Caring for a horse with colic is a stressful experience. If a horse suddenly begins displaying some of the tell-tale signs of colic, like discomfort and rolling in pain, there are steps you can take to help your beloved animal.
Check Vital Signs and Symptoms
Even before consulting a veterinarian, you should check your horse’s vital signs to get an idea of what is going on. Take your horse’s temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate. These will be higher than normal in the case of colic. You should also check for symptoms such as grunting, sweating, straining, lack of appetite or water consumption, and discomfort when touched or moved around.
Call Your Veterinarian
The first and most important step you should take when your horse experiences colic is to contact your veterinarian. Even if it’s after hours, speak with a veterinary professional who can assess the situation and advise you on what steps to take next. Your vet will be able to evaluate the horse and determine precisely what is wrong. They may also be able to provide medications or suggest treatments to help with pain relief and ease discomfort.
Administer Medication to Relieve Discomfort and Stress
Most veterinarians will provide an anti-inflammatory medication like banamine to reduce the discomfort and stress your horse is experiencing associated with colic. This medication should be given orally or intravenously as prescribed by your vet. If you are instructed to give oral medication, use a syringe to administer it rather than forcing it into your horse’s mouth.
Monitor Feed Intake
As part of your colic treatment plan, you will need to monitor your horse’s feed intake. Equine colic can make a horse nauseous and put them off their grain and hay. Monitor how much they are ingesting and make sure they are getting enough nutrition to ensure they have the caloric intake needed to recover from their illness. If your horse is not eating its grain or hay, consider offering a wet food option or changing its diet until it starts to feel better.
Offer Small Amounts of Water or Electrolytes
It’s important to ensure that your horse is drinking enough to prevent dehydration while they are suffering from colic. Offer small amounts of water or electrolyte solution throughout the day, but don’t let them drink too much at once. Make sure that your horse is comfortable before you give them more and if it has been two hours without a drink, gently encourage them to sip water or electrolytes.
Originally posted 2023-01-15 16:32:29.