Colic, a symptom feared by horse owners, can seemingly appear without warning. There are many situations that can preclude a horse to colic, ranging from parasite infestation, dehydration to grain overload. Colic symptoms can appear mild to traumatic, but the actual severity and appropriate treatment options may be hard to determine until the veterinarian examines the horse. Dr. Elizabeth Carr will give a basic review of colic, discussing when the horse owner should worry, treatment options your veterinarian can use, and management practices to prevent certain kinds of colic.

1. My Horse University and eXtension’s HorseQuest welcome you to this live Webcast. Equine Colic: Understanding the Basics Elizabeth A. Carr DVM, PhD Equine Medicine Large Animal Clinical Sciences 1

2. Meet our presenter: Elizabeth A. Carr DVM, PhD Dip ACVIM & ACVECC Equine Medicine Large Animal Clinical Sciences 2

4. Bladder

5. Liver

6. Orthopedic pain?

7. ReproductiveUterine torsion Testicular Trauma 3

9. Left elbow

11. Watch nostrils

12. Chest excursionIntestinal Sounds 4

14. Pawing

15. Laying down

16. Looking at sides

17. Curling lip (Flehmen response)

18. Playing in water

19. Grinding teeth

20. Refusing feed5

22. Prolonged refill6

23. More obvious signs: Down and rolling Evidence the horse has rolled Breathing hard Sweating Abdominal distention (bloating) 7

25. Predisposing Factors for Colic: Change in Feed / Environment 9

29. Small strongles (cyanthostomes)

30. All ages

31. Resistance11

33. Feeding on the groundSand in stalls or run-ins 12

34. Predisposing Factors for Colic: Poor Dental Health 13

36. Gastric / colonic ulcers14

37. Other Predisposing Factors for Colic: Foreign bodies Rubber fence Twine Uterine torsion Recently foaled mare Large colon torsion Older horse Lipomas (fatty tumor) 15

39. Newly harvested hay needs to cure before feeding

40. Pasture - introduce gradually

41. Sweet feed / concentrate feed can predispose colic symptoms

42. Excessive Gas production

43. Decreased gastric pH--ulcers

44. Amount fed and order of feeding

45. Complete / pelleted feeds

46. Easily digestible fiber with C. Fiver > 16%16

48. Provide non-frozen in winter months

50. Traveling / showing

51. If you add electrolytes to water, always provide a water source without electrolytes as well17

54. Good management practices

55. Good hygiene/sanitation, feeders

56. Fecal egg counts

57. Alternating products

58. 3-4 times a year (or more) based on population density of horses

59. Once a year, after first frost, TAPEWORMS

60. Praziquantel19

62. Horses with problems

63. Dental abnormalities

64. Minis, parrot mouth, trauma

65. An “equine dentist” is not necessarily a dentist that is a veterinarian

66. A DVM/dentist will provide a good physical exam of the horse and the mouth

67. Knows how to use drugs20

69. Feed off the ground

70. Place mats/carpet beneath feeders

72. Binds sand? / increases motility?

73. One week per month21

75. Horses may develop sensitivity during therapy or have a pre-existing sensitivity.

76. Warning signs:

77. decreased appetite

78. mild colic signs after eating

79. refusing grain

80. weight loss

81. mild swelling under chin, between front legs or along belly, sheath/mammary tissue.

82. Vicious circle – “pain >> drug >> damage >> pain >> drug”22

84. Leads to a better outcome

85. May be able to correct problem by management changes

86. Impaction (decreased appetite and fecal production changes) >> increase water consumption

87. Sand – make management changes23

89. Less than 20% of all horses that colic, actually require surgery

90. Good physical exam

91. Rectal exam

92. Pass stomach tube

93. Medications

94. Pain medication – NSAID, Xylazine, Detomidine, Torbugesic

95. Oral fluids – water with electrolytes, mineral oil24

97. What do you do if your horse is still not responding

98. Continue to treat at home

99. Referral to a facility with surgical expertise

100. Make you decisions NOW before a problem arises!

101. Euthanasia – don’t let your horse suffer!25

104. Why does it accumulate?

105. Horses cannot vomit

106. Stomach distention is life-threatening.27

107. Abdominal ultrasound 28

108. Abdominocentesis (belly tap) 29

110. Intravenous route of drug administration30

111. Abdominal Radiographs Foal / Mini Adult horse 31

113. Dehydration

114. Mild impactions

115. Feed / Sand

116. Gastric / colonic ulcers

117. Gas / spasmodic colic

118. Therapeutic trailer ride?32

120. $1200 -- $2500

121. 3 – 4 day hospitalization

122. IV and oral fluids

123. Pain control

124. Prior to discharge: return to normal feed, normal water intake, normal fecal output 33

126. Pain that is non-responsive to analgesia (pain medication) 34

128. Large colon gas distention / bloat

129. Distended loops of small intestine

130. Naso-gastric reflux

131. Persistent pain (several days duration)35

132. Abdominal Surgery 36

134. Fecalith Miniature Horses / Foals 38

135. Enteroliths Western horses -California & Texas horses Michigan Horses “Stones” in the GI tract 39

137. Vacuum-cleaner horses40

138. Small Intestinal Lesions 41

140. Fatty tumor

141. Risks increasewith age & size of lipoma42

143. $3000 -- $7500

144. Small intestinal lesions greater expense

145. Length of Stay:

146. 5-7 days without complications43

148. Recovery

149. Post-operative ileus

150. Endotoxemia

152. Laminitis (founder)

153. Adhesions (long-term)

154. Hernias44

156. Small intestinal lesions

157. Uncomplicated, with/without resection (dead intestine) = ~70-80%

158. Patients with a resection/anastomosis have a greater incidence of post-operative complications.

159. Unfortunately, true diagnosis / prognosis difficult to make without surgical exploration 45

161. Mortality vs. Medical vs. Surgical policies

162. The cost of insurance is much cheaper than medical therapy and/or cost of surgical procedures

163. Set aside a “Medical Fund”

164. Out-of-town?

165. Make a plan for your horse

166. What to do in case of emergency

167. Appropriate phone numbers, insurance, etc.46

168. Questions? 47

169. 48 Give us your feedback! You will receive a survey by email in 1-2 days. Please take a few minutes to give us your feedback on this webcast. It will help us to better serve you!

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171. Thank you! Thank you for attending this live Web presentation! For more information about My Horse University, please visit us at: www.myhorseuniversity.com 50 info@myhorseuniversity.com | www.myhorseuniversity.com | 517-353-3123