Horses undergoing surgery for colic face significant post-operative welfare challenges including pain management, restricted movement, and high complication rates requiring intensive nursing care.
Colic surgery recovery places horses in prolonged pain and confinement following an acute welfare emergency. Post-operative pain is significant and can be difficult to control fully. The risk of complications including incisional infections, adhesions, and second-surgery needs extends the welfare compromise beyond the initial surgery. Adequate pain assessment and management using validated pain scales is essential throughout recovery. Horses requiring surgery often have chronic underlying conditions that increase recurrence risk. Owners face challenging decisions about repeat surgery and the point at which ongoing treatment no longer serves the horse's welfare.