How to Treat Colic in Horses

Colic is serious and needs treatment as soon as possible. Your horse can get colic that is either mild or severe, depending upon what the actual abdominal ailment is.

You will need the following items:

*Vet
*Morphine
*Stomach tube
*Mineral oil
*Laxative
*Antibiotics
*Surgery

Follow the Steps Below:

1. Check the horses vital signs and write them down. You should be aware of what your horses normal vital signs are so you can compare the two numbers to see if your horse is in distress or not. To check your horse's pulse, stick your hand under the horse's jaw and count the beats that you feel. If the beats fall between 26-40 in one minute, than the horse has a normal vital sign. Take your horse's temperature rectally. The normal temperature should read between 99 and 101. Finally, check your horse's respiration rate. Count how many times your horse breaths in in one minute. It should be between 8-16 breaths.

2. Add to the vital signs a list of symptoms that your horse is showing. Use this information to contact your Vet immediately. Don't put it off as it could cost you your horses life.

3. Take your horse for a fifteen minute walk while you wait for the Vet to arrive. This may relieve some gas.

4. Give the Vet access to your horse all allow him or her to do a full examination. If you are worried about the cost, discuss this with the Vet first. Ask the Vet to administer Morphine to your horse for the pain.

5. Help your Vet calm the horse and give the horse a laxative and antibiotic. This will kill the bacteria that have built up in intestines and clean them out.

6. Get a stomach tube and carefully guide it down in to your horses stomach through its mouth. Your Vet will be trained to do this. Slowly poor one gallon of mineral oil in to tube. This treatment is used if your horse has colic from eating bad food, too much sand, or an impaction somewhere. It cleans out the horses stomach.

7. Opt for surgery if there is any physical damage to the intestines, and if the intestines became twisted. Make sure that only a licensed Vet performs the surgery.

Tips:
Make sure you de-worm your horse and keep its food and water dishes clean at all times to help prevent the colic.

Your horse should begin to feel better almost immediately after treatment. Double check that all vital signs have returned to normal.

Warnings:
Never administer an enema to a colicky horse. This can cause the animal more pain.