Colic is the leading cause of death in horses and causes severe acute pain. Rapid recognition and response is essential for both welfare and survival outcomes.
Colic represents the most acute and severe welfare emergency in equine medicine. The pain of intestinal obstruction, gas distension, or ischemia (loss of blood supply to intestine) is extreme — horses roll violently, throw themselves on the ground, and are clearly in severe distress. The welfare imperative is immediate: pain relief is a priority alongside diagnostic evaluation. Analgesic administration before veterinary examination is justified for humane reasons even though it may complicate assessment of pain severity. The welfare and survival calculus of surgical versus medical management requires rapid decision-making informed by physical examination, nasogastric reflux assessment, and rectal palpation. Delay in surgical referral for cases requiring surgery dramatically worsens both welfare outcomes during the waiting period and survival rates after surgery.