Why do horses get colic?

Answer 1

There are several types of "colic"---gas, impaction (materal packed into an area and stuck), torsion, intussuception, etc. All can can have different causes.

It's important to understand that "colic" is not a diagnosis but a description of symptoms. Colic simply means that a horse has abdominal pain and this can occur for many different reasons, including pain in other areas of the body. It's when you get a diagnosis of the CAUSE of the colic that you actually know what is going on with a horse.

The gastroinstestinal tract of the horse is complicated and rather delicate. Any changes in diet can lead to poor function of the GI tract--change in hay, change in feed or even change in the amount of water consumed. High grain diets, low forage (grass or hay) diets, training (anything that keeps a horse from eating for extended periods of time or requires that a horse move above a walk), trailering, etc can lead to gastric ulceration and thus pain in the abdomen. There is so much intestine that it can get flipped over itself and cut off movement of food and even circulation. The GI tract moves material along by peristaltic action and anything that slows that action in one part of the GI tract can lead to the intestine telescoping in on itself and constricting blood flow.

Other diseases can also cause a horse to appear to have GI pain. For instance a horse was diagnosed with colic and even had surgery to find and correct the issue only to find a completely healty looking instestinal tract. The horse was later diagnosed with rabies.

So, horses can "get colic" for any number of reasons. The trick is to determine what is causing the symptoms of abdominal pain. And of course to minimize the risk by providing plenty of quality forage, not over-feeding concentrate diets, ensuring that plenty of clean water is always available, maintaining an adequate gastrointestinal parasite prevention program, etc.

An easy way to think about it is that when you get a stomach ache or eat something bad you can throw up, however horses cannot.

Answer 2

There are many reasons for horses to colic. Sand colic is when too much sand is eaten along with grass/hay/food. Letting a horse drink too much cold water after a hard workout can cause colic. Letting a horse eat a large amount of food and then working hard can cause colic. There is never any worries that a horse can catch colic though, because it is not contagious.

Answer 3

Horses don't always die from colic - there are many colic cases that are simple impactions or gas colic that can be managed with medical treatment, including extensive hand walking, oral mineral oil supplementation and time. Other types of colic that are much more dangerous include severe impaction colic and strangulation colic, both of which can cut off blood supply to a section of the intestines. If the intestine section dies, the horse has a very high risk of death. If the horse is taken into surgery fast enough, the veterinarian performing surgery can sometimes limit the damage and give the horse a decent chance at surviving.

Answer 4

There are a lot of reasons as to why a horse might colic. Colicking just means abdominal pain and there are many reasons why a horse might have pain in its stomach. Colic could be caused by an impacted digestive track, overeating, parasites, moldy hay/feed, eating inedible objects (stones, sand, etc.), twisting of the intestines, poisoning, etc.

Answer 5

If they eat too much food too quickly or have an ICE COLD drink of water after a long exhausting ride. If they roll then they can twist their guts and may have to be put down if it can't be corrected by surgery

Answer 6

Colic is a general term for any abdominal pain that a horse experiences. It can be caused from overeating, stress, illness or many other factors. The best thing to do is call an equine veterinarian as soon as you notice the horse is not feeling well.

Answer 7

eating the wrong food, or not being taken care of properly.