FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / Prevalence of and risk factors for colic in horses that disp...
BMC veterinary research2014; 10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1); S3; doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-S1-S3

Prevalence of and risk factors for colic in horses that display crib-biting behaviour.

Abstract: Crib-biting and windsucking (CBWS) behaviour in horses has been associated with increased risk of colic in general, recurrence of colic and specific forms of colic. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of colic within a population of horses that display CBWS behaviour and to identify risk factors for colic. Methods: Owners/carers of horses in the general UK equine population that display CBWS behaviour were invited to participate in a questionnaire-based survey about the management and health of these horses. Data were obtained for a number of variables considered to be possible risk factors for colic. The prevalence of colic was calculated and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify associations between horse- and management-level variables for two outcomes of interest: a history of colic ever and a history of colic in the previous 12 months. Results: Data were obtained for 367 horses. One or more episodes of colic had been observed in 130 horses (35.4%). A total of 672 colic episodes were reported and 13 colic episodes required surgical intervention in 12 horses. Where the horse/pony had been in that persons care over the previous 12 months (n=331), colic had been observed in 67 horses (20.2%) during that time. A total of 126 colic episodes were reported in the preceding 12 months of which veterinary attendance was required in 69 (54.8%) episodes. Increased duration of ownership, increased duration of stabling in the Autumn months (September-November), crib-biting/windsucking behaviour associated with eating forage and horses that were fed haylage were associated with increased risk of colic (ever). Increasing severity (frequency) of CBWS behaviour and increased duration of stabling in the Autumn were associated with increased risk of colic in the previous 12 months. Conclusions: The prevalence of colic in a population of horses that display CBWS appeared to be relatively high. The results of this study can be used to identify horses that display CBWS who are at increased risk of colic and identifies areas for further research to determine if there are ways in which this risk might be reduced.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2014-07-07 PubMed ID: 25238292PubMed Central: PMC4123051DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-S1-S3Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 research article examines the prevalence and risk factors of colic, a form of abdominal discomfort, in horses that exhibit crib-biting and windsucking behaviours (CBWS). Additionally, it explores potential management-related risk factors for colic among these horses.

Methods

  • The research used a questionnaire-based approach, soliciting participation from owners or carers of horses in the general UK equine population that exhibit CBWS behaviour.
  • Information was gathered about various variables which were suspected as potential risk factors for colic.
  • Using multivariable logistic regression, relationships between the collected variables and two outcomes – a history of ever having colic and a history of colic in the past 12 months – were analyzed.

Results

  • Data was collected from 367 horses. Of these, 130 horses (35.4%) had experienced one or more episodes of colic.
  • A total of 672 colic episodes were reported, with 13 requiring surgical intervention across 12 horses.
  • For the horses that have been under the care of the respondents for the past year (n=331), colic had occurred in 67 horses (20.2%) during that period. A total of 126 colic episodes were reported in the previous 12 months, with 69 (54.8%) requiring veterinary attendance.
  • The risk factors identified for increased colic risk included long duration of ownership, extended stabling during the Autumn months (September-November), horse comes to crib-bite/wind-suck while eating forage, and horses fed with haylage.
  • In the previous 12 months, frequent crib-biting/windsucking behaviour and prolonged stabling in Autumn were linked with increased colic risk.

Conclusion

  • The study found that the rates of colic are relatively high in horses that demonstrate CBWS behaviour.
  • These results can guide in identifying horses with CBWS behaviour that are at higher risk of colic, providing areas for further research to develop strategies to reduce this risk.

Cite This Article

APA
Escalona EE, Okell CN, Archer DC. (2014). Prevalence of and risk factors for colic in horses that display crib-biting behaviour. BMC Vet Res, 10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1), S3. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-10-S1-S3

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 10 Suppl 1
Issue: Suppl 1
Pages: S3

Researcher Affiliations

Escalona, Ebony E
    Okell, Claire N
      Archer, Debra C

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Colic / etiology
        • Colic / veterinary
        • Horse Diseases / etiology
        • Horses
        • Humans
        • Logistic Models
        • Ownership
        • Risk Factors
        • Stereotyped Behavior

        References

        This article includes 35 references
        1. Mason GJ. Stereotypies - a critical-review. Animal Behaviour 1991;41:1015–1037.
          doi: 10.1016/S0003-3472(05)80640-2google scholar: lookup
        2. McGreevy P. Equine behavior : a guide for veterinarians and equine scientists / Paul McGreevy. Edinburgh : Saunders; 2004.
        3. McBride SD, Long L. Management of horses showing stereotypic behaviour, owner perception and the implications for welfare.. Vet Rec 2001 Jun 30;148(26):799-802.
          doi: 10.1136/vr.148.26.799pubmed: 11467606google scholar: lookup
        4. Albright JD, Mohammed HO, Heleski CR, Wickens CL, Houpt KA. Crib-biting in US horses: breed predispositions and owner perceptions of aetiology.. Equine Vet J 2009 May;41(5):455-8.
          doi: 10.2746/042516409X372584pubmed: 19642405google scholar: lookup
        5. Waters AJ, Nicol CJ, French NP. Factors influencing the development of stereotypic and redirected behaviours in young horses: findings of a four year prospective epidemiological study.. Equine Vet J 2002 Sep;34(6):572-9.
          pubmed: 12357996doi: 10.2746/042516402776180241google scholar: lookup
        6. Wickens CL, Heleski CR. Crib-biting behavior in horses: A review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2010;128(1-4):1–9.
          doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2010.07.002google scholar: lookup
        7. Klc S, Canpolat I, Bulut S, Hayat A. A survey carried out on some dental disorders of 95 horses. Veteriner Cerrahi Dergisi 1997;3(2):42–47.
        8. McGreevy PD, Richardson JD, Nicol CJ, Lane JG. Radiographic and endoscopic study of horses performing an oral based stereotypy.. Equine Vet J 1995 Mar;27(2):92-5.
          doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1995.tb03042.xpubmed: 7607156google scholar: lookup
        9. Grenager NS, Divers TJ, Mohammed HO, Johnson AL, Albright J, Reuss SM. Epidemiological features and association with crib-biting in horses with neurological disease associated with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (1991-2008). Equine Veterinary Education 2010;22(9):467–472.
          doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.2010.00101.xgoogle scholar: lookup
        10. Nicol CJ, Davidson HP, Harris PA, Waters AJ, Wilson AD. Study of crib-biting and gastric inflammation and ulceration in young horses.. Vet Rec 2002 Nov 30;151(22):658-62.
          doi: 10.1136/vr.151.22.658pubmed: 12498408google scholar: lookup
        11. McGreevy P, Nicol C. Physiological and behavioral consequences associated with short-term prevention of crib-biting in horses.. Physiol Behav 1998 Aug;65(1):15-23.
          doi: 10.1016/S0031-9384(98)00070-5pubmed: 9811360google scholar: lookup
        12. Malamed R, Berger J, Bain MJ, Kass P, Spier SJ. Retrospective evaluation of crib-biting and windsucking behaviours and owner-perceived behavioural traits as risk factors for colic in horses.. Equine Vet J 2010 Nov;42(8):686-92.
          doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00096.xpubmed: 21039797google scholar: lookup
        13. Scantlebury CE, Archer DC, Proudman CJ, Pinchbeck GL. Recurrent colic in the horse: incidence and risk factors for recurrence in the general practice population.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2011 Aug;(39):81-8.
          doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00383.xpubmed: 21790759google scholar: lookup
        14. Hillyer MH, Taylor FG, Proudman CJ, Edwards GB, Smith JE, French NP. Case control study to identify risk factors for simple colonic obstruction and distension colic in horses.. Equine Vet J 2002 Jul;34(5):455-63.
          pubmed: 12358047doi: 10.2746/042516402776117746google scholar: lookup
        15. Archer DC, Freeman DE, Doyle AJ, Proudman CJ, Edwards GB. Association between cribbing and entrapment of the small intestine in the epiploic foramen in horses: 68 cases (1991-2002).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004 Feb 15;224(4):562-4.
          doi: 10.2460/javma.2004.224.562pubmed: 14989551google scholar: lookup
        16. Archer DC, Pinchbeck GL, French NP, Proudman CJ. Risk factors for epiploic foramen entrapment colic in a UK horse population: a prospective case-control study.. Equine Vet J 2008 Jun;40(4):405-10.
          doi: 10.2746/042516408X312149pubmed: 18487105google scholar: lookup
        17. Archer DC, Pinchbeck GK, French NP, Proudman CJ. Risk factors for epiploic foramen entrapment colic: an international study.. Equine Vet J 2008 May;40(3):224-30.
          doi: 10.2746/042516408X266079pubmed: 18267890google scholar: lookup
        18. Archer DC, Proudman CJ. Epidemiological clues to preventing colic.. Vet J 2006 Jul;172(1):29-39.
          doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.04.002pubmed: 15939639google scholar: lookup
        19. Bachmann I, Audigé L, Staﾬher M. Risk factors associated with behavioural disorders of crib-biting, weaving and box-walking in Swiss horses.. Equine Vet J 2003 Mar;35(2):158-63.
          pubmed: 12638792doi: 10.2746/042516403776114216google scholar: lookup
        20. Solano AM, Valverde A, Desrochers A, Nykamp S, Boure LP. Behavioural and cardiorespiratory effects of a constant rate infusion of medetomidine and morphine for sedation during standing laparoscopy in horses.. Equine Vet J 2009 Feb;41(2):153-9.
          doi: 10.2746/042516408X342984pubmed: 19418744google scholar: lookup
        21. Altman DG. Practical statistics for medical research. London: Chapman and Hall/CRC; 1991.
        22. Hastie T, Tibshirani R. Generalized additive-models - some applications. Journal of the American Statistical Association 1987;82(398):371–386.
          doi: 10.1080/01621459.1987.10478440google scholar: lookup
        23. Kaneene JB, Miller R, Ross WA, Gallagher K, Marteniuk J, Rook J. Risk factors for colic in the Michigan (USA) equine population.. Prev Vet Med 1997 Apr;30(1):23-36.
          doi: 10.1016/S0167-5877(96)01102-6pubmed: 9234409google scholar: lookup
        24. Tinker MK, White NA, Lessard P, Thatcher CD, Pelzer KD, Davis B, Carmel DK. Prospective study of equine colic risk factors.. Equine Vet J 1997 Nov;29(6):454-8.
          doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb03158.xpubmed: 9413718google scholar: lookup
        25. Traub-Dargatz JL, Kopral CA, Seitzinger AH, Garber LP, Forde K, White NA. Estimate of the national incidence of and operation-level risk factors for colic among horses in the United States, spring 1998 to spring 1999.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001 Jul 1;219(1):67-71.
          doi: 10.2460/javma.2001.219.67pubmed: 11439773google scholar: lookup
        26. Hillyer MH, Taylor FG, French NP. A cross-sectional study of colic in horses on thoroughbred training premises in the British Isles in 1997.. Equine Vet J 2001 Jul;33(4):380-5.
          pubmed: 11469771doi: 10.2746/042516401776249499google scholar: lookup
        27. Hothersall B, Nicol C. Role of diet and feeding in normal and stereotypic behaviors in horses.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2009 Apr;25(1):167-81, viii.
          doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2009.01.002pubmed: 19303558google scholar: lookup
        28. Little D, Blikslager AT. Factors associated with development of ileal impaction in horses with surgical colic: 78 cases (1986-2000).. Equine Vet J 2002 Jul;34(5):464-8.
          pubmed: 12358048doi: 10.2746/042516402776117773google scholar: lookup
        29. Suthers JM, Pinchbeck GL, Proudman CJ, Archer DC. Risk factors for large colon volvulus in the UK.. Equine Vet J 2013 Sep;45(5):558-63.
          doi: 10.1111/evj.12039pubmed: 23414461google scholar: lookup
        30. Lindberg JE. Feedstuffs for horses. Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition 2013; pp. 319–331.
        31. Muller CE. Equine digestion of diets based on haylage harvested at different plant maturities. Animal Feed Science and Technology 2012;177(1-2):65–74.
          doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2012.06.002google scholar: lookup
        32. Hudson JM, Cohen ND, Gibbs PG, Thompson JA. Feeding practices associated with colic in horses.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001 Nov 15;219(10):1419-25.
          doi: 10.2460/javma.2001.219.1419pubmed: 11724182google scholar: lookup
        33. Archer DC, Pinchbeck GL, Proudman CJ, Clough HE. Is equine colic seasonal? Novel application of a model based approach.. BMC Vet Res 2006 Aug 24;2:27.
          doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-2-27pmc: PMC1570133pubmed: 16930473google scholar: lookup
        34. Mellor DJ, Love S, Walker R, Gettinby G, Reid SW. Sentinel practice-based survey of the management and health of horses in northern Britain.. Vet Rec 2001 Oct 6;149(14):417-23.
          doi: 10.1136/vr.149.14.417pubmed: 11678214google scholar: lookup
        35. Murray JK, Singer ER, Morgan KL, Proudman CJ, French NP. Memory decay and performance-related information bias in the reporting of scores by event riders.. Prev Vet Med 2004 May 14;63(3-4):173-82.
          doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2004.02.005pubmed: 15158569google scholar: lookup

        Citations

        This article has been cited 2 times.
        1. Saito Y, Amaya T. Symptoms and management of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy and its association with crib-biting behavior in 11 Japanese Thoroughbreds.. J Equine Sci 2019;30(4):81-85.
          doi: 10.1294/jes.30.81pubmed: 31871409google scholar: lookup
        2. Curtis L, Burford JH, England GCW, Freeman SL. Risk factors for acute abdominal pain (colic) in the adult horse: A scoping review of risk factors, and a systematic review of the effect of management-related changes.. PLoS One 2019;14(7):e0219307.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219307pubmed: 31295284google scholar: lookup
        Subscribe to our newsletter
        Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.