The Colic Call at Dusk
It is 5:40 pm in winter and light is fading. You are the only staff member on a 12-horse property. A 9-year-old gelding is down in his box, sweating, pawing at intervals, and has not finished his hay. He has passed no manure since morning. He has a mild increase in respiratory rate and his gums look slightly pale. The vet is 40 minutes away and will call you back. The owner is uncontactable. The yard has a small sand arena with lighting, a stable, a hose, a thermometer, and a basic first aid kit. You must decide what to do before the vet arrives and what to tell the vet.
1. Decide your immediate management of the horse and justify each action against the risk of colic.
Read the worked answer
Do not walk him endlessly or force exercise. Moderate, calm walking can help some mild colic cases, but if he is painful and wants to lie down, forcing him to move can exhaust him and risks injury. Allow him to rest if he is quiet; prevent violent rolling only if he is at risk of injury.
Withhold feed but not water. Remove hay and hard feed to reduce gut load while the cause is unknown, but leave clean water available unless the vet advises otherwise.
Take and record vitals. Temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, gum colour and capillary refill, gut sounds in all four quadrants, and whether he has passed manure. These objective numbers are the most useful thing you can give the vet.
Bring him into a safe, lit, observed area so you can monitor him continuously and the vet can work safely. Keep him warm but not overheated; sweating plus winter cold is a risk.
Call the vet with a structured report: signalment, onset, signs (sweating, pawing, no manure since morning, pale gums, raised respiratory rate), vitals, and what you have done. Ask for interim advice.
Do not give painkillers or drugs unless the vet directs it - masking pain can hide deterioration.
2. The vet asks you to monitor the horse until she arrives. What specific observations will you record and why does each matter?
Read the worked answer
Record on a timed sheet (every 15-20 minutes):
- Pain indicators: pawing, flank-watching, rolling, sweating, restlessness. Escalating pain suggests a worsening or surgical colic and changes urgency.
- Heart rate: rising heart rate is a key sign of pain and shock; a persistently high or climbing rate is a red flag.
- Respiratory rate and effort: tracks pain and systemic compromise.
- Gum colour, capillary refill time, and hydration (skin pinch): pale or tacky gums suggest poor perfusion or dehydration.
- Gut sounds in all four quadrants: absent or very reduced sounds can indicate ileus or obstruction.
- Manure passed and character: any output is important information; none since morning is significant.
- Urination and water intake.
- Response to walking or rest.
Why it matters: the trend over time is more informative than a single reading. A horse that is stable is managed differently from one whose heart rate climbs and pain worsens. Clear timed records let the vet make a fast decision on arrival and give the owner a factual account later. Also note when the vet was called and when advice was given, for the record.