How Do Horses Get Colic?

Colic is a general term and refers to any number of causes of pain in the horses' abdomen. There are several different types of colic as defined by their causes. Impaction colic occurs when the large intestine is blocked, usually due to a hard mass of food. This is fairly common in horses and can be avoided by monitoring the food source. Gas colic is caused by gas buildup in the large intestine, which can be painful for horses. Again, the culprit is usually diet. This usually resolves on its own over time, although spasms of the intestine can result from the gas stretching it. These spasms also cause pain in horses.

One serious type of colic occurs when the stomach twists (torsion colic) or a part of the intestine moves to a wrong position (displacement). Unfortunately, the cause of this is unknown, although it is more common in older horses who have had previous digestive issues. This type of colic means that the large intestine is blocked, and surgery is needed in order to save a horse's life.

Sometimes, colic is caused by horses eating too much too quickly, especially if what they are eating is something that swells when it comes in contact with a wet environment, such as grain or dried beets. Once in the stomach, these foods can swell. Because horses cannot vomit, the stomach might rupture, causing immediate death. Other causes of colic include inflammation of the small or large intestines due to a bacterial infection. Some colic cases are caused by unknown causes. In all cases of colic, it is best to have your horses seen by a vet immediately, in order to rule out the most serious causes.