Colic???????

Question

My horse isnt eating his grain and is holding his head low... I can give him a hand full and he eats it slowly and then goes to his bucket and starts eating slowly but then he stops and holds his head low... He wont eat the hay I put out for the horses... I saw him earlier this week eating some grain out of muddy water... Is there a chance he might has colic? Maybe sand colic from eating out of the muddy water? PLEASE HELP!

Answer 1

I agree with removing his feed ASAP and have the vet come.

Whether it is choke or colic, or something else, these can escalate into life-threatening conditions.

It may have passed into his stomach if it was choke, in which case the symptoms would cease...I'd watch him for another 24 hours.

Answer 2

If a horse isn't eating, or huge eating habit changes... its time for a vet call and I would do it soon.

Answer 3

I don't think colic, but it sounds a little like when my horse had choke. Call the vet out asap, and don't let him eat hay, only drink if he wants. Does he back up, blow snot everywhere (sorry, but it's true!) and possibly want to lay down, but not roll? That's what my horse had. We called the vet, the food had swollen in his throat so they stuck a tube down his nose into his throat and pulled all the stuff out and then we could only feed him very watered down mash for 5 days, some bute, no hay, only mash and water. Choke is rarely fatal, so don't worry about that, but do get the vet out as he's very unconfortable!

Answer 4

I found this GREAT website on colic!

http://www.equusite.com/articles/health/...

I was going to copy and paste but this is a LONG web page with all the different types of colic.

Answer 5

If he was colicing you would probably also see these signs:

Increased respiration

Kicking or looking at abdomen

Laying down

Pacing

Rolling

And no fresh loose stool visible in stall

So I'd say it sounds more like choke.  Horses often drink from muddy water holes since they get the nutrients from the soil and its often more convenient.  So unless there was like a chemical in it, it shouldnt cause colic.  

Dont feed him hay or grain, especially hay as it is very dry. Only offer fresh water and call the vet.

Answer 6

keep him walking and call vet