Page 768 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

expected. Some of the fluid will pass into the gut and help to soften the impaction.

• painkillers as necessary.
VetBooks.ir • the use of liquid paraffin given by stomach tube is no longer recommended. It does not

soften the blockage and it hinders water penetration into the obstruction. Any accidental

passage of liquid paraffin into the lungs is usually fatal.

Most cases respond to medical management and the horse passes a large volume of
droppings. Surgery is only occasionally required. The prognosis is good provided there is no

underlying cause of the impaction such as equine grass sickness.

TREATMENT OF MEDICAL COLICS

Every horse with colic is treated individually, taking into account the history and the clinical

signs. The aims of treatment are:
• pain relief

• elimination of the cause of the discomfort

• restoring normal gut motility and function
• preventing secondary problems such as infection and toxaemia.

Treatment may include the following.

Pain relief

Analgesics are administered to all cases of colic. Some medications also relax the muscle in

the gut wall and help to relieve painful spasm and re-establish normal peristalsis. In each case
the vet will choose the medication with care so as to make the horse feel more comfortable

without masking signs of any serious problems that may be developing.

Sedatives

These help to reduce anxiety. Some sedatives also have analgesic and muscle relaxant
properties.

Passing a stomach tube

This may be done regularly to decompress a distended stomach since a horse cannot vomit. If

the stomach keeps filling up, surgery may be indicated.