The UF Large Animal Hospital provides advanced 24/7 emergency colic care to horses in Gainesville, Ocala, Jacksonville, and surrounding areas. Our board-certified equine veterinarians, highly trained staff, and purpose-built facilities can handle any surgical or medical colic case.
Colic is a devastating disease that affects horses of all ages. The University of Florida has developed a program to improve survival after colic surgery, which has shown to reduce postoperative complications, increase short-term and long-term survival, and improve quality of life after surgery.
Surgical emergency services are available 24/7, with a team of experts that includes board-certified anesthesiologists to help manage anesthesia and recovery. Our approach emphasizes the importance of surgical treatment over medication, which can reduce postoperative complications, such as intestinal paralysis, and shorten hospital stay.
In addition, our team has developed an accurate system to decide when to perform surgery on strangulated small intestine, which has resulted in better short-term and long-term survival rates and lower complication rates.
While colic surgery is a challenge, our team is committed to improving outcomes through advanced diagnostic techniques, anesthesia methods, and surgical procedures. We emphasize the importance of prompt referral, as delays can lead to high failure rates.
When Colic Develops in Your Horse
- Remove food and water from your horse’s stall.
- Call your veterinarian immediately. Colic can be treated either medically or surgically.
- If it is safe, walk your horse for fifteen minute intervals.
- Do not give Banamine (flunixin meglumine) in the muscle. Your veterinarian can give it in the vein.
Help Prevent Colic in Your Horse
- Design a deworming program with your veterinarian. Current guidelines for parasite control are much different than previously because of drug resistance.
- Do not keep your horse in a stall for extended periods of time or in a pasture with sand if possible.
- Feed good-quality roughage at all times and feed concentrates at a minimum.
- Changes in diet, exercise, and general management should be avoided as much as possible.
Prepare for Colic
- Know your horse’s habits so you can spot when something is wrong.
- Keep your emergency veterinarian’s contact information on hand.
- Make sure you have a safe vehicle and trailer to transport your horse.
- Have money saved, credit available, or colic insurance in case colic must be treated by a veterinarian. Know your financial limits, what you’re willing to do, how much time you have for at-home care and who can help if you need it.
Clinical Signs of Colic
- Poor appetite
- Decreased manure production
- Lip curling
- Depression
- Lying down more than usual
- Pawing
- Stretching out
- Flank watching
- Teeth grinding
- Bloated abdomen
- Sweating
- Kicking at the abdomen
- Rolling
- Repeatedly getting up and down
