Mild colic again

[4horses]

My colt had his second episode of colic. This time I think I caught it immediately. I went out and was turning horses out and he went and laid down and was sort of looking at his belly.

I went and got a tiny scoop of grain with water and offered that. He drank the water off the top of the bucket but then was sort of picking at the grain. Then he went and laid back down. I went ahead and gave a really low dose of banamine (1.5 CCs) and now he’s in the barn. He is no longer laying down and seems comfortable so I offered a bucket of water mixed with grain (and this time he cleaned the bucket).

Any suggestions? Is it the extremely hot weather? Not enough electrolytes? Not drinking enough? Maybe I need to deworm him again.

[Jump314]

We can’t guess why he had colic without more information. Has he been eating and drinking normally? What does he eat? Has he been getting his normal amount of exercise and how much is that? Do you deworm based on fecal egg counts?

It’s not a good idea to give food or water to a colicky horse. If he had a twist or impaction, this could make it worse and could potentially even cause a stomach rupture.

[Fiesta01]

@Jump314

It’s not a good idea to give food or water to a colicky horse. If he had a twist or impaction, this could make it worse and could potentially even cause a stomach rupture.

This. ^^ And jingles for your boy.

[BlueDrifter]

My usual suggestion for colic is to first try one of the “gasX/digel for horses” to relieve a gas colic. If it doesn’t work in 30 min, it doesn’t mask any pain and banamine can still be next step.

EquiSpazz is the one I am most familiar with, but there are others.

I also give daily electrolytes, and when it is hot, I also offer “molasses tea” with a bit of salt to encourage water consumption.

[4horses]

The heat index was 110 degrees yesterday. The hottest day of the year so far. Today does not look much better. By 10:30 am he was soaked with sweat.

He is usually on pasture overnight and in a shady paddock during the day. But the good news is he did fine overnight. Was passing manure and and begging for food this morning. He gets Tifton hay and peanut hay but not more than 2 flakes a day. Usually more like 1.5 flakes total in a slow feed net.

I may keep offering him water with grain mixed in. It’s unbelievably hot. Everyone was begging to be hosed off this morning when I filled water tubs.

I mean it could have just been a gas colic. It certainly passed quickly enough but I’m definitely going to keep a close eye on him this week.

[Bluey]

@4horses

My colt had his second episode of colic. This time I think I caught it immediately. I went out and was turning horses out and he went and laid down and was sort of looking at his belly.

I went and got a tiny scoop of grain with water and offered that. He drank the water off the top of the bucket but then was sort of picking at the grain. Then he went and laid back down. I went ahead and gave a really low dose of banamine (1.5 CCs) and now he’s in the barn. He is no longer laying down and seems comfortable so I offered a bucket of water mixed with grain (and this time he cleaned the bucket).

Any suggestions? Is it the extremely hot weather? Not enough electrolytes? Not drinking enough? Maybe I need to deworm him again.

Colic is a symptom, need to find a diagnosis to treat properly.
I would ask my vet, too important to wait to see how things progress.
Our vets tell us they appreciate being made aware there may be a problem brewing before there is a crisis.
See what yours think?

Maybe some of this could help?

What You Should Know About Colic in Horses – The Horse