Risk factors for acute abdominal pain (colic) in the adult horse: A scoping review of risk factors, and a systematic review of the effect of management-related changes.
Authors: Curtis Laila, Burford John H, England Gary C W, Freeman Sarah L
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary Colic remains the leading cause of emergency veterinary intervention in horses, yet evidence-based guidance on prevention has been fragmented across disparate literature. Curtis and colleagues conducted a comprehensive scoping review of 58 studies to categorise risk factors across three domains—horse-related, management-related and environment-related characteristics—followed by a systematic review of 14 studies specifically examining how management changes within two weeks influence colic risk. Feed changes and recent housing alterations emerged as the risk factors with the strongest evidence base (identified in 5 and 3 studies respectively), though significant methodological heterogeneity and incomplete accounting for confounding variables in most studies limited the certainty of findings. For practitioners advising on colic prevention, these results underscore the importance of gradual dietary transitions and stable housing arrangements, whilst also highlighting considerable gaps in the current evidence base that should guide future research priorities and inform development of clinical guidelines.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Gradual transitions when changing feed and careful management of housing changes are critical preventative strategies, as these are the most evidence-supported modifiable risk factors for colic
- •Owners and managers should implement standardized protocols for any management changes (feed, housing, exercise, water access, carer changes) to minimize colic risk
- •While other risk factors exist, focus preventative efforts on feed and housing management where the strongest evidence base exists
Key Findings
- •Scoping review identified 58 studies with 22 categories of risk factors grouped into horse-related, management-related, and environment-related factors
- •Systematic review of management changes identified 14 studies (1 cohort, 8 case-control, 5 cross-sectional) showing feed changes and housing changes as largest bodies of evidence for increased colic risk
- •Feed changes (5/14 publications) and recent housing changes (3/14 publications) were the most frequently studied modifiable risk factors associated with colic
- •Most included studies (8/14) did not adequately address confounding factors, and marked heterogeneity in study methodologies limited evidence synthesis