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Topic:Colic
Colic is a common gastrointestinal condition in horses characterized by abdominal pain and discomfort. It can result from various causes, including gas buildup, intestinal blockage, or inflammation. The severity of colic can vary, ranging from mild discomfort to life-threatening situations requiring surgical intervention. Signs of colic in horses may include restlessness, pawing at the ground, rolling, and changes in eating or drinking behavior. Diagnosis often involves physical examination, rectal palpation, and sometimes imaging techniques. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may involve medical management or surgical procedures. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and management of colic in horses.
Structural Features of the Equine Small Intestinal Mesenteric Attachment Predisposing to Rupture. Rupture of equine small intestine with formation of a pouch of ingesta within the mesentery has been reported in clinical colic cases. Multiple ex-vivo studies using anastomosed jejunum observed rupture into the mesentery, distant to the anastomosis. Both scenarios suggest the jejunum is predisposed to rupture at the mesenteric attachment. The aim of the study is to 1) document the location at which equine jejunal segments rupture when subjected to high intraluminal pressures, 2) identify predisposing anatomical features that may confer weakness at the point of rupture and 3) demonstrate jejun...
Impact of evidence-based information on horse owners’ misconceptions of colic. Misconceptions can be defined as 'false, persistent beliefs' or 'inaccurate, prior knowledge' and can influence decision-making. Objective: To investigate the impact of evidence-based information on UK horse owners' decision-making for colic. Methods: Mixed-methods cross-sectional study. Methods: An online survey was distributed to UK horse owners, with four sections: owner demographics; views on decision-making and referral to an equine hospital facility for colic; current knowledge and approach to colic; impact of evidence-based information (including evidence on recognising and responding t...
Successful nutritional management of a warmblood horse with multiple pathologies that respond to nutrition. This report describes the nutritional management of an 18-year-old, 553 kg gelding warmblood used for dressage lessons that presented with severe weight loss, marked muscle atrophy, poor dentition, sabulous urolithiasis, gastric ulcers, and later small colon impaction. On admission, the diet consisted of ad libitum wheat straw and mixed cereals (73:27 forage:concentrate), providing 2% of body weight as dry matter without vitamin-mineral supplementation. Marked deficiencies were identified in digestible energy (38%), crude protein (20%), lysine, threonine, vitamins, and minerals, while sugar an...
Abdominal palpation per rectum is highly sensitive for identifying small versus large intestinal lesions in horses presenting for colic. To describe the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and accuracy of abdominal palpation per rectum in horses treated surgically for colic. Unassigned: Medical records were gathered over 5 years (2019 to 2024). Findings of abdominal palpation per rectum were collected and compared to surgical diagnosis, and cases were categorized as true or false positive and negative. Signalment, physical examination parameters, hematologic values, and years of examiner experience were recorded. Unassigned: Records of 453 horses were included. Overall sensitivity and positive predictive value were 86%...
Equine Salmonella in Argentina: Genetic relatedness with humans and other animal species and first detection of serovar Freetown. Salmonellosis in horses can cause severe enteritis with diarrhea, fever, and colic, which is usually severe in foals and hospitalized or immunocompromised animals. Carrier horses may intermittently shed Salmonella, thereby acting as a source of infection for other animals and humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and molecular subtyping of Salmonella spp. in horses from Argentina, focusing on potential zoonotic relevance. Only a single isolate (S. Newport) was obtained from fecal samples of 249 clinically healthy horses (2018-2022), indicating a very low carrier detec...
Malignant Ovarian Teratoma in a Lusitano Filly: Diagnostic Challenges and Clinical Significance. An 8-month-old Lusitano filly (a young female horse) was referred with a five-day history of abdominal distension, respiratory distress, and hyporexia. Clinical and ultrasonographic examinations revealed ventral edema, anemia, leukocytosis, hypoalbuminemia, and bilateral pleural effusion. The filly subsequently developed progressive clinical deterioration, including persistent hyporexia, scant fecal output, and acute colic with nasogastric reflux, followed by sudden respiratory decompensation, collapse, and death. Post-mortem examination revealed a large, multilobulated abdominal mass involvin...
Caudal esophageal achalasia in a Quarter Horse colt. Achalasia is the most common motility disorder of the esophagus in humans and has been diagnosed in cats and dogs. We describe a 4-month-old Quarter Horse colt with failure to thrive, recurrent colic episodes, and aspiration pneumonia, in which fluoroscopic evaluation identified a caudal esophageal motility disorder consistent with achalasia. Necropsy examination confirmed achalasia.
New Diagnostic Score for Sepsis in Adult Horses with Acute Gastrointestinal Disease. Colic is a leading cause of mortality in horses, particularly when associated with systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction. In human medicine, these complications are associated with sepsis, defined as organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated, life-threatening host response to infection. However, no consensus sepsis score exists for adult horses. This retrospective study aimed to develop a diagnostic sepsis score for adult horses. Medical records from 295 horses admitted for colic to the Oniris equine emergency department (Nantes, France) between July 2011 and November 2021 were analyzed...
Clinical nutrition in equine colic: a scoping review from an equine nutritionist’s perspective. Colic represents one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in equine medicine, with nutritional management recognized as a key modifiable factor influencing postoperative recovery. However, guiding principles for nutritional enteral support in horses after colic remain limited, and current practices are largely empirical. Objective: This scoping review aimed to (1) examine enteral nutritional support protocols reported in literature through a scoping review to map the available evidence on equine clinical nutrition in the context of colic, and (2) propose a physiology-based interpre...
Evaluation of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense biomarkers in healthy and colic horses: correlation with type of colic and outcome. Colic is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in horses, with oxidative stress implicated in its pathophysiology. Objective: Evaluate biomarkers (BIOs) of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in healthy horses and those with non-strangulating colic (NSC) and strangulating colic (SC) and assess correlations with survival. Methods: Seventy-one adult horses: 10 healthy and 61 colic-affected (42 NSC, 19 SC) admitted to 3 veterinary teaching hospitals. Methods: Prospective, multicenter cohort study. Blood samples were collected at admission (T0) and up to 96 h post-admission. Biomarkers me...
The importance of prebiotics in managing colic in horses: focus on Akkermansia muciniphila and its anti-inflammatory potential. Colic remains one of the most frequent and costly causes of equine morbidity and mortality, with significant welfare and economic implications. Disturbances in the gut microbiome are increasingly recognized as an important contributing factor. In recent years, prebiotics, non-digestible substrates that promote beneficial microbes, have emerged as promising microbiome-targeted strategies. () has gained attention for its unique ability to degrade mucin, maintain epithelial integrity, and exert potent anti-inflammatory effects. Although its benefits are well established in humans and rodent mode...
Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Horses Following Laparoscopic Nephrosplenic Space Ablation. Left dorsal displacement of the large colon (LDDLC) is a common cause of colic in horses and it is frequently associated with recurrent episodes, with significant implications for horse management, athletic performance, and owner satisfaction. Laparoscopic nephrosplenic space (NSS) ablation is a preventive surgical technique aimed at reducing recurrence in horses with a history of medically or surgically treated LDDLC. This retrospective study evaluated 48 horses that underwent laparoscopic NSS ablation in two Italian Veterinary Teaching Hospitals between 2016 and 2024. Short-term outcomes, in...
In-Depth Analysis of the Prognostic Factors Associated with Short-Term Outcome in Equine Colic Patients: Multicentric Retrospective Study. Several studies investigated risk and prognostic parameters for horses with colic; however, the consensus is still debated. The present work aimed to investigate colic outcomes and to identify risk factors in horses referred for colic. In this multicenter retrospective study, 236 clinical records of equids referred for colic at three different equine centers were reviewed. The following data were collected: history, signalment, physical examination at the time of admission, hematological and biochemical analysis, diagnosis, SIRS status and 0-6 point-scale SIRS score, colic type, treatment atte...
Prognostic Significance of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate for Survival in Equine Colic. Accurate early prognostic assessment is a central aspect of clinical decision-making in horses presenting with colic. Despite the availability of multiple clinical and laboratory parameters, reliable biomarkers that provide useful information at the time of admission remain limited. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a non-specific indicator of systemic inflammation that has recently been validated for automated point-of-care use in horses. Its behaviour in equine colic has not been previously characterised. This study included 85 horses admitted for colic at two university referral hospita...
Evaluation of long-term postoperative morbidity and survival after equine colic surgery using a complication severity classification. Most studies on colic surgery outcome focus on short-term survival and complications. Long-term outcomes, particularly post-discharge morbidity, are poorly characterised despite their relevance. No standardised system has previously integrated both short- and long-term postoperative complications with survival outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate long-term survival and morbidity in horses after colic surgery using the equine postoperative complication score (EPOCS), and to assess the association between complications and survival. Methods: The medical records of horses undergoing ...
Effect of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis duration for colic surgery on complications and resistome. Based on human studies, surgical antimicrobial (AMD) prophylaxis (SAP) beyond 24 h is unnecessary and potentially detrimental. Objective: To compare clinical and microbiological outcomes in patients receiving 24- or 72-h of SAP for colic surgery. Methods: Prospective randomised clinical trial. Methods: Horses that recovered from colic surgery were considered. Exclusion criteria were (1) age <2 years; (2) Miniature Horses, pony, and draught breeds; (3) azotaemia; (4) recent hospitalisation, colic surgery, or AMDs; (5) local AMD administration. Eligible horses were randomly assigned to recei...
Full-laparoscopic nephrosplenic space closure with barbed knotless sutures in horses with left dorsal colon displacement without previous colon repositioning. Nephrosplenic space entrapment (NSE) has reported recurrence rates of 8%‒23%, and closure of the nephrosplenic space (NSS) has been shown to lower the incidence. Described techniques for nephrosplenic space closure (NSC) with concurrent left dorsal displacement (LDD) of the colon at the time of surgery consist of reducing the displaced colon prior to closure. Methods: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the medical records of horse undergoing NSC between 2017 and 2024. A total of 18 horses with LDD at time of NSC and 21 without displacement at time of NSC were evaluated. Short- a...
A modern AI framework integrating deep imputation, synthetic data balancing, and explainable modeling for survival prediction in horse colic. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most transformative tools for developing clinical decision-support systems in veterinary medicine. Despite its growing use, its full potential remains underutilized in equine medicine, an area of both high economic and clinical importance. Accurate survival prediction in horses with colic is crucial for timely intervention and improved clinical outcomes. Methods: This study aimed to predict survival outcomes in horse colic cases by developing models that combine traditional machine-learning algorithms (XGBoost, Light Gradient Boosting Mach...
The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) in Colic and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Horses. Equine colic remains a prevalent and potentially life-threatening condition with multifactorial origins, including dietary imbalances, stress, and microbial dysbiosis. Central to equine gut health is the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), primarily acetate, propionate, and butyrate, generated through microbial fermentation of dietary fibers in the hindgut. These metabolites not only serve as vital energy sources but also play crucial roles in maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, modulating motility, and suppressing inflammation. This review explores the role of SCFAs in equine...
Lipid-rich abdominal fluid mimicking chyloabdomen in a horse. We report here a case of lipid-rich abdominal fluid in a 31-y-old Arabian gelding with acute colic. Abdominocentesis yielded opaque, yellow-to-orange peritoneal fluid with an elevated triglyceride concentration (42 g/L, RI: <0.10 g/L; fluid:serum triglyceride ratio 11.4, RI: <1.0). A second abdominocentesis performed 3 d later revealed clear fluid, suggesting transient chyloabdomen. Despite medical management, the horse developed respiratory distress secondary to pharyngeal edema and was euthanized. Autopsy identified a large omental lipoma and severe ulcerative gastritis, but no effusion....
Serum proteomic analysis in equine obstructive colic: A prospective observational study. The aim of the study was to identify proteomic signatures from the serum of horses affected by simple obstructive intestinal colic to characterize the pathological process and to assess potential biomarkers for early diagnosis. Seven horses with obstructive colic received venous blood samples for determination of standard hematobiochemical, inflammatory, and lipid profiles at the time of initial clinical examination and after conservative therapy upon recovery. Proteomic profiling was also performed on all samples by means of a within-group analysis (sick horses at discharge vs. sick horses at...
Risk factors for equine strangulating lipoma colic: An international, case-control study. Obstruction by strangulating lipoma (SLO) is one of the most common causes of small intestinal strangulation in horses and is fatal without surgery. Current knowledge of risk factors for SLO is limited to horse signalment features. To date, other risk factors have not been investigated. Objective: To investigate horse- and management-level risk factors for SLO using a population of healthy horses as controls. Methods: Matched, case-control study. Methods: A prospective, international multicentre study was conducted in the UK and USA between January 2022 and May 2024. Cases were horses with SLO...
Risk factors for strangulating lipoma obstruction and lipomata in horses. Strangulating lipoma obstruction (SLO) is the most common cause of equine small intestinal strangulation and is fatal without surgery. Currently, epidemiological information is primarily limited to signalment-related risk factors and requires further investigation. Objective: To identify horse-level risk factors for SLO and/or abdominal lipoma(s) (LP) formation in horses with acute colic that underwent surgery or post-mortem examination at participating equine clinics. Methods: Prospective, international, multicentre, epidemiological study. Methods: An epidemiological study was conducted over ...
Modified stapled jejunocecostomy in horses. To develop a modified stapled (MS) jejunocecostomy (JC) in healthy horses. Methods: In vivo experimental study. Methods: Six healthy adult horses underwent ventral midline celiotomy, a jejunal resection, and an MS. Methods: Time to complete anastomosis and anastomotic length at necropsy were recorded. Horses were assessed by physical examination every 6 h for 5 days after surgery, then once daily until euthanasia at 7 days. A group of seven horses that had a stapled side-to-side JC and were euthanized 28 days postoperatively was used as an historical control (SS). Results: All MS horse...
Pre-operative feeding effects on post-anaesthetic colic and faecal output in horses. Post-anaesthetic colic (PAC) is a complication in horses undergoing general anaesthesia (GA). Various preoperative feeding strategies are used in equine practice, yet their impact on PAC remains unclear. Objective: To identify perioperative risk factors associated with PAC and evaluate the influence of preoperative fasting on PAC prevalence and faecal output. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Medical records of horses undergoing non-abdominal surgery under GA were reviewed. Horses were categorised into fasted and non-fasted groups based on their pre-anaesthetic feeding regimen. Mul...
Correlation of hindgut microbiome and fermentation properties with a history of gas and/or impaction colic in Japanese draft horses. Colic, a major gastrointestinal disease in horses, has a high recurrence rate and can lead to surgery or fatal outcomes, highlighting the need for effective prevention measures. Disruption of the microbiome is a multifaceted problem and can occur from a variety of factors, such as high-concentrate diets, which can then potentially cause colic. However, individual variation in the incidence of colic can occur when under identical management practices. The aim of this study was to characterize the fecal bacterial composition of Japanese draft horses with and without a history of colic in the pas...
[Unilateral leiomyoma in the spermatic cord – a reason for intermittent colic in stallions?]. A 19-year-old Oldenburg stallion was presented multiple times over the course of several months with recurrent colic signs. At each examination, an enlargement of the scrotum was noted, which could not be further specified by palpation and ultrasonographic examination. The increase in circumference was noted both on palpation and on inspection and the size remained unchanged throughout. No special findings were noted during the general examination and the special examination of the colic patient. A few months after the first onset of symptoms, a chicken egg-sized mass was palpated on the right...
Retrospective Evaluation of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Horses That Required Emergency Laparotomy: 341 Cases of Noninfectious Causes of Gastrointestinal Colic (2019-2024). To (1) compare total nucleated cell count (TNCC) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) at admission between horses with medically managed, large intestinal (LI) and small intestinal (SI) surgical colic; (2) compare TNCC and NLR between survivors and nonsurvivors; and (3) investigate associations between TNCC, NLR, surgical intervention, and outcome. Methods: Case-control study. Methods: Single, academic institution. Methods: A total of 341 adult horses diagnosed with noninfectious medical or surgical colic. Results: Admission TNCC did not differ between the medical and combined surgical gro...
Draft horses have similar outcomes as nondraft horses presenting for colic at a referral institution in Atlantic Canada. For horses presenting for colic to a referral hospital in Atlantic Canada, we aimed to describe clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome for draft breeds; identify associations between clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome for draft compared to nondraft breeds; and identify the overall impact of draft breed on mortality. Unassigned: A retrospective review of equine colic cases presenting to the Atlantic Veterinary College (2004 to 2023). Logistic regression models were used to assess associations between parameters and draft breed and mortality. Unassigned: A total o...
Cost of referral treatment for colic in the United Kingdom-What has changed in the last 5 years? Referral treatment costs and insurance status impact treatment decisions for colic. Objective: To evaluate changes in the cost of referral treatment for colic, and insurance cover and premiums in the United Kingdom between 2018 and 2023. Methods: Cross sectional study. Methods: Thirty UK equine referral hospitals were contacted in January 2024 and asked about their colic caseload and costs of the last three cases across six categories (surgical +/- resection, euthanasia before, during or after surgery, and medical treatment), using similar methodology to a 2018 study. Data are reported as mean...
