When Do Horses Need Colic Surgery?
Haylie Pfeffer
May 10, 2026
Two veterinarians explain when a horse might need colic surgery and how your veterinarian might determine this on the farm.
Horse health information in the form of videos, slideshows, and podcasts
Two veterinarians explain when a horse might need colic surgery and how your veterinarian might determine this on the farm.
Dr. Michael Fugaro describes when it’s okay to let your horse move around and lie down during a colic emergency and when you should keep him standing.
Dr. Bianca Ruspi explains how owners can reduce their horse’s risk of colic in this Ask TheHorse Live excerpt.
Here’s how veterinarians track osteoarthritis progression in horses as they age and how often your horse should be reevaluated.
Learn about the role of vitamin E in maintaining neuromuscular health in horses. Sponsored by Kentucky Performance Products.
Dr. Nicole Rambo describes common feeding mistakes she sees people make and how to fix them. Sponsored by Tribute Equine Nutrition.
Learn why veterinarians cannot prevent navicular disease entirely, but what they might be able to do to slow its progression and improve the horse’s comfort.
Dr. Howland Mansfield describes the physical and behavioral changes owners might see in their horses as osteoarthritis progresses.
Dr. Lauren Trager describes the most common causes of lameness she sees in senior horses in this podcast excerpt.
Find out why some horses might not fully recover from gastric ulcers and how veterinarians manage these cases. Sponsored by Kelato.
Learn how pergolide can benefit horses with PPID in this podcast clip.
Here’s when and how veterinarians use these medications for metabolic horses that don’t respond to other treatments.
Learn all about colic in horses, how veterinarians manage it, and ways to prevent it in this Ask TheHorse podcast. Sponsored by CareCredit.
Find out which horses and ponies might be at higher risk of developing metabolic problems, such as PPID and EMS.
One expert shares the differences between EMS, PPID, and ID in this podcast clip.
Kelly Vineyard, PhD, shares expert insights on spring horse nutrition and common concerns such as metabolic health and pasture sugars.
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