02/09/2026
When your veterinarian comes out to your barn for a colicking horse, you may have seen her use a stethoscope to listen to your horse's abdomen. Your vet is listening for borborygmi, colloquially called gut sounds, which can tell her a lot about what is causing your horse's discomfort.
When a horse is experiencing digestive upset, the presence, character, and type of gut sounds changes. Sounds may be absent, more frequent, higher-pitched, or echoing.
Low-pitched gurgling and rumbling gut sounds can be heard constantly in a normal horse. Practice listening to each quadrant of the abdomen when your horse is healthy, so you know what is normal for him/her.
Learn more about gut sounds at the link in the comments.