Horse colic: signs, what to do while you wait for the vet, and prevention

If you think your horse has colic, call your vet now. This guide helps you recognise colic and keep your horse safe until help arrives. It does not replace veterinary advice, and you should never give medication without your vet's instruction.

"Colic" isn't a single disease. It means abdominal pain, and Agriculture Victoria describes it as a range of digestive tract problems that can be very painful and can have very serious consequences, including death (Agriculture Victoria – basic horse care). Some cases are mild gas pain that settles quickly. Others involve a twisted or blocked gut that needs surgery. You can't tell which from the paddock, and that's why vets treat every case as potentially serious.

Signs of colic

Horses show pain in different ways. Some are dramatic; others are quiet and easy to miss.

Milder or early signs

The University of Sydney's equine hospital lists these as signs of mild colic (University of Sydney Veterinary Hospital):

• Pawing at the ground
• Looking or turning towards the flank
• Lying down more than usual
• Reduced appetite or less manure than normal

Other commonly listed signs include restlessness, kicking at the belly, teeth grinding and stretching out as if to urinate (Agriculture Victoria; University of Minnesota Extension).

Severe signs – treat as an emergency

The University of Sydney lists these as signs of severe colic needing urgent attention (University of Sydney Veterinary Hospital):

• Violent rolling or throwing themselves down
• Sweating or trembling
• Rapid worsening of signs
• No improvement after pain relief
• Sudden, severe onset

Victoria's Code of Practice also lists acute abdominal pain or colic – pawing, kicking at the stomach or rolling, often with straining, teeth grinding and sweating – as a condition that may need prompt veterinary attention (Code of Practice).

Why speed matters

The University of Minnesota notes that colic can be fatal if a section of gut is twisted for six hours or more (UMN Extension). A horse that needs surgery has the best chance when it gets to a hospital early. Waiting to see if it settles is the biggest risk.

What to do: step by step

These steps draw on advice from Avenel Equine Hospital in Victoria and the University of Florida (Avenel Equine Hospital; UF/IFAS EDIS).

1. Call your vet

Call regardless of how mild it seems. Have the following ready:

• When you first noticed signs and what they were
• Heart rate, breathing rate, temperature and gum colour if you can safely check them
• When the horse last passed manure and what it looked like
• Recent changes to feed, work, worming or paddock

Keep your vet's number and an after-hours emergency number in your phone and in your first-aid kit.

2. Check vital signs if it's safe

Avenel recommends checking vital signs and looking for manure. Normal ranges for adult horses, according to Penn State Extension (citing the American Association of Equine Practitioners), are (Penn State Extension):

• Heart rate: 28–44 beats per minute
• Breathing: 10–24 breaths per minute
• Temperature: 99–101.5°F (about 37.2–38.6°C)
• Gums: moist and pink, with capillary refill in 1–2 seconds

A rising heart rate, pale, dark or purple gums, or slow capillary refill are worrying signs to report. Our guide to signs of a healthy horse shows how to take each one.

Never put yourself in danger. A horse in severe pain can go down suddenly or kick.

3. Remove feed

Take away hay and hard feed until your vet says otherwise (Avenel Equine Hospital). The University of Florida advises that water can generally be left available, but don't syringe water or anything else into the horse's mouth (UF/IFAS EDIS).

4. Walk gently if it helps – but don't exhaust the horse

Gentle walking can stop some horses from rolling and may help mild gas colic. Avenel stresses never to walk a horse to exhaustion (Avenel Equine Hospital). If the horse wants to lie quietly and isn't rolling, it's usually fine to let it rest in a safe place while you watch.

5. Monitor and record

Check the horse every 15–20 minutes and note any changes, including manure (Avenel Equine Hospital). For reference, the University of Florida notes that 8–12 piles of manure a day is normal for many horses (UF/IFAS EDIS).

6. Don't give medication without your vet

Pain relief can hide the signs your vet needs to see. The University of Minnesota warns that drugs such as bute can mask signs of colic (UMN Extension). Only give medication if your vet tells you to.

7. Prepare for the vet – and possibly a trip to hospital

Have a clean, well-lit area ready, with water and a safe place to work (Avenel Equine Hospital). If your horse might need referral for surgery, you'll need transport. Know who can float your horse at short notice, and make sure your horse loads. See loading a horse into a float. If you don't have a float, find horse transport near you on horse.work.

Common causes and risk factors

Your vet will work out the cause, but the following are commonly associated with colic:

• Sudden feed changes. Victoria's Code advises introducing diet changes gradually to reduce the risk of digestive disorders (Code of Practice).
• Sand. Horses fed on sandy ground can swallow sand, which can build up in the gut. Agriculture Victoria recommends avoiding feeding on sandy ground and suggests a simple test: put some manure in a jar of water, shake it and let it settle – sand often collects at the bottom (Agriculture Victoria – winter care). Victoria's Code notes that no-spill feeders reduce sand colic risk (Code of Practice).
• Not enough forage or water. Roughage keeps the gut moving. See how much to feed a horse and water for horses.
• Parasites. Heavy worm burdens can contribute to gut problems. See our horse worming guide.
• Dental problems that stop proper chewing. See aging a horse by its teeth and arrange regular dental checks.

Prevention: everyday habits that help

• Keep forage at the centre of the diet and make every change gradually.
• Provide clean water at all times and check troughs daily.
• Feed hard feed and hay off the ground on sandy soils.
• Follow a parasite plan based on faecal egg counts, made with your vet.
• Book regular dental checks – see horse dental care.
• Learn what's normal for your horse – appetite, manure, behaviour and vital signs – so you notice changes early.
• Know your vet's after-hours number and have a transport plan.

After a colic episode

Follow your vet's feeding and exercise instructions carefully. Many horses go back onto small amounts of soft feed or grazing gradually. Ask your vet what to watch for and when to call back. Write down what happened and what might have triggered it, so you can talk through prevention.

Find an equine vet near you on horse.work, and save their number before you need it.

FAQ

Can colic go away on its own?

Some mild cases do settle, but you can't tell from the outside which cases are mild. Vets recommend calling regardless of how mild colic seems (Avenel Equine Hospital).

Should I walk a horse with colic?

Gentle walking can help some horses and stop them rolling, but never walk a horse to exhaustion (Avenel Equine Hospital). Follow your vet's advice.

Is it OK to let a horse with colic roll?

Violent rolling is a sign of severe pain and an emergency (University of Sydney). Keep yourself safe, and if the horse is rolling violently, call your vet urgently. A horse lying quietly may simply be resting.

Can I give my horse bute for colic?

Not without your vet's instruction. Pain relief can mask signs your vet needs to assess (UMN Extension).

Should I give my horse water if it has colic?

The University of Florida advises leaving water available but never syringing water or other substances into the mouth (UF/IFAS EDIS). Remove feed until your vet advises.

What is sand colic?

It's colic caused by sand building up in the gut, usually from eating off sandy ground. Feeding off the ground in no-spill containers reduces the risk (Agriculture Victoria; Code of Practice).