Psychogenic colic in a horse.

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.