Colic is the leading cause of death in horses and a major source of acute welfare suffering, requiring rapid veterinary assessment and often surgical intervention to save lives and relieve pain.
Horses with colic experience severe abdominal pain — violent rolling, pawing, and self-mutilation indicate the intensity of suffering. Pain assessment and analgesia provision are welfare priorities from first contact. Non-surgical colic treated with analgesia and hydration typically resolves within hours, but horses in pain without analgesia experience unnecessary prolonged suffering. Surgical colic requires general anaesthesia and major abdominal surgery — recovery is painful and extended. End-of-life decisions in severe surgical colic or recurrent colic require careful quality-of-life assessment.