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Colic surgery in 206 juvenile thoroughbreds: survival and racing results.
Abstract: The purpose of our study was to determine the types of lesions that cause colic in juvenile Thoroughbreds, factors associated with these lesions and the subsequent survival and athletic performance of the juveniles. The age of juvenile Thoroughbreds requiring surgical exploration for abdominal pain has an influence on the type of lesion causing colic. The short-term survival rate (discharge from the hospital) after colic surgery for foals was 85% and was strongly influenced by the lesion causing colic. Thirteen percent of juveniles recovered from the first surgery experienced another severe colic episode requiring additional surgery or euthanasia. Eight percent of foals recovered from the first celiotomy developed adhesions. Adhesion formation was related to the initial lesion causing colic and the foals' age at the first surgery. Foals being suckled (15 days to 6 months) were at greatest risk for adhesions and more frequently required multiple surgeries. Juvenile Thoroughbreds that had a celiotomy were significantly less able to race (63%) than their unaffected siblings (82%), and age at the initial surgery was associated with the percentage of horses that raced. However, affected foals able to race won as much money, raced as often, and made as many starts as their siblings. Colic and surgical treatment have a negative impact on athletic performance, but the majority of foals discharged from the hospital after colic surgery will perform athletically as adults.
Publication Date: 2001-02-24 PubMed ID: 11202379DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2000.tb05331.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- 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.
This research investigates the causes of colic in juvenile Thoroughbreds, its aftereffects, and the impact on the horses’ racing career. The findings suggest that age, type of lesion causing colic, and precedence of surgery influence the horse’s ability to race and perform athletically.
Research Context
- The study was conducted to understand the types of lesions causing colic in juvenile Thoroughbreds and the influence of these lesions on the horses’ survival and performance.
- Colic results in severe abdominal pain, and is a significant problem in horses that often requires urgent surgical treatment.
- The context is significant as colic, and related surgeries can impact the athletic prowess of horses, which is crucial in competitive racing.
Key Findings
- The type of lesion causing colic is determined by the age of the horse. Similarly, the age at the first surgery has an influence on the occurrence of adhesions.
- The survival rate after colic surgery for foals (young horses) was found to be 85% and was significantly affected by the type of lesion involved.
- Moreover, post-operative complications were noted, with 13% of the juveniles requiring additional surgery or euthanasia after recovering from the first surgery due to the recurrence of severe colic. Additionally, 8% foals developed adhesions after the first celiotomy (an incision into the abdominal cavity).
- Younger horses being suckled were at a higher risk for adhesions and more often required multiple surgeries.
Impact on Racing Performance
- It was found that juvenile Thoroughbreds that underwent a celiotomy were significantly less likely (63%) to race than their unaffected counterparts (82%). The age at the initial surgery was also associated with the percentage of horses that raced.
- However, the research also found that the affected foals that were able to race earned as much money, raced as often, and made as many starts as their siblings.
- In conclusion, while the incidence of colic and related surgeries can negatively affect the performance of the horses, the majority of them discharged from the hospital after colic surgery were able to perform athletically in adulthood.
Cite This Article
APA
Santschi EM, Slone DE, Embertson RM, Clayton MK, Markel MD.
(2001).
Colic surgery in 206 juvenile thoroughbreds: survival and racing results.
Equine Vet J Suppl(32), 32-36.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2000.tb05331.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital, Ocala, Florida, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Breeding
- Colic / mortality
- Colic / surgery
- Colic / veterinary
- Female
- Florida / epidemiology
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / mortality
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / surgery
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Kentucky / epidemiology
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Records / veterinary
- Survival Analysis
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Griessel TS, Muñoz Morán JA, Byaruhanga C, Smit Y. A single-centre retrospective study of surgical site infection following equine colic surgery (2013‒2021). Vet Rec 2025 May 17;196(10):e5227.
- Giusto G, Gandini M. Return of showjumping horses to sporting activity after colic surgery. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):629-635.
- Ryu SH, Sohn Y, Forbes E, Jeon HS, An SJ, Kim BS, Kyung SG, Lee I. A cross-sectional study of colic and rate of return to racing in Thoroughbreds at Seoul Racecourse in Korea between 2010 and 2020. J Vet Sci 2023 Nov;24(6):e81.
- Spadari A, Gialletti R, Gandini M, Valle E, Cerullo A, Cavallini D, Bertoletti A, Rinnovati R, Forni G, Scilimati N, Giusto G. Short-Term Survival and Postoperative Complications Rates in Horses Undergoing Colic Surgery: A Multicentre Study. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 20;13(6).
- Cain JL, Nielsen MK. The equine ascarids: resuscitating historic model organisms for modern purposes. Parasitol Res 2022 Oct;121(10):2775-2791.
- Iglesias-García M, Rodríguez Hurtado I, Ortiz-Díez G, De la Calle Del Barrio J, Fernández Pérez C, Gómez Lucas R. Predictive Models for Equine Emergency Exploratory Laparotomy in Spain: Pre-, Intra-, and Post-Operative-Mortality-Associated Factors. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 27;12(11).
- Erwin SJ, Clark ME, Dechant JE, Aitken MR, Hassel DM, Blikslager AT, Ziegler AL. Multi-Institutional Retrospective Case-Control Study Evaluating Clinical Outcomes of Foals with Small Intestinal Strangulating Obstruction: 2000-2020. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 27;12(11).
- Needles RK, Dubois MS. Surgical treatment of persistent colic in a horse caused by an anomalous vascularized fibrous band. Can Vet J 2019 Sep;60(9):991-994.
- Immonen IA, Karikoski N, Mykkänen A, Niemelä T, Junnila J, Tulamo RM. Long-term follow-up on recovery, return to use and sporting activity: a retrospective study of 236 operated colic horses in Finland (2006-2012). Acta Vet Scand 2017 Jan 5;59(1):5.
- Wormstrand BH, Ihler CF, Diesen R, Krontveit RI. Surgical treatment of equine colic - a retrospective study of 297 surgeries in Norway 2005-2011. Acta Vet Scand 2014 Jun 16;56(1):38.
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