Page 766 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

minute. The gut sounds can be increased or decreased. Gas may intermittently be passed

from the rectum. If the stomach is distended with gas, the passage of a stomach tube can give
VetBooks.ir immediate, albeit sometimes temporary relief.

Treatment includes painkillers and muscle relaxants. Liquid paraffin and oil of turpentine
may be administered by stomach tube. This helps to reduce further fermentation. If gas

accumulates in the colon there is an increased risk of torsion so these horses should be
closely monitored and discouraged from rolling. No food should be given until the condition
has resolved.

Gas accumulations also occur when the lumen of the gut is obstructed. This is discussed

under surgical colics.

FOOD IMPACTIONS

When at grass, the horse grazes for many hours of the day, so food passes through the gut at a

steady rate. The stabled horse has its diet artificially regulated and impactions may develop.
The pelvic flexure is the commonest site of impaction as the gut narrows and does a 180
degree turn at this site.

Other factors which may play a part in the development of impactions include:

• redworm damage affecting the normal motility of the gut

• neglected teeth

• unsuitable diet
• eating the bedding

• insufficient access to water, e.g. in winter if the water supply is frozen

• change in diet and management, e.g. box rest

• stress
• ingestion of sand.

In the early stages, the pain is less acute than in the other types of colic discussed. The
symptoms may develop over a couple of days. They include:

• adopting a urinating stance and straining intermittently
• passing fewer droppings than normal or none at all; those that are passed may be firm,

dry and covered with mucus

• walking backwards into the corner of the box
• teeth grinding

• lying flat out (Figure 17.8) or sitting up, often groaning at the same time