Very Common
Less Common
You also might be observing
Observation
What you see. The starting point for addressing any equine health related issue is your observation.
YOU ARE OBSERVING
Backing into Corner of Stall
Summary
Although this behavior could be associated with other underlying causes, horses that repeatedly back into the corner of a stall or corral are usually experiencing abdominal pain (colic).
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Code Red
Call Your Vet Immediately, Even Outside Business Hours- If you notice other signs of abdominal pain (colic).
- If the behavior continues with no explanation.
- If the results of the Whole Horse Exam (WHE) in the resting horse indicate fever (Temp >101F/38.3C) or heart rate greater than 48 BPM.
your role
What To Do
Assess your horse's general health using the Whole Horse Exam (WHE), paying particular attention to attitude and appetite, heart rate, intestinal sounds and gum color. Look for other signs of abdominal pain like lying down, kicking at belly or pawing, among others. Test your horse's appetite with a handful of feed. Contact your vet with your findings and concerns.What Not To Do
Do not assume this is a mere behavioral issue.
Skills you may need
Procedures that you may need to perform on your horse.
Less Common
your vet's role
Your vet will perform a physical exam to determine whether this behavior and any other abnormalities are a result of colic, and run additional diagnostics as needed.
Questions Your Vet Might Ask:
- Are you seeing other signs of abdominal pain (colic)?
- When did you first notice this?
- Does your horse have a history of colic?
- What are the results of the Whole Horse Exam (WHE)?
- Have you changed your horse's feed or management lately?
- What is the horse's age, sex, breed and history?
Diagnostics Your Vet May Perform
Figuring out the cause of the problem. These are tests or procedures used by your vet to determine what’s wrong.
Diagnoses Your Vet May Consider
The cause of the problem. These are conditions or ailments that are the cause of the observations you make.
Very Common
Less Common
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Intestinal Upset or Indigestion
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Large Colon Dysfunction, Generally
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Large Colon Volvulus or Torsion
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Large Colon Mechanical Obstruction, Generally
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Large Colon Impaction, Pelvic Flexure Impaction
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Colic, Gas, Large Colon Tympany
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Acute Systemic Disease, Generally
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Small Intestinal Strangulating Conditions
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Small Intestinal Strangulation, Strangulation by a Pedunculated Lipoma
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Intestinal Motility Disorder, Generally
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Internal Hemorrhage, Bleeding Internally
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Ileus, Lack of Normal Intestinal Motility
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Enteroliths, Intestinal Stones
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Right Dorsal Displacement of Large Colon
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Left Dorsal Displacement of Large Colon with Nephro-Splenic Entrapment
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Small Colon Impaction
Rare
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Intestinal Foreign Body
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Clostridial, Clostridium Colitis (in Adult)
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Abdominal or Internal Abscess, Generally
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Infarcted Intestine or Colon
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Large Colon Ulceration, Inflammation
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Ruptured Stomach or Intestine
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Salmonella Colitis (in Growing Foal or Adult)
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Intestinal Lymphosarcoma
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Neoplasia, Tumor or Cancer, Intestine
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Coronavirus Entero-Colitis
Treatments Your Vet May Recommend
A way to resolve the condition or diagnosis. Resolving the underlying cause or treating the signs of disease (symptomatic treatment)
Very Common
further reading & resources
Helpful Terms and Topics
Written, reviewed or shared by experts in equine health
