Equine Colic - Signs, Symptoms, Treatment

of colic can arise due to anatomical or physiological problems. Ten percent of colic cases result in surgery strangulation obstruction displacement severe impaction
Distention of stomach The cardiac sphincter connects the esophagus to the stomach prevents the backflow of digesta and prevents vomiting and puts the stomach at risk of rupturing when it is overfilled with gas or fluid. 
Gastric Ulcers Horses have a small stomach holding only 810L of fluid and are meant to graze and eat frequent small portions of feed for extended periods each day. In a natural grazing situation a steady flow of acid is required for digestion and the acid is buffered by both feed and saliva. As such the horses stomach produces gastric acid at all times even when the horse is not eating. If the stomach is empty the mucosa acid will cause ulcers in the stomachs protective lining and it is therefore important to have forage in the horses stomach to help absorb stomach acid. 
SMALL INTESTINE 
Enteritis inflammation of the lining of the small intestine Enteritis can be caused by parasites stress nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs NSAIDs such as phenylbutazone Bute and Banamine toxins and infectious organisms. 
CECUM 
The cecum is the site of impaction and gas distention. 
LARGE COLON 
The large colon is the site of colitis inflammation of the colon displacement twiststorsions and gas buildup. Gas buildup can be caused by feeding large amounts of grain digestible carbohydrates reach the hindgut and ferment producing lots of gas.
This area is also the site of obstruction due to parasite overload and impaction resulting from dry feed due to dehydration passing through the intestine.  
PELVIC FLEXURE
This is a common site of obstructionimpaction due to the sharp bend and narrowing of diameter of the intestine.
SMALL COLON
The small colon is the site of obstruction due to enteroliths mineral stones that block the intestine more common in Miniatures and horses that consume a high alfalfa diet.