Comparison of age, sex, breed, history and management in 229 horses with colic.

A study, at a university in south eastern USA, aimed to determine whether age, sex, breed, management and history differed in colic cases. A detailed history was obtained for 229 horses between January 1987 and June 1988. Causes for colic determined by clinical examination, exploratory laparotomy and/or necropsy included: gastric rupture (GR, 6); ileal impaction (II, 17); small intestinal strangulating obstruction (SIO, 22); proximal enteritis (PE, 16); transient small intestinal distension (TSID, 18); large colon displacement (LCD, 52); large colon impaction (LCI, 34); colitis (8); small colon obstruction (SCO, 7); peritonitis (7); and unknown (42). Prevalence of age, sex, breed and use, type and amount of grain and roughage fed, supplement feeding, diet change within 30 days, stocking density, deworming rate and routine, and previous colic were determined in each category and compared by multiple regression and chi-square analysis (P < 0.05). The PE group included a greater proportion of horses aged five to 10 years (68.8 per cent) and stallions (37.5 per cent) than other categories. Most horses with II were under five years. Horses under one year were most prevalent in SIO (22.7 per cent) and SCO (28.6 per cent), and those of 15 years or more were most prevalent in SCO (57.1 per cent) and GR (50 per cent). Quarterhorses comprised 48.1 per cent of the LCD group and there was a high incidence of Arabians in groups with II (29.4 per cent) and TSID (27.8 per cent). Pelleted grain was associated with LCD. Prevalence of Bermuda grass hay feeding was less in PE and SCO groups, and pelleted roughage was associated with LCI. Showing and racing/training the day before colic were associated with LCD and LCI, respectively. There was no dietary association with II development and no correlation between use, amount of grain or hay fed, type of pasture, deworming or history of previous colic and various causes for colic.