Symptoms of equine colic range from mild to severe. The symptoms will vary according to the severity of the horses condition and very few horses exhibit all of the signs at one time. Signs of mild to moderate pain include:
Sweating
Looking around at belly
Lack of appetite
Pawing at the ground
Restlessness
Stamping hind feet
Lying down
Signs of more severe, unrelenting pain include:
Pawing at ground violently
Muscle tremors and straining
Kicking violently
Sweating profusely
Roll and lie on their backs
Appear to be drawn up or bloated in the belly
Lie down and get up frequently
Sit on haunches like a dog
Colic is one of the most dangerous and costly equine medical problems. Colic is estimated to occur in 1 out of 10 horses each year. Many cases of colic become life-threatening in a short period of time. It is important to be able to recognize the symptoms of colic and determine whether or not a veterinarian should be called.
