Colic is the leading cause of death in horses and a major welfare concern. Prevention strategies and rapid emergency response save lives and reduce suffering.
Colic causes some of the most acute and severe pain a horse can experience. Intestinal distension, ischemia, and torsion are excruciatingly painful — and because horses cannot vomit, gas and blockage rapidly escalate. The welfare priority is recognition and response speed: owners who can identify early colic signs and call their vet immediately give their horse the best chance of survival and reduced suffering duration. For surgical colics, the window between symptom onset and viable surgery outcome narrows rapidly. Prevention — consistent feeding, reliable water access, parasite management, and regular dental checks — addresses root causes and reduces welfare incidents across entire horse populations.