Colic: When to Call Your Vet, Not Wait Until Morning

Colic is a symptom, not a diagnosis — it simply means abdominal pain, and the underlying cause can range from mild gas build-up to a surgical emergency. That range is exactly why it's worth taking every episode seriously.

Mild, intermittent signs — occasional pawing, turning to look at the flank, a slightly reduced appetite — are worth a phone call to describe what you're seeing, even if they resolve on their own.

Repeated rolling, sweating without exertion, a distended abdomen, an elevated heart rate, or a horse that is unable to settle at all are signs that need an urgent visit, not a wait-and-see approach.

Keep water available, remove access to feed until you've spoken to a vet, and avoid walking a horse to exhaustion — a short, calm walk can help, but it isn't a substitute for a veterinary assessment.