Although foals might look like mini versions of their adult counterparts, when it comes to treating them for health issues veterinarians often take a different approach than they would for a mature animal. Take colic for example. Most horse owners have an idea what they and veterinarians look for when dealing with a colicky horse, but what special considerations should be made for colicking foals? The differences might surprise you.

At the American Association of Equine Practitioners Focus on Colic Meeting, held July 24-26 in Indianapolis, Ind., Vanessa L. Cook, VetMB, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, ACVECC, assistant professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, discussed a systematic method by which veterinarians can evaluate colicky foals.

"Evaluation of the foal with colic is more challenging than in adult horses, particularly as the degree of pain is difficult to assess and rectal examination cannot be performed," she began. "However due to their size, abdominal radiography, ultrasound, and gastroscopy can be more readily performed."

Cook described the steps she takes when presented with a colicking foal to give him the best chance for survival. Not all the steps are needed in every case; however, it’s important to ensure an accurate diagnosis