Companion Animals

Equine Colic: Welfare and Management

Colic is the leading cause of death in domestic horses and one of the most significant welfare emergencies in equine practice, requiring rapid veterinary assessment to distinguish medical from surgical cases.

Key Facts

Colic causes approximately 64,000 horse deaths annually in the UK
Over 80% of colic cases resolve with medical management but surgical cases require referral within hours
Impaction colic related to dietary changes and dehydration is the most common form
Management factors including regular turnout, high-forage diets and water access reduce colic risk significantly

Welfare Considerations

Equine colic causes significant acute pain ranging from mild discomfort to severe unrelenting pain requiring euthanasia. Early recognition and rapid veterinary response significantly improve outcomes. Horses that are walked to manage pain, given inappropriate treatments or have veterinary contact delayed have significantly worse welfare outcomes and survival rates.

What You Can Do

Know your horse's vital signs at rest so you can detect deviations during a potential colic episode
Call your vet immediately if you suspect colic rather than waiting for symptoms to resolve
Reduce colic risk through consistent feeding, ad-lib water access and regular turnout
Ensure your horse has access to continuous forage and is not subjected to abrupt dietary changes