Signs and Symptoms of Colic in Horses
Horses will usually demonstrate some but not all of these signs. Several
other diseases can also be characterized by these or similar symptoms.
Colic symptoms can typically come and go and progressively get more severe
without treatment. Call your vet and begin the ColicStop Program
at the first signs of colic in your horse.
Common Initial Symptoms:
Kicking at the belly with a hind foot
Looking intently at flank or belly
Pawing or stamping, sometimes violently, kicking out behind
Sweating, especially in absence of exercise or heat
Restlessness, agitation
Abnormal behavior or sudden personality changes
Sudden behavior changes while riding, such as bucking
Shifting weight on hind feet, or pointing a hind toe forward
Pulling away sharply or kicking when a hind foot is lifted
Refusal of food, decreased appetite
Yawning or grinding teeth, moaning or groaning
Flehmen (Raising lip in a curl. Some horses do it normally.)
Twitching or jerking tail, passing incomplete stools
Advancing or progressive signs and symptoms: Rolling
and Thrashing on the ground (This is more violent than a calm happy ‘stretching
out’ with type of horse roll. Horse may roll without stopping
side to side, lie on his back, or throw himself down violently.)
Increased agitation, increases in intensity or frequency of symptoms.
Acting
as if dazed/sleepy alternating with hyperactivity.
Standing stretched as though trying to urinate.
Labored breathing, stumbling
Straining to poop, may pass only gas or incomplete stools.
Changes in ‘gut sounds’ (increased sounds in flank area,
or a localized decrease or absence of sounds).
Vomiting or attempting to vomit, with flank contraction and high arching
neck (Rare
in horses, but does occur.)
Elevated pulse, respirations and temperature.
Unusual color of mucus membranes in the mouth such as pale, ‘muddy,’ or
bright red gums, dry gums, distended blood vessels.
“Capillary refill time” test of over 3 seconds. (Press your thumb
firmly into the horse’s upper gum for one second. Count the # of
seconds it takes gum to return to the same color. 1 second is normal.)
Stop
the Colic, Save the Horse!
GetcolicStop.com toll
free 877-443-0003
Hawaii Island call 808-443-6085
