Risk factors for epiploic foramen entrapment colic in a UK horse population: a prospective case-control study.

This study identifies potential risk factors contributing to epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE), a common cause of small intestine issues in horses. The researchers concluded that certain behaviors like crib-biting/windsucking, a history of colic, increased stabling, and greater height make horses more likely to experience EFE.

Research Methodology

• The study was conducted in a prospective, unmatched, multicenter fashion over a span of 24 months in the United Kingdom. The gathered data included information about 77 cases and 216 control horses, obtained from nine different veterinary clinics.
• In seeking to identify associations between horse characteristics and management practices and the occurrence of EFE, the researchers employed logistic regression, a statistical analysis method often used to explore the relationship between a dichotomous outcome and a set of candidate predictor variables.

Key Findings

• The researchers found that horses exhibiting crib-biting or wind-sucking behavior were more likely to suffer from EFE. These behaviors involve the horse repetitively grabbing onto objects with its incisors and pulling back, either swallowing air (wind-sucking) or not (crib-biting). These are considered stress-related behaviors in horses and are often associated with confinement or dietary restrictions.
• Horses that had a history of colic within the previous 12 months were found to be at greater risk of EFE.
• Height was another factor that seemed to contribute to the risk, with taller horses being more prone to EFE.
• A significant management-related finding was that horses that spent more time in stables within the previous 28 days were increasingly susceptible to EFE. This may explain why EFE occurrences appear to be seasonal.
• On the flip side, certain factors were identified that appeared to reduce the risk of EFE. For example, horses with access to a mineral/salt lick were less likely to have EFE. Likewise, easily frightened horses and horses that were not fed at the same time as others also showed a reduced risk of EFE.

Conclusions

• The researchers concluded that horses demonstrating certain behaviours, those that have a past history of colic, and larger horses are at higher risk of developing EFE.
• The increased risk of EFE linked to longer stabling duration may account for the observed seasonality of EFE, with more cases perhaps occurring in months when horses are kept indoors more often due to weather conditions.
• Better understanding of these risk factors is important for establishing preventative care measures for horse health.