Colic in horse

 

If You have encountered an aggressive horse at your clinic. The animal seems to be colicky. What will be your approach towards diagnosis? Enlist the possible differential diagnosis. Prescribe complete treatment protocol whatever condition have you diagnosed.

 As the animal seems to be colicky, therefore my approach towards the diagnosis will be in such a way that it covers all the possible causes of colic and aggression in horses. The diagnosis procedure will be as follows:

1. based on clinical signs

 For example, symmetrical distension of the abdomen refers to colon impaction while asymmetrical distension is often accompanied by cecum impaction.

Similarly, I will diagnosis the problem based on other signs and symptoms.

2. Auscultation of visceral organs of abdominal cavity:

·       Auscultation of the abdomen can provide useful diagnostic and prognostic information and should be performed thoroughly and without haste.

·       All four quadrants (dorsal and ventral, left and right sides) of the abdomen should be examined for at least 1 minute at each site.

·       Attention should be paid to the intensity, frequency, and characteristics of spontaneous gut sounds (borborygmi).

3. Gastric reflex

·       Gastric reflex is checked by insertion of the stomach tube.

·       Stomach  contents come back through the gastric tube

·       Normally 0-2 L gastric ingesta comes out through the stomach tube

·       If there is impaction hence colic then more than 2L ingesta comes out through the stomach tube.

4. Rectal examination

In horses fasten the hairs, lubricant should be used otherwise there will be a perforation.

If there are no feces in the rectum, it means there is a blockage (impaction) in the intestine.

We can check the cecum and colon distension

5. ultrasonography

The rectal route is used for ultrasonography.

The probe should be 3 Mhz, higher is preferred.

6.Radiography

Enteroliths (stones in the intestine causing obstruction ) are determined through radiography.

7. Determination of surgical colic

If there is severe pain and animals show no or mild response to the analgesics.

Signs are showed still after application of NSAIDs  for example heart rate is above 70/min

In this case, surgery is the only solution

Differential diagnosis

1.   Rabies

2.   Tetanus

3.   Laminitis

4.   Pleuritis

5.   Peritonitis

6.   Urolithiasis

7.   Uterine torsion

 

·       In rabies there is a behavior change, the horse will bite anyone, become uncontrollable .salivation is present in rabies but not in colic. Libido is increased and paraphimosis also occurs in rabies but not in colic.

·       In tetanus there is lockjaw, protrusion of third eyelid and ears will be erected .all these signs are not present in colic.

·       In laminitis, the hind limbs will be under the body while forelimbs will be lied forward which is not found in colic.

·       Pleuritis is also called false colic

·       In urolithiasis, there will be pus in the urine.

·       In uterine  torsion, there will be a history  of accident or pregnancy which is not necessary for colic

Types of colic

1.   Obstruction colic

Due to obstruction in GIt. Maybe the small intestine or large intestine.

Or due to illeoceacal intususception

2.strangulating/volvulus

Twisting of the intestine occurs causing blockage

3.inflammatory colic

Due to gastritis , colitis  or enteritis

4.aposematic colic

In which there is the spasm of GIT muscles.

5. flatulent colic

Also called gas colic. It is an excessive accumulation of gasses in the intestine usually in the cecum and colon.

6. Sand colic

it is due to ingestion of sand in feed causing stretching and pain.

 

Treatment

Treatment of colic may be:

Medical

Surgical

·       Provision of analgesia  eg chloralhydrate  5g/horse orally.

·       Fluid therapy  5% dextrose

·       Intestinal lubricant and fecal softeners for example liquid paraffin 5-10 ml per oral, for this stomach tube should be passed.

·       We can use vegetable oil, such as linseed or mustard oil 2kg/animal or turpentine oil for removal of gases  30 ml/animal.

·       Magnesium sulfate 0.5-1 g/kg as a fecal softener.

·       Antibiotics therapy, usually a combination of penicillin +streptomycin+ metronidazole is preferred by many veterinarians.

Surgical :

Trocharization in horses:

·       The area is prepared antiseptically at the right side of the paralumber fossa in horses

·       The instrument is just a needle of 5 inches (2-8) and 16  gauge.

·       It is used to relieve gasses.

·       If an antiseptic technique is not adopted, it can cause peritonitis(in that case give broad-spectrum antibiotics).