Knowing that help is at hand during an emergency situation such as colic is a huge reassurance. Colic can be a distressing time but understanding and having prior knowledge and plans in place should this happen to your horse can certainly help if you are faced with some difficult decisions, for example, if your horse requires referral to an equine hospital.
The REACT campaign is all about how horse owners and vets can work together to make the best decision for each individual horse, from sharing information with owners about different types of colic, and how to recognise them, to working with your vet to decide which options will be best for your horse.
Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group have signed up as REACT colic champion practice – this means that throughout the year we will be helping to provide advice, presentations and resources on all issues related to colic to their clients. Below you will be able to find three helpful PDF’s, all giving you a better understanding of colic and how it can effect your horse.
- What is Colic? This article explains what ‘colic’ actually is, providing you with a good understanding of the horse’s digestive tract and what can go wrong.
- Types of Colic. This article explains the different diseases that can occur, causing ‘colic’. This will help you understand what vets are trying to find in any horse with signs of colic. It also explains a little bit about the chances of recovery from certain causes of colic.
- Recognising Colic. This article discussed the signs of colic, what to look out for, how to perform a clinical examination of your horse and when you should call the vet.