04/02/2025
Have you ever seen a colicking horse? Being that colic is our most common emergency, we are well-versed in the signs of abdominal discomfort, but some of you are lucky to have never seen a horse colic. Though most commonly the result of gastrointestinal upset, colic can be seen with any sort of abdominal pain, including liver, kidney, or reproductive disease. The behavior displayed by the gelding in this video is pretty typical for a colic: circling, laying down, looking at his belly, rolling. Sometimes abdominal discomfort is more subtle: inappetence, playing in a water bucket, flehmen response (curling the upper lip), reduced manure production. Horses will oftentimes paw at the ground and kick at their belly. Males sometimes will stretch out frequently as if they have to urinate. With severe discomfort, horses can be thrashing/rolling and it will be difficult to get them to stand. Sometimes the active signs of colic are missed and owners will wake or come home to find their horse standing quietly but covered in mud from rolling.
If you find your horse colicking, we always recommend calling to inform your vet and get advice on how to proceed. Time is of the essence with a colic - we always prioritize this emergency!
**Edited to add: this 55 sec video was taken just prior to taking this sweet boy to colic surgery (and just after receiving more pain medication). At the same time, there was a flurry of activity preparing our surgery suite for his arrival - he was on the surgery table 15 minutes later and went home with his family a week after surgery to rest and recover!
BEMC is committed to providing exceptional equine health care with unparalleled compassion and superior service.
