What are the main causes of colic?

abi31

abi31

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I've just got into work after my poor little girl had spasmodic colic this morning. She's 8 now and has never had colic before. She has had a muscle relaxent and has perked up quite a bit. The YO is checking her for me regularly throughout the day.

How can I prevent this happening again? She is exercised at least once a day, usually twice, so is very fit. What should I look out for as triggers?

Thank-you.xx
 
Change in routine, being kept in 24/7 when used to being turned out some of the time

Sudden change in feed instead of doing it over few days ?

Eaten something the field

Ridden too soon after feeding / fed too soon after ridden

Drinking water that's too cold

My friends horse had it after having joint treatment from vet, more from being kept in than anything else

Has anything changed in her routine?
 
Thanks for your reply. I guess there might be 2 things that may have triggered it.

1) Poss least likely - a lady on my yard had lost her nerve; her horse bolted with her on a hack on the road and the following day had tried to throw her off 4 times in a lesson. I gave her a lesson on my mare last night and she isn't used to being ridden by other people.

2) Most likely - I found out that another horse on the yard coliced the previous night and she is in the field next to mine. However, there are 5 horses in each field and the other horses are fine.
 
My horse is prone to spasmodic gas colic, and her triggers are worming and a sudden change in grass (ie. spring/autumn flush).

Preventatives are giving bute for 1 day before worming and 3 days after (on vet's advice), and at other times and especially when the grass comes through, feeding Coligone powder from H Bradshaws.

Things that can upset the gut include previous worm damage, ulcers and internal melanomas.
 
NOISYGIRL said:
Change in routine, being kept in 24/7 when used to being turned out some of the time

Sudden change in feed instead of doing it over few days ?

Eaten something the field

Ridden too soon after feeding / fed too soon after ridden

Drinking water that's too cold

My friends horse had it after having joint treatment from vet, more from being kept in than anything else

Has anything changed in her routine?
Click to expand...


I read some research that it is safe to ride straight after feeding up to 2 kilos of food, and it is recommended that you feed an ulcerated horse immediately before riding to stop the stomach acid splashing about.

I'm not convinced by the cold water one. My horses regularly drink iced water in winter and the only colic I've had in 14 years was not related to water temperature. Previously I had a recurrent colic from tapeworm.
 
Other causes include breaking into the feed shed, high volume of unsoaked sugar beet pellets accidently eaten by the horse, steroids given as medication, ulcers, stress, poor management (ie not horse-friendly), tumours, liver damage, impaction (eg eating straw or bolting food), post anaesthetic complications, lipomas twisting, areas of gut telescoping in on itself, areas of gut becoming twisted enough to cut off the blood supply and kill that length of gut. Not sure if b*stard strangles can also be a cause. Take great care because research has linked feeding high levels of garlic with ulcers.
 
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