The Equinist: Articles and Commentary by Susan Kauffmann

            Colic, a term used for any kind of abdominal pain originating in the horse’s gastro-intestinal tract, is one of the most common and most feared of any equine emergency. The high incidence of colic can be attributed to a number of factors including feeding strategies, environmental variables, and the physiology of the horse’s digestive system.  The fear factor is due to colic’s well-deserved reputation as a killer of horses, and because many horse owners feel helpless when faced with the prospect of a colicking horse. However, despite its fearsome reputation, colic is usually not fatal, and most cases resolve without surgical intervention. A major study conducted by the USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System found that the incidence of colic was 4.2 events/100 horses per year, with a fatality rate of 11 percent. That means that less than one out of every 200 horses will die in any given year from colic. Still, horse owners who have ...

An equine emergency is something all horse owners dread, but knowing what to do and being adequately prepared can make the difference between life and death for your horse.   This means having the necessary supplies on hand, and practicing emergency procedures so that both you and your horse will be comfortable with them.  It is also extremely useful to know what is normal for your horse – including his temperature, resting heart rate, respiratory rate, capillary refill time and gut sounds – so that you can recognize and report any abnormalities during an emergency.  When an emergency is actually happening, it may be some time until your veterinarian can get there to help you, so below are some practical steps you can take to give your horse the best chance of making it through in some common scenarios. 1.  PROBLEM:   SEVERE BLEEDING   A horse losing a lot of blood is a very scary thing, but the good news is that the average horse has over 12 gallo...