Colic in Horses: Recognise the Signs, Take the Right First Steps
Colic is the most common equine emergency. Pawing, rolling, looking at the flank... The signs, what to do until the vet arrives, and how to prevent it.
Bulut Veterinary Clinic Medical Team
Reviewed by Mücahid Çiftçioğlu, DVM
Colic is the most feared word in horse ownership — and it earns that reputation: it is the most common equine emergency. Strictly speaking, colic isn't one disease but the general name for abdominal pain, spanning everything from simple gas cramps to a life-threatening twisted intestine.
Equine anatomy makes horses prone to it: a horse cannot vomit, its intestines are enormously long, and parts of them move relatively freely inside the abdomen. That's why the gap between colic caught early and colic caught late is often the gap between medical treatment and surgery — or loss. We prepared this guide for horse owners and riding facilities around Ankara and İncek; our clinic sees equine patients too.
The signs: from early to advanced
- Pawing at the ground, restless pacing
- Turning to look at the flank, nipping at the belly
- Curling the upper lip (flehmen posture)
- Going off feed, standing uninterested in front of hay
- Repeatedly lying down and getting up; in advanced cases throwing themselves down and rolling
- Sweating (especially neck and flanks), rapid breathing
- Reduced or absent manure
- A tense, distended belly
- Gut sounds becoming quiet or disappearing
- Standing stretched as if to urinate for long periods (the classic false alarm of abdominal pain)
Why minutes matter
A share of colic episodes — gas colic, mild impactions — resolve in the field with early treatment and support. But when a segment of intestine displaces or twists, its blood supply is cut off and the tissue suffers irreversible damage within hours.
The catch: at the start, mild and serious colic look very similar. Hence the golden rule — every suspected colic is serious enough to call the vet. The hours lost to 'let's walk him and see' are the most expensive hours in horse ownership.
Until the vet arrives: do / don't
- DO: Call immediately and report the signs, when they started and when manure was last passed
- DO: Remove feed and hay (leave water available unless the vet says otherwise)
- DO: If the horse is willing to stand, walk him calmly for short spells — don't turn it into a forced march
- DO: Keep the environment calm and quiet; don't exhaust the horse or yourself
- DON'T: Give painkillers or any medication without consulting the vet — it masks the picture, devalues the exam and delays critical decisions
- DON'T: Attempt home drenches, oils or mashes
- DON'T: Risk your own safety next to a violently rolling horse; if you can't intervene safely, step back and wait for the vet
What the examination involves
The colic exam is systematic: pulse, breathing, gum colour and capillary refill grade the severity; the abdomen is auscultated for gut sounds. In the cases that need it, a tube is passed through the nose into the stomach — since horses cannot vomit, relieving a distended stomach is both diagnostic and life-saving. A rectal exam gives direct information about the position of the intestines.
Based on the findings, pain management, fluids and gut-motility treatment are planned. Cases that don't respond to medical treatment — or show surgical signs from the start — are referred to an equipped equine hospital, and making that call early is the single biggest factor in the outcome.
8 ways to prevent colic
- Uninterrupted access to clean, fresh water — poor water intake raises impaction risk (horses drink less cold water in winter; warming it helps)
- Build the diet on forage (hay); if grain is needed, split it into several small meals instead of one large one
- Make every feed change gradual, spread over 7-10 days
- Keep up regular dental care — poorly chewed feed is the classic cause of impaction colic
- Run a vet-planned parasite programme
- Don't feed off sandy ground (eating sand = sand colic); use raised feeders
- Maintain a consistent exercise routine; prolonged standing raises risk
- Watch the horse closely during stressful periods: transport, competition, moving yards
Two overlooked root causes: teeth and parasites
In horses with a history of repeated colic we always ask two questions: when were the teeth last checked, and what does the parasite programme actually look like? Horse teeth erupt continuously and wear unevenly — sharp edges and hooks sabotage chewing, and poorly chewed feed sabotages the gut from the very first step. An annual dental check is one of the cheapest colic insurances there is.
Parasites, meanwhile, damage the gut wall and its blood supply. 'We gave something last year' is not a programme — a proper plan built with your vet is.
Frequently asked questions
Does rolling twist the intestine?
Contrary to common belief, rolling is usually the result of severe pain, not the cause of the twist. Still, violent rolling risks injury; if the horse will stand, walk him calmly — if not, keep a safe distance and wait for the vet.
Will a horse that had colic get it again?
The risk is higher, especially if the root cause — teeth, parasites, feeding routine, water intake — is left unfixed. That's why after an episode we don't stop at treatment; we build a prevention plan aimed at the cause.
Do I bring the horse to you, or do you come out?
Equine cases are planned case by case. With suspected colic, call first: we'll assess the signs together and decide the fastest right path based on urgency, field conditions and transport options.
Related services
If you suspect colic, minutes count — call us without delay, we're reachable 24/7.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for a veterinary examination. Always consult your veterinarian about decisions concerning your pet's health.