Colic — abdominal pain — is the leading cause of death in horses. Emergency management and preventive practices significantly reduce suffering from this common and serious condition.
Colic causes acute, often severe welfare harm — horses in pain from intestinal dysfunction show unmistakable distress including pawing, looking at flanks, rolling, sweating, and refusing movement. The welfare implications extend from immediate pain management to the decision about whether emergency surgery is appropriate and affordable. Pain control is the immediate priority: veterinary administration of analgesics (flunixin, butorphanol) before diagnosis is established is appropriate for welfare reasons in severe cases. Distinguishing surgical from medical colic requires veterinary examination and cannot be done by owners alone. Surgical colic carries significant mortality even with good facilities; decisions about whether to pursue surgery must weigh welfare against financial reality. Prevention is the welfare-optimal strategy: consistent feeding times, ad libitum hay access, clean fresh water, dental equilibration, regular deworming, and avoiding abrupt diet changes significantly reduce colic incidence.