Colic is the leading cause of death in horses and a major source of acute welfare suffering, with most cases being preventable through management and requiring rapid veterinary response for welfare.
Colic welfare spans prevention, detection, and emergency response. Prevention through appropriate roughage provision, water access, and management significantly reduces colic incidence — a major welfare gain achievable through management changes. Early detection requires owner education to recognize subtle early signs. Rapid veterinary response minimizes the duration of acute pain. End-stage decisions about surgery versus euthanasia involve welfare assessment of pain level, prognosis, and recovery prospects. The welfare-centered framework places minimizing suffering — including through timely euthanasia when appropriate — above financial considerations.