Spasmodic Colic

This is the most frequent type of colic seen and is often due to gorging on grass or eating too soon after exercise.

Signs

Affected animals may show severe signs of pain yet with a normal heart rate and mucous membrane colour. There may be an increase in the volume of the gut sounds with soft droppings and no abnormalities will be felt on rectal exam.

Treatment

The treatment is to simply relax the horse with a combination of pain killers and sedatives. Drugs to reduce gut motility are often used e.g.buscopan.