Horse Colic Prevention and Welfare

Colic is the leading cause of death in horses and causes significant acute suffering, but many cases are preventable through evidence-based management practices.

Key Facts

Colic encompasses a range of abdominal pain conditions and is responsible for more veterinary emergencies and deaths in horses than any other condition.
Dietary changes, dehydration, reduced exercise, and feed management errors are among the most common precipitating factors.
Horses that crib or wind-suck and those with a previous colic history have significantly elevated recurrence risk.
Strangulating lesions including large colon volvulus and small intestinal displacement require emergency surgery within hours.
Increasing water intake, providing consistent forage access, and avoiding sudden dietary changes significantly reduce colic risk.

Welfare Considerations

Colic causes severe acute pain that distresses horses rapidly and can escalate to life-threatening levels within hours. The welfare priority in colic management is immediate veterinary assessment and appropriate pain management — delay in seeking veterinary attention is the primary preventable cause of colic death. Prevention through management that supports digestive health is equally important and substantially within owner control.

What You Can Do

Know the signs of colic — looking at flank, pawing, rolling, sweating, elevated heart rate — and call your vet immediately.
Never delay calling a vet for suspected colic due to cost concerns — early intervention is cheaper and more effective than late.
Implement consistent feeding management including continuous forage access and gradual dietary transitions.
Maintain fresh water access at all times, especially in cold weather when horses reduce voluntary intake.