Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Psychogenic colic in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1985
- Authors:
- Murray, M J & Crowell-Davis, S L
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old mixed-breed gelding horse was brought in because it had been acting like it had colic, which is a type of belly pain, for 5 days. The horse showed signs like pawing at the ground, looking at its belly, and kicking or biting at its sides, especially when it was eating hay or grain. After being evaluated by a vet, no physical cause for the colic-like behavior was found, but the horse seemed to improve while in the hospital. It was discovered that the horse's behavior was likely due to stress from being pushed away from its food by other horses. When the owner stayed with the horse during these episodes, it helped calm the horse down. The treatment appeared to work, as the horse improved in the hospital setting.
Abstract
A 4-year-old mixed-breed gelding was presented with colic-type behavior of 5 days' duration that included pawing, looking at the flank area, and kicking and biting at the abdomen and flank when it was eating hay or grain. Medical evaluation did not reveal the cause of the "colic." During its stay in the hospital, the horse improved as regarded the colic-type behavior while eating, but resumed this behavior when it was able to see hay that it was not allowed to eat. It was determined that the persistent colic-type behavior developed as a result of the horse having been repeatedly displaced from its food by other horses. When the horse performed the colic-type behavior, the owner would remain with it and effectively protect it from competitors. The initial bout of colic may have been a result of true colic, psychosomatic colic secondary to stress, redirected aggression, or displacement activity.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3972697/