How Can We Diagnose and Treat Colic?

So let's start with the warning signs; what do we look for that will tell us that our horse is colicking?

The one definite symptom that every colicking horse exhibits is:
It will stop pooping. The horse may also exhibit one or more of the classic signs which are:

The horse will go off its feed

It will start to sweat

It will lay down and get up and be very restless

The horse will bite or kick at its stomach

The horse will stand and hang its head low with dull eyes

Additional signs are:
Elevated respiration (normal respiration is 8 to 15 breaths per minute) The respiration rate will be elevated during hot weather but it should never exceed the pulse rate. If it does, call the vet immediately.

Elevated heart rate/pulse (normal heart rate for an adult horse at rest is 30 to 40 beats per minute). A heart rate above 50 should be cause to call the vet.
Elevated or depressed temperature (normal temperature is 99 to 101 degrees Fahrenheit). If the temperature is below 98 or above 102, call your vet.

Lack of gut sounds. You should always be able to hear food moving through the horse's gut. Whereas for us humans, we are embarrassed by the gurgling that sometimes comes from our stomachs. For a horse however, the lack of these noises is a cause for concern because it means the food has stopped moving.

The horse will be gassy. My mare will actually gas colic where the only problem is the buildup of gas. I short session on the longe line which will be jet propelled with every stride will soon clear that!

The horse may paw the ground

Some other signs I have experienced but in very rare instances are:
The horse will fall down when tacked up

The horse will stand backwards in a corner, propping itself up between the converging walls

The horse may throw itself into the walls to try to relive the pain in the gut

Of course there are a million different signs and the best way to recognize the symptoms is to know your horse and to be able to detect when he is "off"

Let's just run through how to check the vital signs:

Respiration:
o If you don't have a stethoscope you can lay your hand on the rib cage
o Count each expansion and contraction of the rib cage as "1"
o Make sure you count for a full minute
o If you do have a stethoscope, place it on the front of the horse's neck on the windpipe
o Listen again to the inhale and exhale and count each pair as "1"

Heart Rate / Pulse:
o Without a stethoscope place your forefinger (never

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