What is classed as mild colic?

C

Cuddly Connemara

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 October 2015
Messages
57
Visit site
Horse frequently stomps back legs and lifts up tail like he wants to poo but this brown liquid just comes out - not much comes out. He just seems to get like this straight after starting to eat his hay and seems uncomfortable :(

Is this 'mild colic' and if not what is it?
Thanks for any explanations :)
 
No such thing as mild colic in my mind. Gut pain is gut pain and can kill quickly. No vet will ever discourage you from seeking help.
 
To me a mild colic is one that the horse has recovered from by the time the vet gets to you. I never wait to see what happens with colic symptoms and have indeed had 3 colic episodes (different horses) that have pretty much resolved before the vet arrived. For one the vet was held up at an emergency lambing, the other 2 were completely unexplained but the vet gave painkiller/muscle-relaxant and all was well, fortunately.
 
I have had two 'mild' colics, one was a horse that didn't want his tea and the other an old pony who was hot on a cool evening. No other signs in the first hour. Vets with me quickly, the pony was dead in 90 minutes, the big horse made it to surgery and died a few hours after.

I like in fear of colic and watch my horses like a hawk now.
 
My loan horse came in last week looking normal but lied down after a couple of minutes after eating a bit of hay and having 2 small poos. It was unusual behaviour as yard is very busy at this time. He got up for his tea but didn't finish it. Lots of gut sounds, colour good, no temp - I called the vet who was there 20 minutes later. She was happy that it was a gassy spasmodic colic, gave iv buscopan and bute and he perked up immediately. I thought I probably could've walked it off and saved a vets bill but the next day another livery told me he'd been down in the field earlier. It appears that he had been uncomfortable for at least 3 hours and hadn't managed to walk it off himself whilst out so I'm pleased I called the vet. Not worth the risk with colic!
There was no stamping, sweating, rolling or grunting - just quiet, not attacking food with his usual gusto and the lying down. I would class it as a mild colic at the time it was caught and am very thankful things didn't escalate!
 
My horse used to get this at least once a week. Its mainly spasmodic gassy colic, and in his case was brought on by the grass at my old yard (it was an ex dairy farm so the grass was very good). He would bloat up and look poorly but a quick lunge or horse walker walk would sort him out.

I was told to give him 3 - 4 bute, put him on the walker for 20 mins and then stick him back in his stable. If he was fine and happy to eat his net and looked comfortable after this then ok, but if not to get the vet out. I did this for a couple of years and managed to stabilise his colics by moving yards, changing his grazing and giving him pink powder.

He's had three attacks in 17 months now, whereas at the old yard he was getting them much more frequently despite every attempt to prevent it by muzzling, electric fence strip grazing and limiting time out.
 
My veteran mare had what I think was mild colic after eating her breakfast.

She did a couple of cat stretches and then she started shaking violently all over. Only lasted a few minutes and she didn't seem distressed in any way and gut sounds were normal. I called the vet to warn them in case I needed a visit but although she was quiet for about half an hour, she soon perked up and was back her her normal self very quickly.

Officially we refer to it as her 'funny turn' but I think she'd eaten her breakfast too quickly and had a bit of gut ache/mild colic.
 
Adorable Alice, your very sad stories are so important here. Last week my boy came in from the field 'quiet' and didn't jump on his tea as usual Left him for an hour or so in the box, when next checked had not touched haynet, called the vet straight away, ended up at the vets for a week. ( a couple of extra days to be sure). Luckily now ok hopefully, unlike your very sad ends. Absolutely always 'watch your horses like a hawk' as you say.
 
jojo5 said:
Adorable Alice, your very sad stories are so important here. Last week my boy came in from the field 'quiet' and didn't jump on his tea as usual Left him for an hour or so in the box, when next checked had not touched haynet, called the vet straight away, ended up at the vets for a week. ( a couple of extra days to be sure). Luckily now ok hopefully, unlike your very sad ends. Absolutely always 'watch your horses like a hawk' as you say.
Click to expand...

I am so pleased your lad is fine. I have had horses since 1976, never had colic/ tummy ache of any sort until 2004. Horrid illness and so distressing for all concerned.
 
You make an interesting point about having had horses all that time, and not had colic till 2004. Of course that is probably down to excellent management (��) but is there anything else that could be affecting that? The way hay or haylage is made, the fact that equines are living longer, even warmer temperatures changing grass later into the winter?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top