Abstract

Equine Colic: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention – A Comprehensive Review

Authors: Umm Ul Khair, Muhammad Usama Javed, Muhammad Abudllah Qureshi, Syed Rizwan Ahmad, Shahzaib Bin Zahid, Aqib Hanif, Muhammad Abdul Rahman, Rameez Ashraf, Muqadas and Saira Sarfraz

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.71081/cvj/2026.066

Abstract
Equine colic is a very common equine medical emergency case and, to this day, one of the principal causes of morbidity, mortality and economic loss in the equine industry globally. Colic is not a disease but pain in the abdomen, caused by a large number of gastrointestinal and sometimes non-gastrointestinal diseases. The condition is also affected by anatomical predisposition of the equine digestive tract, feeding habits, stress stations in management, parasitism, gut dysbiosis together with other environmental and physiological stimuli. It is an evidence-based review of the pathophysiology of the equine colic, particularly gastrointestinal anatomy and motility physiology, inflammation mechanisms, obstruction and strangulation, and cascaded systemic events that may result in serious colic events. Prevention methods of nutrition, access to water, dentistry, parasite containment and husbandry are critically assessed. It is hoped that this will make the veterinarians, researchers and equine management professionals have a comprehensive consolidated reference that helps to make informed decisions and further the research in the future.

Keywords: Diagnosis, Equine colic, Gastrointestinal disease, Pathophysiology, Prevention, Therapy