b"Arizona Ask the VetREAL COUNTRY COLICthe magazine C olic is the number-onecolic, and their severity. Pulse or heart rate measured over Mike Barna killer of horses. The goodthe heart (just behind or above the left elbow) or over an news is that most casesartery (at the sides of the fetlock or on the underside of Publisher of colic are mild and resolve with simple medicalthe lower jaw). The respiratory rate (breaths per minute) ArizonaRealCountryMagazine@gmail.com treatment, and sometimes with no specific treatment at all.can be measured by watching the rise and fall of the flank Less than 10 percent of all colic cases are severe enoughwith each breath. Rectal temperature and digestive sounds to require surgery or cause death. Nevertheless, every(if any). The color and moistness of the gums as well as Erika Smith Royal case of colic should be taken seriously because it can bethe refill time for gum color. Bowel movements, including Editor difficult to tell the mild ones from the potentially seriouscolor, consistency, and frequency. Plus any recent changes ones in the early stages. Colic is not a disease; it is merelyin management, feeding, or exercise and medical history, erika963realcountry@gmail.com a symptom of disease. Specifically, colic indicates a painfulincluding deworming and any past episodes of colic.problem in the horse's abdomen. There are dozens of Misty Voitovski different conditions that can cause a horse to show signsAfter evaluating this information, your veterinarian will of abdominal pain. Most (but not all) involve the digestiveadvise you on the appropriate course of action. Follow Creative Director system, most often the stomach or intestines. your veterinarian's advice exactly. Do not administer any drugs to the horse unless specifically directed to do so Contributing Writers RECOGNIZING COLIC by your veterinarian. Sedative or pain-relieving drugs Horses show signs of abdominal pain in a wide varietycan camouflage serious problems and interfere with an Lee Andersonof ways. Some signs, such as curling the upper lip areaccurate diagnosis.subtle and easily overlooked, whereas other signs, such as Bob Boze BellBridgette Crosbyrepeated rolling or violent thrashing, are hard to mistake.Then remove all hay and grain from the horse's Pete FloresJustin LeglerAmong the more common signs of colic are these: surroundings but leave the horse some water. IfTurning the head toward the flank necessary, move the horse to a small enclosure so you can Betsy LemaireNaomi Loomis Pawing watch it more closely. If it is already dark or approaching Dodge MarshallRandy MillerKicking or biting at the belly nightfall, arrange for some lighting so that you canStretching out as if to urinate, without doing so examine the horse properly. Allow the horse to rest if Jim & Bobbi Jeen OlsonBill Roberts Repeatedly lying down and getting up, or attempting it simply wants to stand or lie quietly; walk the horse Alan RockmanJohn Samsillto do so around if it is continually rolling or in danger of hurtingRepeated rolling, often with grunting sounds itself but do not tire the horse with relentless walking.Caroline Renton Werkhoven Sitting in a dog-like position, or lying on the backMichele WilsonHolding the head in an unusual position with the neck DONTS stretched out and the head rotated to one side Unless you have the necessary training, equipment, and Leaving food or being completely disinterested in food experience, do not attempt to do any of the following:801 W. Wickenburg WayPutting the head down to water without drinking Pass any kind of tube into the horse's stomach. It is very Lack of bowel movements or fewer bowel movementsWickenburg, AZ 85390than normal easy to damage the horse's nasal passages, throat, or Reduced or absent digestive sounds esophagus with improper equipment or technique. Also, (602) 254-6644Inappropriate sweating unrelated to hot weather the tube passes more readily into the trachea (windpipe)or exercise than into the esophagus, potentially damaging the ArizonaRealCountry.comRapid breathing and/or flared nostrils trachea. Any liquid poured down the tube will beAn elevated pulse rate of greater than 50 beats delivered directly into the horse's lungs, which can easilyper minute result in the death of the horse by suffocation. Depression Lip curling unrelated to sexual interest Give the horse any substance by mouth, particularly liquids. Most horses resist swallowing liquids given by mouth and Usually, a horse shows only a few of these signs duringsome of the liquid may be inhaled into the horse's lungs. an episode of colic. Seeing any of these signs shouldMineral oil is particularly harmful when inhaled. Horses Follow Arizona Realprompt you to take a closer look and keep a watchful eyecan easily choke when liquids are forced into the mouth on the horse. In general, the more obvious the signs ofdue to their particular anatomy. If the animal does not Country for news, events,pain are, the more serious the problem is. Also, in horseswant to drink, it may be due to a full stomach caused by a with serious conditions, the signs of pain usually persistmassive obstruction in which case adding more content can giveaways and more! and may even worsen with time, whereas in horses withmake the stomach rupture, resulting in the horses death.mild colic, the signs of pain may be intermittent or may disappear after a short time. Insert anything (your hand, a hose, or any other kind of Arizona Real Country is owned andtube or device) into the horse's rectum. The rectum is easily published by Barna BroadcastingDOS damaged, and rectal tears can be fatal. Also, intestinal While some cases of colic resolve without medical care,blockages generally cannot be relieved simply by removing LLC. No person, organization or partya significant percentage of horses with colic requiremanure from the horse's rectum or giving the horse an can copy or reproduce the contentmedical treatment. Time is perhaps the most criticalenema. Rectal exams are necessary for the veterinarian to on our website and/or magazine orfactor if colic is to be successfully treated, particularlyidentify abnormalities in the horses abdomen by indirect any part of this publication withoutif the horse has a condition that requires emergencypalpation of the organs, and it is not a therapy to remove a written consent from the editorssurgery. If you suspect your horse is suffering from colic,impactions. It takes a very well-trained veterinarian to the following action plan is suggested: properly identify those problems without hurting the panel and the author of the content, asanimal, and a properly restrained, quiet horse.applicable. The publisher, authors andAlert your veterinarian from the outset that your horse contributors reserve their rights withis suffering from colic. The veterinarian may not need toGive any intravenous injections. Even with practice, every regards to copyright of their work. come out and examine the horse immediately if the colicintravenous injection carries some risk. If medication signs are mild, but leave that decision to the veterinarian.is inadvertently administered into the external carotid When you call, provide as much of the followingartery instead of the external jugular vein, it can be fatal information as possible including the specific signs ofto the horse.continued on page 6ArizonaRealCountry.com March 2023 5"