| Colic is one problem that both humans and horses | | | | will assume difficult and almost unnatural positions |
| share. But unlike with babies, of which colic is just | | | | just to be relived of the pain. |
| an incidental problem that will go away after a | | | | However, horse owners should remember that |
| few months; colic in horses is a serious problem | | | | colic in horses has a much different onset. Unlike |
| that need to be addressed immediately. | | | | with humans where the pain can be readily felt |
| Baby colic | | | | and shown through crying, horses will deal with it |
| Colic is a problem in the digestive tract | | | | alone through listlessness and lack of energy. |
| characterized by a pain in the stomach or in the | | | | They will start to refuse food and will not have |
| abdomen. Until now, there is still no reason why | | | | any appetite for eating. This is one of the signs |
| this happens in babies. Experts believe that colic | | | | that horse owners often miss when trying to deal |
| arises from the gas in the intestines. In babies, | | | | with colic. Remember that they will only get wild |
| colic starts as early as three weeks. | | | | and restless when the pain is too severe for |
| First signs will of course be frequent crying and | | | | them to bear. Otherwise, they only suffer in |
| screaming that can last anywhere from an hour | | | | silence. |
| to five hours nonstop. It peaks during the second | | | | Wired differently |
| month and declines during the third month. By the | | | | Horses cannot also cope with colic the same way |
| end of the fourth month, incidents of colic will just | | | | humans can. Because of their different body |
| cease. | | | | structure and body system, they are not able to |
| And though there is really not much danger that | | | | vomit or relieve the pressure that they are |
| colic poses to babies, parents are still worried | | | | feeling in their stomach. Because of this, the pain |
| because of the amount of crying that it can | | | | and the problem can build up inside; thus |
| ensue. Because there is no known cause, there is | | | | worsening the situation. This is perhaps why colic |
| also no specific cure or solution. In fact, the only | | | | in horses is much serious. In fact, while some |
| thing that parents can do is to make their | | | | horses do respond to therapy and eventually get |
| experience of colic as less painful as possible. This | | | | well; most will deteriorate despite medication and |
| is done by putting babies in comfortable positions | | | | treatment. |
| like in swaddling, walking them or making them | | | | Another reason why colic is a problem with |
| listen to some soothing music. Parents should | | | | horses is the fact that they are built in different |
| avoid giving them too much food because this will | | | | ways. Passages of blood and food in their bodies |
| only exacerbate the problem. | | | | are much narrower; thus, more susceptible to |
| Horse colic | | | | impactions and obstructions especially with food. |
| Colic in horses is not the same. In addition to | | | | When afflicted with colic, it is important that you |
| being a serious problem, colic in horses can appear | | | | call a veterinarian as soon as you can so that he |
| anytime, any age. The same reactions are elicited | | | | can administer appropriate treatment. Make sure |
| in horses. They will also be crying and groaning, | | | | also that your horse does not have any access |
| prancing and kicking all over the place. In severe | | | | to solid foods such as hay or grass. The only |
| cases, they can even become so wild that they | | | | thing that the horse is allowed to take in is water. |