Colic in Horses - Symptoms, Signs, Advice

Horses are complicated creatures and most owners will admit they’re not designed very well and are prone to injury or illness. There are a couple of common things to watch out for as a horse owner, and one of them is colic. I’ve had first hand experience of it, but I am no expert – my advice would always be “if in doubt call a vet”.

Colic can be mild – it can also kill. The signs of colic in horses range from almost imperceptible in mild cases to extremely violent in severe cases. The following list includes the most common signs:

• lying down more than usual

• getting up and lying down repeatedly

• standing stretched out

• standing frequently as if to urinate

• turning the head towards the flank

• repeatedly curling the upper lip

• pawing the ground

• kicking at the abdomen

• rolling