Colic Review

Question 1

What are some of the behaviors colicky horses will express?

Answer 1

(Pawing at the ground, being quiet, camping out, kicking at their abdomen, looking at their abdomen, and flehmen response)

Question 2

In addition to the behaviors older horses will have during colic, what other signs will foals have?

Answer 2

(Not wanting to nurse a lot or stopping shortly after starting, straining while defecating, and lying down a lot)

Question 3

What is the most common form of colic?

Answer 3

(Gas aka spasmodic colic)

Question 4

What time of year do the largest number of colic cases occur?

Answer 4

(Spring, that is when the lush, green grass comes in)

Question 5

What are the historical, health related events that are associated with repeated colic?

Answer 5

(A history of previous colic and/or a history of colic surgery)

Question 6

(T/F) It is uncommon for colic cases to need surgery.

Answer 6

(T, only 4% of colic cases undergo surgery and only 4/100 horses will get colic per year)

Question 7

Why is a diet consisting of more concentrate going to be more likely to cause colic?

Answer 7

(They are easily digestible, leads to more VFAs in the GIT = colic)

Question 8

(T/F) Legumes tend to provide more protein, are more calorically dense, and have more calcium when compared to grass hays.

Answer 8

(T)

Question 9

When is it best to cut grass or legumes?

Answer 9

(Just prior to when they form a boot (so when the seed head (grass) or flower (legumes) is still encased in leaves))

Question 10

You want at least what percentage of your hay to be leaf for horses?

Answer 10

(50%, ideally more)

Question 11

What are dietary factors that increase colic risk?

Answer 11

(Feeding concentrates, not feeding continuously, and changing feeds too fast)

Question 12

Is the upper or lower gut less tolerant to colic compared to the other and are considered emergencies that require immediate attention?

Answer 12

(Upper gut is much less tolerant to colic compared to lower gut)