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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can Vet J / Causes of gastrointestinal colic in horses in western Canada...
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2005; 46(9); 800-805;

Causes of gastrointestinal colic in horses in western Canada: 604 cases (1992 to 2002).

Abstract: The medical records of equine gastrointestinal colic cases presented to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine between 1992 and 2002 are reviewed. There was no breed predisposition to colic. Geldings were more prone to colic than females and stallions. Overall, the 3 most common causes of colic were large colon impaction (20.8%), large colon displacement (16.5%), and spasmodic colic (11.7%), after excluding the 13% of cases in which the diagnosis was undetermined. Of the medical cases, large colon impaction (38.4%) and spasmodic colic (22.5%) were the most common. Of the surgical cases, large colon displacement (24.5%), large colon torsion (14.3%), and strangulating lipoma (13.5%) were the most common. Recovery rate for the medical cases was 93.6%. Recovery rate for surgical cases was 73.5%. In conclusion, most of the equine colic cases were medical, and the recovery rates for both surgical and medical cases were comparable with those of other studies. Causes de coliques gastro-intestinales chez des chevaux de l’Ouest du Canada : 604 cas (1992 à 2002). Les dossiers médicaux des cas de coliques gastro-intestinales présentés au Western College of Veterinary Medicne entre 1992 et 2002 ont été passés en revue. Il n’y avait pas de prédisposition raciales aux coliques. Les hongres étaient plus sujets aux coliques que les femelles ou les étalons. Globalement, les 3 principales causes de coliques étaient l’impaction du gros colon (20,8 %), le déplacement du gros côlon (16,5 %) et les coliques spasmodiques (11,7 %), après exclusion de 13 % de cas où le diagnostic était indéterminé. De tous les cas médicaux, l’impaction du gros côlon (38,4 %) et la colique spasmodique (22,5 %) étaient les plus fréquents. Des cas chirurgicaux, le déplacement du gros côlon (24,5 %), la torsion du côlon (14,3 %) et l’étranglement par lipomes (13,5 %) étaient les plus fréquents. Le taux de rétablissement des cas médicaux était de 93,6 % et celui des cas chirurgicaux de 73,5 %. Il a été conclu que la majorité des coliques équines étaient d’origine médicale et que les taux de rétablissement des cas chirurgicaux et médicaux étaient comparables à ceux d’autres études. (Traduit par Docteur André Blouin)
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Publication Date: 2005-10-20 PubMed ID: 16231649PubMed Central: PMC1187790
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The given research article provides a review of the medical records from 1992 to 2002 related to cases of gastrointestinal colic in horses. The study was conducted at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in western Canada. It was found that geldings were more prone to this condition. The predominant causes of colic were large colon impaction, large colon displacement, and spasmodic colic, with recovery rates aligning with those from other studies.

Overview of the Study

The study was based on the review of medical records of horses suffering from gastrointestinal colic presented to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine between 1992 and 2002. The study aimed at an in-depth understanding of the causes leading to this condition, the predisposition of breeds, gender biases, and the recovery rates of the affected horses.

  • The data didn’t show any specific breed that was more prone to colic.
  • It was identified that geldings (castrated male horses) were more prone to colic as compared to females and stallions (intact male horses).

Causes of Colic in Horses

Three main causes of colic were noted:

  • Large colon impaction, which was observed in 20.8% of the cases. It is a condition where the fecal matter forms a blockage in the horse’s colon.
  • Large colon displacement, seen in 16.5% of the cases. In this condition, a portion of the horse’s colon changes or moves from its normal anatomical position.
  • Spasmodic colic was the cause in 11.7% of studied cases. Spasmodic colic or ‘gas colic‘ involves painful spasms of the horse’s colon, usually due to an accumulation of gas.

These conclusions were drawn after excluding the 13% of cases in which the diagnosis remained undetermined.

Breakdown of Medical and Surgical Cases

The study also looked specifically at the medical and surgical cases:

  • In medical cases, large colon impaction was the most common condition, again seen in 38.4% of cases, followed by spasmodic colic at 22.5%.
  • In surgical cases, large colon displacement was the common cause affecting 24.5% of cases. Other conditions included large colon torsion (twisting of the large colon) and strangulating lipoma (a fatty tumor causing interruption of blood supply), which were observed in 14.3% and 13.5% of the cases respectively.

Recovery Rates

The recovery rates for both types of cases were found to be quite high:

  • The recovery rate for the medical cases was high, reaching up to 93.6%.
  • The recovery rate for surgical cases, while lower, was still substantial at 73.5%.

Conclusion

The study concluded that a majority of equine colic cases were medical in nature, and the recovery rates for both surgical and medical cases were comparable with those of other studies. This helps in the understanding of the condition and can aid in future approaches to treatment and management.

Cite This Article

APA
Abutarbush SM, Carmalt JL, Shoemaker RW. (2005). Causes of gastrointestinal colic in horses in western Canada: 604 cases (1992 to 2002). Can Vet J, 46(9), 800-805.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 46
Issue: 9
Pages: 800-805

Researcher Affiliations

Abutarbush, Sameeh M
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. sameeh75@hotmail.com
Carmalt, James L
    Shoemaker, Ryan W

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Canada
      • Colic / etiology
      • Colic / surgery
      • Colic / therapy
      • Colic / veterinary
      • Colon / pathology
      • Colonic Diseases / complications
      • Colonic Diseases / surgery
      • Colonic Diseases / therapy
      • Colonic Diseases / veterinary
      • Female
      • Gastrointestinal Diseases / complications
      • Gastrointestinal Diseases / surgery
      • Gastrointestinal Diseases / therapy
      • Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary
      • Horse Diseases / etiology
      • Horse Diseases / surgery
      • Horse Diseases / therapy
      • Horses
      • Intestinal Obstruction / complications
      • Intestinal Obstruction / surgery
      • Intestinal Obstruction / veterinary
      • Male
      • Retrospective Studies
      • Torsion Abnormality / veterinary
      • Treatment Outcome

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