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Colic in horses is defined as abdominal pain, but is a clinical sign or a symptom rather than a diagnosis. The term colic can encompass all forms of gastrointestinal conditions which cause pain as well as other causes of abdominal pain not involving the gastrointestinal tract. There are a variety of different causes of colic, some of which require surgical intervention and can prove fatal. Colic surgery is usually an expensive procedure as it is major abdominal surgery. Among domesticated horses, colic is a major cause of premature death. It is important that any person who owns or works with horses is able to recognize the symptoms of colic and is able to determine whether or not a veterinarian must be called. Types of Colic This list of types of colic is not exhaustive but details some of the types which may be encountered. Pelvic flexure impaction This is caused by an impaction of food material at a part of the large bowel known as the pelvic flexure of the left colon where the intestine takes a 180 degree turn and narrows. Impaction generally responds well to medical treatment, but more severe cases may not recover without surgery. If left untreated, severe impaction colic can be fatal. The most common cause is when the horse is on box rest and/or consumes large volumes of straw, or the horse has dental disease and is unable to masticate properly. This condition could be diagnosed on rectal examination by a veterinarian. Spasmodic colic Spasmodic colic is the result of increased peristaltic contractions in the horse's gastrointestinal tract. It can be the result of a mild gas buildup within the horse's digestive tract. The signs of colic are generally mild and respond well to spasmolytic and analgesic medication. Ileal impaction The ileum is the last part of the small intestine that ends in the cecum. Ileal impaction can be caused by obstruction of ingesta. other causes can be obstruction by ascarids (Parascaris equorum) or tapeworm (Anaplocephala Perfoliata) as mentioned below. Sand impaction This is most likely to occur in horses that graze sandy or heavily grazed pastures. The ingested sand acumulates in the pelvic flexure and right dorsal colon of the large intestines. As the sand irritates the lining of the bowel it can cause diarrhoea. The weight and abrasion of the sand causes the bowel wall to become inflammed and can cause peritonitis. Medical treatment of the problem is with laxatives such as liquid paraffin and psyllium husk. Some cases may need surgery. Horses with sand impaction are predisposed to Salmonella infection. Enterolith Enteroliths in horses often form around a piece of ingested foreign material. When they move from their original site they can obstruct the intestine. Enteroliths are not a common cause of colic but it usually requires surgery. Colic caused by parasites: Large Roundworms Occasionally there can be an obstruction by large numbers of roundworms. This is most commonly seen in young horses as a result of a very heavy infestation of Parascarus equorum that can subsequently cause a blockage and rupture of the small intestine. Deworming heavily infected horses may cause dead worms to puncture the intestinal wall and cause a fatal peritonitis. A blockage of the small intestines by worms may well require colic surgery. A more conservative approach can be to give a horse a laxative (eg liquid paraffin) prior to deworming if a heavy worm infestation is suspected. It is often the result of a poor deworming program. Horses develop immunity to parascaris between 6 months age and one year and so this condition is rare in adult horses. Colic caused by parasites: Tapeworms Tapeworms at the junction of the cecum have been implicated in causing colic. Colic caused by parasites: Cyathostomes Acute diarrhoea can be caused by cyathostomes or "small Stronglus type" worms that are encysted as larvae in the bowel wall, particularly if large numbers emerge simultaneously. The disease most fequently occurs in winter time. Pathological changes of the bowel reveal a typical "pepper and salt" colour of the large intestines. Animals suffering from cyathostominosis usually have a poor deworming history. Left dorsal displacement Left dorsal displacement is a form of colic where the left dorsal colon becomes trapped on the outside of the spleen and against the nephrosplenic ligament. It may necessitate surgery although often it can be treated with exercise and/or epinephrine. This condition can be diagnosed on rectal examination by a veterinarian. Right dorsal displacement Right dorsal displacement is another displacement of part of the large bowel. Although signs of colic may not be very severe, surgery is usually the only available treatment. Torsion Various parts of the horse's gastrointestinal tract may twist upon themselves. It is most likely to be either small intestine or part of the colon. Occlusion of the blood supply means that it is a painful condition causing rapid deterioration and requiring emergency surgery. Intussusception Intussusception is a form of colic in which a piece of intestine "telescopes" within a portion of itself. It most commonly happens in the small intestine of young horses and requires urgent surgery. Epiploic foramen entrapment On rare occasions, a piece of small intestine can become trapped through the epiploic foramen. The blood supply to this piece of intestine is immediately occluded. The intestine becomes trapped and surgery is the only available treatment. Other causes that may show clinical symptoms of colic Stricly spoken colic refers only to signs originating from the gastrointestinal tract of the horse. Signs of colic may be caused by problems other than the GI-tract e.g. problems in the kidneys, ovaries, spleen, testicular torsion, pleuritis, pleuropneumonia etc. Recognizing the symptoms of Colic A horse may exhibit any of the following symptoms. It is important to recognize the difference between a symptom of colic, and natural horse behavior. For example, horses enjoy rolling around - it is a natural behavior for them. It is imperative that you can tell the difference between when a horse is rolling because they are in pain, or when they are rolling to simply scratch their back. A list of symptoms generally associated with colic Simple management steps that can help prevent colic Rolling In the event that a horse colics, and is rolling violently, be very cautious for your own safety. A violently colicky horse will have no regard for anyone. If the horse is rolling it is often best to walk the horse as this is a good distraction from the pain and because walking often serves to help resolve gassy, spasmodic or impacted colic. If you cannot stop the horse rolling then put the horse in a place where it is least likely to injure itself. With regards to walking, it is possible to exhaust a horse from too much walking. If the horse is out of condition or overweight be conservative with walking. Don't walk the animal continuously, allow the horse to rest if it will be quiet. Use walking to prevent the horse from rolling; if the horse is not trying to roll, allow it to stand. Symptoms of colic can be worsened by walking in some cases; follow the recommendation of your veterinarian. When to call the vet If the horse refuses to get up, is colicking violently, is sweating profusely, shows no signs of improvement within twenty to thirty minutes, or you have reason to believe the colic is serious, call the veterinarian immediately. However, in the early stages of colic a possibly fatal case is not easily distinguished from a mild one. Sometimes a mare may colic after delivering a foal. This may be normal if only mild and for no longer than 20 minutes but call a veterinarian if the colic is prolonged or appears to be severe. Suggested Reading | |||||||
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