be lethargic or otherwise agitated, not He is attentive to his surroundings.
  • He is abnormally restless: he lies down and rises frequently, or he can duck his head looking at the ground as if he wanted to bend down.
  • He has anxious looks, can yawn, sometimes the flehmen : lift the upper lip showing the inner part and mucosa of this.
  • A horse with colic syndrome can also whinny, have the ears back, perspire without reason.
  • In general, a change in behavior on your horse should get your attention.

It is not uncommon for a horse with colic to put itself in the position to urinate but not urinate anything: This is often the owners call the veterinarian telling him that "the horse does not urinate", in general in those cases there is no problem of urination but a colic syndrome.

Scratches the ground in an unusual way with their forelegs, he wallows in an unusual way to try to relieve his pain, and remains lying on his back which tends to especially relieve the foals.He looks at the belly and flanks, he can even hit the belly with one of his backs The feces may be soft or non-existent , in some cases the horse is in shock: it has cold limbs and cyanotic mucous membranes that is bluish and rapid pulse.

Keep in mind that a horse suffering from a colic can be violent due to pain: it can kick or suddenly dropping to the ground, do not let children approach a horse with colic.

Colicos in horses - Symptoms and treatment

When to call my veterinarian?

The colic is always an emergency: notify your veterinarian immediately to examine your horse and determine the cause to intervene as soon as possible.

Although some disorders such as constipation can only be a temporary nuisance, the horse's reaction suggests a serious complication.It is important to relieve your horse's pain so that it does not become damaged and does not roll over: you should call your veterinarian as soon as possible to be given a sedative.

What to do while I wait for the vet?

A horse with colic that is lying down or that rolls over can increase the risk of rupture or intestinal torsion.If the veterinarian's examination is not standing and its intervention will be limited.Important advice is to walk your horse: make him walk if he accepts to walk calmly, this favors the motility of the digestive system and stimulates traffic and can help the expulsion of gases.

Keep in mind that an important part of the deaths of horses due to colic, it is because the horse brutally bends its previous ones due to subacute pain and is violently dropped against the hard ground, which can cause gastric ruptures: that is why if your horse does not want to get up after insisting a little it is better not to force it.

Colicos in horses - Symptoms and treatment

Treatment of colic in horses

First your veterinarian will perform a general examination of your horse to assess parameters such as:

  • Heart rate
  • Frequency Respiratory
  • Rectal temperature
  • Temperature of your extremities
  • Coloring of the mucous membranes
  • Dehydration level
  • Sounds Intestinal

You can also proceed with a rectal exam to determine the position, size and mobility of the organs.You can thus determine the presence of a plug, a buildup of gases, a painful area.

In some cases, the veterinarian may perform a naso-gastric intubation with a catheter: pass the catheter through a pot to reach the esophagus and then to the stomach, so it can determine if the stomach is overloaded with water and food and proceed to decompression.In addition, it allows you to introduce medications directly into the stomach.

Once the diagnosis is made, the veterinarian decides if he can treat himself there l horse or if it should be transferred to a clinic in case it is more serious and could then perform blood tests.If the colic is treatable in situ the veterinarian will give your horse analgesic to relieve him.

Once the veterinarian is gone, it is not over: you must watch your horse for several days to control a possible recurrence, especially once the analgesic stops working.The horse will be fasted for a while before gradually feeding it Again, the fasting time and rest time of your horse depends on your veterinarian: you should follow his advice and directions .

Let your horse eat and defecate again It is not enough: all the parameters determined by your veterinarian during the examination of your horse must return to normal values ​​to consider that the colic has been resolved.

Colicos in horses - Symptoms and treatment

Causes and prevention of colic

Colicos are emergencies since 5% of colic are very serious and can cause the death of the horse.90% of colic have a digestive origin and only 10% are extra-digestive, for example , may have a uterine or urinary origin.Understanding the triggers of colic is essential not only for good treatment but also to prevent colic and reduce the risk to the fullest.

When the cause is digestive, colic may be due to an impact that is an accumulation of food that forms a plug, a dilation of organs, a displacement or an intestinal torsion.These digestive pathologies may be due to a change in food, to drinking fountains that freeze in winter, to stress.

  • The most frequent cause of colic is parasitism : the migration of the larvae of the estrongilos damages the intestinal wall rich in blood vessels.vessels are clogged and stop properly irrigating the i I do not testify to what causes the pain of the horse.It is suspected that flat worms may also cause colic.You should check your horse regularly 2 to 4 times a year, alternating products to avoid creating resistance.
  • Certain horses frequently have colicus while some never have, if your horse tends to suffer colicus you have to re-evaluate its food ration, its exercise and its way of life.For example a horse has colic repeatedly from A few weeks ago, speaking with the owners, the veterinarian realized that the problems began after changes in the feed in the stable: the quality of the hay did not suit this horse.
  • The food transition is very important when winter comes and that you pass your prairie horse to the box or when the good weather arrives and that you release it in a meadow.Its digestive system contains a flora composed of good bacteria and enzymes that are different according to the regime of the horse.A too rapid change of food does not allow your horse to adapt and does not manage to properly digest food which causes diarrhea, intestinal cramps and colic.Think to make the change progressively in some days at least.
  • The cause may be in the water : it is important to ensure that the horse always has access to fresh, clean water.In winter we must check that the pipe does not freeze.The lack of water causes dehydration that will first affect the organs of the digestive system, in this case the stools will be hard and dry, the digestive transit will slow down.If you realize that this was the cause not l and give too much water to your thirsty horse: it is better that you give warm water in several shots.Indeed a lot of blow water or too cold water can carry a colic.Also keep in mind that a horse accustomed to drinking in a bucket does not Directly understand the operation of the automatic drinking troughs: you will have to teach it and you should check that it drinks by watching the water meter in its box increase.
  • Many colicos would not occur if the horse were in a meadow: if your horse is in a box you must provide enough exercise and make sure that it eats enough fibers and that it eats small frequent amounts.Indeed, the horse has a small stomach and it is better that he eat at least twice a day than once or even if you can feed him three times.On the other hand, check the condition of his teeth regularly: teeth in poor condition do not allow good chewing and can be a risk factor. l>

There are many other causes of colic in cases of foals, pregnant mare or a stallion, however they are not as well known.By applying these tips you can reduce the risk of colic on your horse and in case it suffers a colico will know how to recognize it.

Colicos in horses - Symptoms and treatment

This article is merely informative, In Animals and Pets Online we do not have the power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in the event that it presents any type of condition or discomfort.

If you wish read more articles similar to Colicos in horses-Symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Intestinal Problems section.

Etiquetas:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mammals in danger of extinction

At present there are numerous species both animal and plant that are at risk of disappearing.Human pressure on the natural habitats of animals causes serious consequences. The indiscriminate felling of forests, water pollution and farms, fragment the distribution areas of different species.We make their reproduction difficult isolating communities and diminishing their natural hunting. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk about endangered mammals .Mammals are the animals that give birth to their young and they breastfeed them. Red list of endangered mammals The UINC, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, periodically elaborates the red list of endangered species.This list includes all the animal and plant species that are They are at risk of disappearing worldwide. With the data in this list we can observe the loss of biodiversity that occurs globally.Mammals are one of the groups that have the most endangered species.The hunting and destr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tips for educating an adopted dog

If you have decided to adopt a dog from a shelter or are thinking of doing so, it will be It is essential to be clear about some things that can happen .And it is that, an adopted dog, can be very baffled at the time of arrival at a new home. It will also be basic to understand how you will react at home, on the street and even with other people, also understanding what we should do about it.Always with patience and a lot of love. Keep reading this complete guide of Animals and Pets Online to know all the tips for educating an adopted dog and discover how beautiful it is to have a best friend rescued.One of the best experiences you can have in life. The behavior of adopted dogs While some dogs are sold for exorbitant quantities, others spend years in a cage waiting for the same opportunity .Whether they are breed or not, it is currently possible to find dogs of all kinds in shelters or kennels: small or large, puppies, adults or elderly.It is proposed and sought. Althoug...
Post a Comment
Read more

5 homemade cat toys

Cats love the game and it's understandable.This is an essential activity for their well-being , since it inhibits acute and chronic stress.Cats begin to play around two weeks of age, first to hunt shadows, thus learning to coordinate. Behaviors of game are very important for a cat, especially if he lives alone (without the presence of other cats).The owner must stimulate this behavior so essential, always through toys, and avoiding hands. In this article of ExpertAnimal we have compiled several crafts from our YouTube channel: 5 jug Homemade toys for cats-Easy, cheap and recycled .If you are looking for cheap DIY options you have come to the right place! 1.Toy and DIY cat food dispenser The first toy we propose is a food dispenser, commercially known as kong.It is a toy that stimulates your intelligence and physical activity and is especially positive for cats with anxiety or stress.do it on our YouTube video about 3 toys for homemade cats or follow the instructions: ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Types of herbivorous reptiles

There are many reptile fans who would like to start adopting and possess some very easy to maintain .However, most of the usual reptiles in pet stores have a common factor that puts these first time fans behind: almost all reptiles for adoption are insectivorous. This displeases these fans for various reasons.One very important thing is that insects cause them to repeat.Another factor to keep in mind is that incessant trips to the store must be made to provide themselves with live food, which often escapes and colonize the house.Crickets escaped inside a home can plunge their inhabitants into an insomniac despair.It is also not pleasant for many people to make a colony of crickets at home. If you are any of these fans, continues reading this p ost as Animals and Pets Online will tell you the different types of herbivorous reptiles. Land turtles Without a doubt, the most frequent herbivorous pet reptiles are the land turtles .In addition, they are also the easiest to maintain ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Life cycle of honey bees

Melifera bees have an extremely complex social organization, so they are considered animals eusocial.They live in a society divided into castes, with a reproductive and an infertile part.Within the hive, each individual has a specific role or function and it is essential that they be carried out for the sake of the hive. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we talk about the life cycle of honey bees, how is the development of these animals, what is the cycle of the queen bee and which individuals compose a hive. Life cycle of bees in the hive The life cycle of honey bees is closely related to the seasons, so the activity in the hive begins with the arrival of spring, the increase in daylight hours, the rise in temperatures and the spring rains, it causes an explosion of life in the wild areas.In some warmer areas, a hive can start producing new individuals in January, but it will not be until May approximately when the peak of greatest production occurs. After the summer...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tips to prevent the dog from pulling on the leash

The tips to prevent the dog from pulling the dog leash will depend on the specific case of each dog and is that it is not a widespread problem or lack of education, it is, in most cases, a problem directly related to their welfare. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will give you the key to find a good walking equipment (harness and leash) and we will also give you some tips and explanations about animal welfare and how a dog's walk should be. Stop worrying about belt pulls and uncomfortable walks, read on to find out what to do: The right equipment To start you should get a good team before going out to the street that allows neither you nor the dog to harm you because of this situation. The dog, by pulling The leash exerts tremendous pressure on the neck that can lead to eye complications such as glaucoma, especially in the case of young dogs.For this reason our first advice is that you acquire a comfortable and suitable harness for him . If the dog pul...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why do they say cats have 7 lives?

How many times have you not heard and used the expression? " Cats have 7 lives "?.There are multiple theories that explain this well-known myth.Most, as esoteric and ancient as interesting and other scientists who refute the myth of the 7 lives, but we know They talk about the great strength of these feline creatures. The belief that cats have 7 lives is popular in practically the whole world.In fact, in Anglo-Saxon countries like England, they are so cat lovers, that generously they have donated two more opportunities, reaching 9 lives. If you want to know where this expression comes from and know the different hypotheses, continue reading this article of Animal Expert, where we will reveal the mystery that revolves around the supposed 7 lives of cats. An ancestral belief The belief that cats have 7 lives is as old as the Egyptian civilization .In Egypt, the first theory that has to do with the Eastern and spiritual concept of reincarnation was born.Reincarnation...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to know if my rabbit is male or female?

Rabbits are adorable and very intelligent animals , which is why they are increasingly popular as companion animals.Likewise, their tender appearance and small size make them good companions for apartments. When you recently adopt a rabbit, or when a litter of rabbits has been born, you may not know the sex of each one, so we will help you discover it.If you want to discover how to know if your rabbit is male or female , keep reading this article from Animal Expert. When can you see the sex of your rabbit? It is important to note that in newborn rabbits knowing sex is almost impossible , especially if you have no experience in it.However, if you have a partner or a litter it is very important to know if they are female or male, whether you want to give them up for adoption or to avoid an unwanted pregnancy, as rabbits reproduce quickly and at an early age. From the eighth week will be a good time to examine your rabbits for indicators of their sex.Rabbits are extremely ner...
Post a Comment
Read more

The iguana as a pet

The iguana as a pet is becoming more popular .However Before adopting it we must know all its morphology and type of life.Some buyers buy it for the striking green color of young animals and their size close to 50 cms. But with time they can get to measure 1.80 meters , an unacceptable size if you only have a small floor.Do you want to know more about this fantastic animal that is the iguana? Find out everything related to Iguanas and discover if this is your ideal pet in this Animal Expert article. Morphology of the Iguana The iguana is an arboricola reptile .When it is young it shows a very attractive bright green color, which turns a dull gray tone as it becomes adult.It always lives nearby of the water and when it is in danger it does not hesitate to launch it, since it is a very good swimmer. Like lizards and other reptiles, the iguana has the capacity to produce autonomy, that is which is capable of detaching itself from its tail if it feels grasped by this appendix.La...
Post a Comment
Read more

The 10 endangered animals in the world

Do you know what it means to be in danger of extinction? There are more and more endangered animals , and although this is a topic that has become popular in the last decades, today, many people do not really know what it means, why it happens and which they are the animals that are in this red list.It is no surprise when we hear the news that some new animal species has entered this category. According to official data about 5000 species are found in this state, numbers that have aggravated alarmingly over the past ten years.Currently, the entire animal kingdom is on alert, from mammals and amphibians, to invertebrates. If you are interested in this topic, continue reading, In ExpertAnimal we explain you more thoroughly and we tell you which are the 10 animals with the greatest danger of extinction in the world . Can something just go extinct? By definition the concept is very simple, a species that is in danger of extinction is an animal that is about to disappear or that...
Post a Comment
Read more