Thanks to advancements in colic diagnostics and treatment, a horse's chances of survival and return to normal activity following surgery have never been better. | Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

By M. Norris Adams, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMR, Clinical Assistant Professor of Equine Surgery, and Krista Estell, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Clinical Assistant Professor of Equine Medicine, of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, in Leesburg, Virginia

Although many colic cases are mild in nature, others can imperil your horse’s life and career and can require surgery. Today, because of advancements and innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of colic, the chances of survival and return to normal activity following colic surgery have never been better.

Colic signs should always be taken seriously and, although early symptomatic treatment will resolve many mild cases, it should be considered an emergency if a horse fails to respond to therapy. The biggest controllable determinant for a successful surgical outcome is minimizing the duration of clinical signs before surgical intervention. Early correction of twisted intestines can reduced the likelihood of the the need for costly resections (removal of sections of intestines). In addition, timely intervention can limit the collateral damage to the intestine, which can lead to serious disruptions in propulsive motility requiring lengthy hospital stays, increased cost, and additional complications such as adhesions