Colic

Colic is considered an equine emergency and time is of the essence. If you suspect your horse has colic, do not hesitate to call us immediately to discuss your concerns. We are available to assist with this type of urgent appointment 24/7 for our current active clients.

In addition to the standard colic exam, rectal exam and nasogastric intubation, we have digital ultrasound available, if a case requires a more in-depth evaluation. In the event that your horse requires veterinary care beyond what we are able to provide on farm, we are able to refer your horse to an equine surgeon who specializes in colic cases if surgery is deemed necessary.


If you are in one of the service areas that we frequent less regularly, we have a partnership in place with a local equestrian facility to accommodate our patients requiring urgent veterinary care. 

What is “colic” and what does it look like?

Colic is a generic term used to describe abdominal discomfort. Colic can be caused by a number of different things including but not limited to mild spasm of the intestines, gas distension of the large colon, an impaction, or a large colon displacement or twist that requires surgical correction. Every horse exhibits different signs, but the most common colic signs include:

  • Not eating

  • Looking at his/her belly

  • Pawing

  • Curling the upper lip

  • Laying down

  • Rolling

  • Restless behaviour, getting up and down

  • Decreased manure production

Additional Resources from AAEP

  • Cold Weather Colic

    The average horse owner is likely well-acquainted with his or her horse’s colic risk regardless of the season, but with cold weather come complicating factors that all owners should prepare for. The No. 1 cause of colic during winter is a lack of fresh, unfrozen water.

    Click to read more.

  • Colic: Updates & Prevention

    Colic is one of those emergency crises that horse owners seek to avoid. Based on information from the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) survey, for every 100 horses, there will be 4.2 colic events every year. 1.2 percent of these events will be surgical, and 11 percent will be fatal.

    Click here to read more.

  • Colic: Minimizing its Incident & Impact

    Colic is the number-one killer of horses. Colic is the number-one killer of horses. The good news is that most cases of colic are mild and resolve with simple medical treatment, and sometimes with no specific treatment at all.

    Click here to read more.