This document discusses different types of colic in horses including spasmodic, flatulent, obstructive, and specific colic. Spasmodic colic is caused by increased intestinal movement and has intermittent attacks. Flatulent colic is due to intestinal gas buildup from fermentable foods. Obstructive colic involves intestinal impaction from sand or parasites. Specific colic includes conditions like volvulus (intestinal twisting), strangulation, and invagination where intestinal segments telescope inside each other. Diagnosis involves history, exam, and tests like rectal palpation. Treatment depends on the type but may include painkillers, laxatives, fluids, massage, and in some cases surgery.

1. Colic in equines
Prof. Dr Hamed Attia
Department of internal Medicine-
faculty of veterinary medicine
-Zagazig University

2. Colic
(Equine indigestion)
It is a collection of symptoms
indicating abdominal pain (Grunting,
groaning, looking round at the flank

3. left side of horse

4. Right side of horse

5. I-Anatomical classification
of colic:
1-True colic:
pain from GIT.
2-False colic:
Pain from other parts than GIT
(Liver, kidney, uterus, etc).

6. II-Clinical classification of colic
1- Spasmodic colic
2- Flatulent colic
3- Obstructive colic
4- Specific colic due to outside
obstruction of bowel :
e.g. Volvulus; invagination; torsion;
strangulated hernia; scrotal,
diaphragmatic & umbilical hernia.

7. 1-Spasmodic colic
Definition :
It is a severe attacks of abdominal
pain caused by increase peristaltic
movement of the intestine,
characterized by:
intermittent fits of colic, rapid course
(short duration) and favorable
prognosis.

8. Etiology
(1) Drinking cold water when horse is hot
and sweat after work.
(2) Exposure of the body to external cold or
wetness.

9. Symptoms
(1) It occurs suddenly in the form of
fits of colic, each fit lasts from 5-15
minutes (short attacks).
during attack the animal kicks at the
abdomen, lies down on the ground
and rolls with violence .

10. but often rise again after rolling.
(2)There is slight increase in body
temperature, respiration, pulse &
congested mucosa.
(3) An increases in the peristaltic sound.
(4) Defecation occurs at short intervals and
the feces may be semisolid or fluid.

11. (5) Frequent passage of small quantity of
urine.
(6) Local or patchy sweating on back,
gluteal region, brisket & hindleg region.
(7) Horse may looks at the flank region
towards the site of colic.
(8) After the attach, the horse look normal
till second fit.

12. Diagnosis
Depends on symptoms which
respond rapidly to the treatment with
narcotics and sedative.

13. Treatment
(1) Give intestinal sedative and
antispasmodic drugs
R/ Atropine sulfate 4-6 ml 1%IM or IV.
R/ Anlagen 10 ml/100KgBW injected IV
(2) Rectal enema using warm water
and soft soap to stimulates and
regulates peristaltic movement of the
intestine and consequently relief pain.

14. 2-Flatulent colic
(Intestinal tympany)
It is a form of colic due to
excessive distension of the
bowel with gases particularly
cecum and colon.

15. Etiology
(1) Feeding on large quantities of highly
fermentable green feed such as
barseem.
(2) Ingestion of spoiled or moldy food or
grains, which has tendency to swell.
(3) Sudden change in the ration.
(4) Atony of the bowel.
(5) Obstruction of the bowel by sands.

16. Symptoms
(1) Sudden attacks of
continuous abdominal pain.
(2) Abdominal distension
(especially in the right flank).
(3) Cecal percussion gives
tympanic sound

17. (6) Congested mucosa, increase of
pulse & respiration, with moderate
to severe dyspnea.
(5) Affected horse may roll and
paw violently and lies down very
carefully.
(7) Small amount of feces may be
voided.

18. Diagnosis
(1) History (fermentable food intake),
pass of gases from recum.
2 Obstruction is evident through pre-
rectal exploration.

19. Treatment:
(1) Apply massage externally in flank
regions and internally through the
rectum using the hand.
(2) Rectal enema
(3) Purgatives:
Oral liquid paraffin 2-3 liters by
stomach tube

20. (5) Non steroidal anti-
nflammatory drugs:
Finadin
(6) Antifermentive such as
formaline solution, 10-20 ml
dissolved in 2 liters of water
given per os.

21. 3-Obstructive colic

22. 3-Obstructive colic
(Colic due to impaction of the intestine)
It occurs when the large intestine
remains impacted with undigested food
material causing partial obstruction,
colic, depression & anorexia.

23. left side of horse

24. Left side of the horse, after removal of the diaphragm, showing the
gastrointestinal tract, spleen, liver, and kidneys.

25. Right side of horse

26. cecum
RDC
RVC
LDC
LVC
Duodenum
jejunum
ileum
2
3
1

27. Etiology
(1) Overfeeding of grains or coarse food
rich in cellulose and bran for long period.
(2) Ingesting food materials, which contain
large amounts of mud or sand.
(3) Sluggish intestinal peristalsis
especially in old debilitated & or draught
horses.
(4) Greedy feeding & defective teeth.

28. (5) Obstruction of the intestine or natural
opening by large foreign bodies or parasite.
(6) Inadequate water intake or green food.
(7) Enterolith, fiber balls, hairball.
(8) Encephalitic (equine rectal paralysis).

29. Colic may be due to
(1) Impaction of the small intestine.
(2) Impaction of the colon.

30. [1] Impaction of the small
intestine
Causes:
It occurs due to accumulation of sand
in the small intestine (sandy colic) or
large number of parasites (Ascaris).

31. Symptoms
(1) The symptoms varies according to the
location of impaction:
when the duodenum is affected, the
symptoms occurs after feeding within few
hours.
when the ileum is affected symptoms
appear after several hours.
(2) Restlessness and beats the ground
with the forelimbs.
.

32. (3) In severe attacks the animal lies on the
ground and rolls
(4) During urination the animal throw the
hindlegs backward and outward and urine
comes out at intervals.

33. [2] Impaction of the colon
It is due to
accumulation of
undigested
materials in the
colon.
The large colon is
the most common
seat of impaction in
horse.

34. Symptoms
(1) Subacute colic which occurs slowly,
started with dullness and abdominal
discomfort, the animal looks at the flank
and kicking its belly.
(2) Constipation, Feces are passed in
small amounts, hard in consistency and
covered with thick & sticky mucous.
(3) Intestinal sound are absent or much
decreased in intensity.

35. 4) Moderate increase in pulse but the
temperature & respiration are normal.
(5) Rectal palpation revealed balloon
shape colon impacted with fecal mass.
(6) Dehydration, thirst, anorexia occur
with constant effort to urinate.

36. Diagnosis

37. 1-Case history
A-How sever has the pain been?
B-When did the horse last defecate?
And what was the character of the
feces?
C-Has the horse shown specific
behaviour such as playing with water?
D-Could the horse have gaine access
highly fermentable food?

38. 2- Examination of pulse:
The heart rate and the character of
pulse are important in determining the
degree of severity of colic.
Rates greeter than 80 bpm should be
considered the result of sever lesion or
disease

39. 3- Examination of M.M
In simple dehydration the oral mm is
slight bluish but in sever dehydration it
becomes brick red or cyanosed. In
sever cases it becoms pale blue-grey
color.

40. 4- Auscultaion of
abdomen
Site: the caudal edge of the last ribe
from the paralumber fossa to ventral
abdomen on both right and left side:
Deacrease or absence of intestinal
sounds in case of clonic impaction
NB:
Gas/fluid interface sounds cause by the
movments of the horse should not be
mistaken

42. 5-Rectal examination
In lare colon impaction is characterized
by an enlarged, firm, filled viscous
located on the pelvic floor

43. 6-Abdomenocentesis
Analysis of peritoneal fluid reflects the
changes. More than 500 white blood
cells/Ul. increase Of protein and RBcs
in colonic impaction & strangulation.

44. 7-Laboratory ex
PCV and Total plasma protine are used
to detrmine the hydration state of the
animal.
Electrolyte and acid base balance.

45. 8-Radiology and ultra-
sonography
9-Endosopy

46. 10-Faecal examination
Ascaris & strongyloides are
the most common causes of
colic in equines.

47. Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnosis between
impaction in the intestine and colon
by rectal palpation.

48. ‫ضبحا‬ ‫والعاديات‬

49. Treatment
(1)Pain killer:
R/Finadyne 1ml?45Kg BW IV
(2)oral sedative:
such as chloral hydrate 30 given at
once by the stomach tube for a
horse.

50. (2) Laxative:
per os or direct into the cecum by long
needle as liquid paraffin or mineral oil
or lin seed oil (2-3 liters).

51. (3)Fluid therapy:
R/Saline (0.09%Na Cl) 5-6LI/V
(4) Rectal enema :
using warm water and soft soap or lubricant.
According to the the degree of dehydration
(5) Parasympathetic drug:
R/Neo-stigmine 1 amp/70 Kg BW
:‫مهمة‬ ‫ملحوظة‬
‫وعمل‬ ‫البرافين‬ ‫زيت‬ ‫شربة‬ ‫إعطاء‬ ‫من‬ ‫ساعة‬ ‫بنصف‬ ‫الدواء‬ ‫هذا‬ ‫يعطى‬
‫ساعة‬ ‫نصف‬ ‫لمدة‬ ‫للحصان‬ ‫المشى‬ ‫رياضة‬ ‫عمل‬ ‫ثم‬ ‫الشرجية‬ ‫الحقنة‬
‫رقم‬4‫و‬5‫اإلتاث‬ ‫من‬ ‫للحوامل‬ ‫اليعطى‬

52. Meconium impaction in
foals
Meconium is the first fecal material
produced in the uterus by a newborn
foal.
It is Composed of cellular debris,
amniotic fluid and intestinal secretions.

53. It is normally passes within 30 minutes to
two hours after birth.
It is dark brown and forms small balls,
but in meconium impaction it becoms dry
and hard.

54. Causes
lack of oxygen at birth may affect
intestinal motility.
Dehydration may also effect the
passage of fecal material.
A narrower pelvis in male foal may
predispose it to impaction.

55. Abdominal pain
manifested by tail
swishing and
restlessness
Reduced attempts
to nurse
recumbency and
violent rolling
Clinical finding

56. Abdominal distention.
Absent fecal
production
Eversion of rectal
mucosa
Tenesmus (straining
to defecate) .

57. Treatment
As in obstructive colic
Divide the dose mention on 8

58. 4-specific colic

59. 4-specific colic
[1] Embolic colic (Verminous
aneurism):
2-Intestinal torsion (Volvulus)
[3] Intestinal strangulation.
[4] Invagination (Intussusception,
telescoping

60. [1] Embolic colic
(Verminous aneurism)
It is disorder in the intestine due to
the presence of larvae of strongylus
vulgaris in the anterior mesenteric
artery of the horse, causing
aneurisms, emboli and thrombi of the
mesenteric artery and its branches.

61. Clinical symptoms
It is characterized by intermittent
and attacks of colic which
occurs suddenly during work as
in spasmodic colic, beside that
the feces are bloody &parasitic
eggs are present in fecal
examination

62. 22--IntestinalIntestinal torsiontorsion
((VolvulusVolvulus))
( Gut tie)( Gut tie)
It is an intestinal obstruction
due to rotation of segment of
the intestine around its
mesenteric axis.
It is either partial or complete.

65. CausesCauses
(1) Severe attack of colic.
(2) violent movements, or sudden fall of
the animal.
(2) Injections of large dose of
parasympathetic drugs
(3) Heavy infestation with parasite
(Ascaris) cause irregularity in peristaltic
movement of the intestine .

66. SymptomsSymptoms
(1) Peracute abdominal pain, .
(2) Profuse sweating due to fatigue & pain.
(3) Initially temperature is elevated,
terminally becomes subnormal.
(6) Clean rectum by rectal palpation
(7) Short course, death within 48 hours.

67. DiagnosisDiagnosis
(1) History & symptoms.
(2) Back racking indicates empty rectum
& colon, free from feces.

68. Treatment:Treatment:
Surgical removal of obstruction.

69. [[33] Intestinal strangulation] Intestinal strangulation
It occurs when a lope of the intestine
passes through a natural or artificial
opening in the peritoneum as in case of
inguinal hernia in stallion. Also in case
of pedunculated tumour which cause
strangulation.
Symptoms: as torsion.
Treatment: Surgical.

70. Umblical hernia Inguinal hernia

72. [[44]] InvaginationInvagination ((IntussusceptionIntussusception,,
telescopingtelescoping
This is a form of acute
intestinal obstruction
caused by telescoping
of a section of the
bowel into a portion
immediately behind it
especially in ileocecal
junction.

73. The affected part form a
sausage shaped, painful
swelling.
It is composed of three
segments (outer, middle &
inner) .

74. Intestinal invagination

75. Causes:
(1) As in intestinal torsion.
Symptoms:
As in intestinal torsion.
Treatment:
Laparotomy