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Colic is one of the main causes of death in horses. Colic refers to pain in the abdomen. We use this term in horses to refer to any condition that causes abdominal pain. It is analogous to a stomach ache in humans.
There are many reasons why one might colic. In any case, colic is to be considered an emergency and your animal needs to see a veterinarian for evaluation. When colic is diagnosed early, it is many times more likely to have a positive outcome.
Mild – Easily treated with medicine and care.
Moderate – Often requires intense therapy and medical care.
Severe – Sometimes, surgery is the only option when it comes to colic. Since an abdominal surgery is very traumatic to the animal, we make every effort to avoid surgery when possible.
When a horse is colicing, research and experience have shown that the best non-surgical treatment is to provide the animal with copious amounts of fluids. Most veterinary clinics do not possess the amount of fluids a colic horse needs for treatment.
We believe it is necessary to have enough fluids available readily on hand for multiple horses.
Our clinic has developed a reputation because of the amount of fluids we keep on hand. So much so that we regularly get calls from other local veterinarians for supplies when they have a client with a colic horse.
The combination of IV fluids, medicines, and physical therapy often averts the necessity of surgical intervention.
Though many of the causes for colic are simple and not life-threatening, many are deadly. To help prevent colic, we recommend the following best practices: