Colic in Horses: VM177/VM139, rev. 2/2023

Abstract

Colic is one of the most common equine health emergencies and is a leading cause of death in horses worldwide. While the vast majority of colic episodes are mild and resolve with medical treatment alone, some types of colic require surgical intervention for a successful outcome. Although most horse owners hope they never encounter colic in their horses, understanding what colic is and adopting strategies for its management and prevention are important parts of responsible horse ownership and management. A national study conducted by the USDA's National Animal Health Monitoring System in 2015 determined that colic was the leading cause of death for horses aged 1 to 20, accounting for 31.2% of deaths. For horses over 20 years of age, colic was the second leading cause of death (13.4%) behind old age (26.6%). A similar report in 2001 found that the incidence of colic was 4.2 events for every 100 horses per year, that 1.2% of colic cases will require surgery, and that 11% will be fatal. This article reviews the most common causes of colic in horses and provides information for horse owners regarding prevention and treatment strategies.