Colic is the leading cause of death in horses, but many forms are preventable through good management, and early recognition dramatically improves outcomes.
Colic causes severe acute pain that horses cannot express through vocalizations in ways humans easily recognize. Pain assessment using validated equine pain scales is essential but requires training to apply correctly. Waiting to see if mild signs resolve without veterinary contact delays treatment and worsens outcomes in progressive colic types. Management practices that reduce colic risk, including turnout time, access to water, gradual dietary changes, and regular dental care, directly improve horse welfare. Economic pressures sometimes lead owners to delay veterinary care, causing preventable suffering.