What Do I Do If My Horse Colics?
Colic isn’t usually a ‘wait and see’ situation. Prompt attention and treatment are essential. A colic case might be mild and pass on its own, but some cases can be indicative of a more serious problem that will need veterinary care. This article would suggest how you can tackle most cases of colic. However, if your horse is in distress, perhaps rolling and thrashing, or visibly in pain, your first step should be to call your veterinarian.
Assess
Assess the severity of the colic. If your horse has mild colic, perhaps looks uncomfortable, is biting at his flanks and stands stretched, watch and see if the colic abates after about 30 minutes. Observe whether the horse has passed any stool or shows signs of diarrhea. Also look for signs such as crushed bedding, which may indicate that the horse has been trying to roll in his stall. Look for signs of sweating, shaking, or any other unusual behavior. Once you’ve determined the severity of the colic, remove all edibles (including bedding) from the stall. It is usually okay to leave water, although it’s unlikely a sick horse will drink anyway.
Try Motion
As long as the horse is calm, you could try doing ‘belly lifts’ and hand walking or lunging. A few minutes of trotting may help, but only for a few minutes. Don’t tire him out. If he starts to feel better, offer a tiny bit of food. If he eats, he may be over his bout, but keep a close eye on him for several hours afterward. If your horse is back to normal, it should be producing a reasonable amount of stool within a short time.
Some colic cases can be cured by taking your horse for a trailer ride. Mild impaction colic or gassiness can be relieved by bouncing around a bit. The motion helps the horse produce manure and expel gas. For a mild colic, this might help. Again, it's important to avoid stressing your horse.
