14. Risk of Colic Flashcards
What is Colic?
Demonstration of symptoms that are interpreted as abdominal pain
What are some examples of colic behavior?
-Pawing at the ground
-Laying down and looking at its belly
-Camping out
-Kicking at its belly
-Flehmen response
Foals:
-Wont suckle
-Act like straining to pass poop
-Frog Leg Position
What is the syndrome that describes a foal from two paint parents that may cause them to colic?
Lethal white syndrome (GIT not fully complete)
-24 hours with no poop think this
What are some of the reasons a horse may colic?
Gas or Spasmodic
Impaction
Torsion
Inguinal Herniation
Sand Colic
Out of 100 horses what is the average number that colic each year?
4 (most spasmodic)
-Only 1-2% of these go to surgery
When do most colic’s occur?
Spring - grass
What historical health event is associated with repeat colic?
Had one before or surgery
What feeding practices are associated with increased risk of colic?
Diet high in grain and low in fiber
What are some factors that are related to increased risk of colic?
Food
Current and past heath
Water
Preventative Care
Activity
What are some different types of horse feed?
Concentrates (grain), Forages (pasture), Hay (orchard, timothy and alfalfa), complete feeds
When should concentrates be fed? What about complete feeds?
What about high fat, low glycemic index? Supplements?
Concentrates - active horse (energy without filling gut)
Complete (17% fiber) - senior diet (more nutrients packed in)
High fat, low glycemic - metabolic disease
Supplement - not needed
What is the only feed horses need?
Hay and pasture
How much concentrate is acceptable in the equine diet?
<30% dietary need
Which hays are legumes? Grass?
Legume: Clover and Alfalfa
Grass: Fescue, timothy, orchard
Which feed provides more protein per pound? And is more calorically dense? And has more ca?
Legumes
What is the difference between 1st and 2nd cutting hay?
Later cutting more dense in maturity
-1st stemmy
-2nd softer, more protein and energy dense
-3rd or 4th - high energy diet
What questions should you ask yourself when assessing hay stall side?
When was it cut?
Ration leaf to stem?
Dust or mold?
Soft?
What is the best phase of hay growth for making horse hay?
Boot and booted out
What leaf to stem ratio is ideal?
At least 50% leaf
What else should horses always have access to in their diet?
Mineral - free choice
How should owner switch from one feed to another?
Slowly
3/4 few days, then 1/2, then 1/4
Introduction to pasture
-grazing muzzle, limited turn out (2-3 hours)
What is another major nutrient that can impact a horses colicing?
Water - need fresh all the time
-Constipation
How can activity effect the risk of colicing?
More movement is better - turn out or work
What types of preventative care should be done to prevent colic?
Deworming - 2x year, FEC
Dentistry - 2x year
Vaccination - Spring
Biosecurity - quarantine 2 weeks
What past medical problems are closely associated with increased risk of colic?
History of Colic or surgery
What does gas colic look like?
Camped out, uncomfortable horse
Last 30 min
Gas is released and feel better
What are some other forms of colic?
Inflammation, obstruction and strangulation
False colic- viscera and peritoneal
Why is colic related to the stomach and small intestines so critical?
Small, cant Strech as much, may rupture
What physical parameter was a high indicator for bad colic?
Increased heart rate (strangulating obstruction), RR and temp
Why is a strangulating lesion such an emergency?
Most animals wont survive longer than 24 hours with one
