Acute Abdomen

Colic is the most common problem necessitating emergency care of horses. Obtaining a thorough history and performing a meticulous physical examination is critical when examining a horse with colic. Ancillary tests, such as hematology and serum biochemistry, peritoneal fluid analysis, ultrasonography, and radiography, can be used to obtain a more specific diagnosis, determine the need for exploratory celiotomy, and estimate prognosis. While the causes of colic are numerous and in some cases life-threatening, the majority of horses showing signs of colic respond to basic medical management. The prognosis for horses with more serious causes of colic has improved dramatically over the past 10 years, predominantly because of early referral and surgical intervention. Future epidemiological studies investigating the causes of colic and novel treatment methods for horses with strangulating lesions are necessary for continued improvement in survival rates of the colic patient.