Did you know the number one killer of horses is colic? Itīs true, and even more, colic is not a disease but it requires immediate veterinary treatment. So how do you know if your horse is suffering from colic? This can be a major problem because the symptoms can vary greatly. But, the most common signs are:

*Depression, *Kicking or biting at the abdomen, *Pawing, *Repeated getting up and lying down or attempting to do so, *Stretching out as if to pass urine but failing to do so, *Reduction or absence of digestive sounds, *Excessive sweating, *Flaired nostrils, *Elevated pulse rate, *Rapid respiration, *Lip curling, *No bowel movements, *Cool extremities, *Sitting like a dog, *Not eating, *Not drinking, *Violent rolling.

So what do you do when your horse shows some or all of these signs?

• Notify your veterinarian IMMEDIATELY!
• Remove all food and water
• If the horse is rolling or behaving violently, attempt to walk it
• Keep the horse as calm and comfortable as possible.

How your veterinarian treats your horses colic will depend on the type and severity, the four most common types of colic are:

• Intestinal dysfunction-The bowels are not working properly, this is the most common colic.
• Intestinal accident- Includes torsion, displacements and hernias. This colic almost always requires emergency surgery.
• Enteritis- Caused by many factors such as stress, disease, parasites, and salmonellosis.
• Ulcerations-Can be caused by disease, stress, salmonellosis, and parasites.

So can you prevent colic? Unfortunately no, but there are ways to reduce the risk of colic.

• Feed a primarily roughage diet of high quality.
• Feed and exercise on a daily routine and stick to it.
• Break feeding rations into two to three feedings a day.
• Turn the horse out to pasture for exercise on a daily basis.
• Worm your horse on a regular basis.
• Provide fresh water at all times except when the horse is excessively hot than provide luke warm water until the horse has cooled down.
• Avoid putting feed on the ground.
• Reduce stress especially during transportation or times of illness.