Colic is the leading cause of death in horses. Understanding prevention, early recognition and appropriate emergency response can save lives and prevent unnecessary suffering.
Colic causes acute, often severe pain and is one of the most significant welfare emergencies in equine medicine. Horses experiencing strangulating lesions are in extreme pain requiring urgent surgical intervention — delays of even hours can render a survivable condition fatal. The welfare of horses with colic is directly affected by owner recognition and response speed. Horses that are walked repeatedly while owners wait for veterinarian arrival for obvious medical emergencies may be harmed by the delay. Early veterinary assessment, pain scoring, appropriate analgesia while awaiting diagnosis and honest assessment of surgical candidacy are all welfare-critical decisions. Prevention through consistent management, appropriate forage provision and dental care substantially reduces colic incidence in managed horse populations.