Groundbreaking research to improve diagnosis of colic in horses

Experts in one of the most dangerous health problems in horses have just published new research which could transform the way the condition is diagnosed and treated by vets and horse-owners. The two new studies, carried out by researchers at The University of Nottingham's Vet School , have looked at the first assessment of more than 1,000 horses with colic, and also asked more than 200 vets how they go about diagnosing colic. The papers are published in the Vet Record and Biomed Central journal Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica. They are the first published analysis of the initial presentation of colic, which identified key, early differences between critical and non-critical cases, and a comparison of how first evaluations of horses are conducted by vets. The research is intended to help owners and vets recognise critical cases as early as possible, and improve the selection of diagnostic tests used to assess horses with signs of colic. Colic is the most common emergency problem in horses and is one of the main causes of death. There is a range of different causes, ranging from intestinal spasms, to the gut dying due to becoming trapped, and this can make diagnosis difficult.