HHS: Veterinary Medicine Community Client Instructions -- Colic


	Colic From Mansmann: Instructions for Equine Clients
		General Information Colic, or abdominal pain, is a sign of serious medical problems in horses. Abdominal problems causing colic are the most common reason for doing surgery and the most common cause of natural death in horses. Colic pain can have many causes. Often it is difficult to determine the specific cause. Veterinarians treat horses with colic according to their medical needs, based on initial and follow-up examination. Most horses with uncomplicated colic respond to treatment within 2 to 4 hours. Horses not responding to initial treatment require further examination and treatment. This requires another visit to reevaluate your horse. You should consider your position regarding hospitalization/surgery and the costs associated with such treatment. All horses hospitalized for colic do not need surgery. You can make up your mind about surgery as your horse's care progresses. However, it is important to decide now to what extent you want treatment to proceed if your horse's condition deteriorates. If hospitalization becomes necessary, you should make plans now to transport your horse to the equine hospital where your horse will be treated. The sooner you make these plans, the more likely your horse will benefit from prompt treatment. The equine hospital we recommend is: Directions to this hospital are included on the back of this sheet. Horses with colic generally travel very well. The ride tends to be soothing and sometimes transport is beneficial. Tie your horse with a lead long enough so that it can lie down. Some cases of colic resolve without surgery or prolonged treatment. If you elect not to proceed with diagnostic tests and advanced treatment, we recommend that you at least allow use of pain-relieving medication as an alternative. In the event that colic pain progresses to an intolerable level despite use of pain relievers, you can elect euthanasia.

		Important Points in Treatment ____ We are treating your horse routinely with medication and nasogastric tubing. ____ More involved treatment and intravenous fluids will be necessary. ____ We recommend surgical evaluation of your horse. ____ Check your horse for colic signs every ___ hours. If possible, check the heart rate (normal, 30 to 50 beats per minute) and listen for intestinal sounds. ____ Hand walk your horse for ___ minutes every ___ hours. ____ Provide fresh water for your horse at all times. Do not offer any hay or other feed until your horse passes manure. ____ Graze your horse for ___ minutes every ___ hours. ____ Feed bran mash (1-lb coffee can of bran, handful of grain, 2 tablespoons of Lite salt mixed to a paste consistency with warm water) ___ times per day. ____ In 12 hours, feed half of the regular amount of feed and lightly exercise your horse. After 24 hours of normal bowel function and passage of manure, feed and exercise your horse as usual. ____ After this episode of colic resolves, we would like to discuss with you: ____ Feeding program ____ Deworming program ____ Gastrointestinal evaluation ____ Watering ____ Dentistry

		Call Our Office If: Your horse's condition worsens or does not improve within ___ hours. We will need to reexamine your horse.

		We should recheck your horse in/on:
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