DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF COLIC IN HORSES
Authors: Zulkyya Abilova, Zoya Mikniene, Madina Khassanova, Aigul Zhabykpayeva
Journal: 3i intellect idea innovation - интеллект идея инновация
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Colic Management in Equine Practice Colic remains the primary reason horses present to emergency clinics, yet optimal treatment protocols continue to evolve; this retrospective analysis examined 22 cases to determine whether medical management, surgical intervention, or combined approaches yielded the most favourable outcomes. Researchers evaluated symptomatic treatment regimens centred on analgesia (flunixin), sedation (dexamethasone), and antispasmodic agents (butylscopolamine bromide, dipyrone, and drotaverine hydrochloride), often supplemented with intravenous fluid therapy and antibiotics. Medical treatment alone demonstrated a 78% recovery rate, substantially outperforming surgery alone (22% recovery) and combined medical–surgical approaches (25% recovery). These findings underscore that most equine colic cases resolve with aggressive medical management and supportive care, suggesting that surgical intervention should be reserved for cases with clear anatomical obstruction or non-responsive medical management rather than pursued routinely. For practitioners, the implication is clear: systematic analgesia, appropriate antispasmodics, balanced fluid replacement, and judicious antibiotic therapy represent the first-line defensive against colic, with surgery playing a more targeted, evidence-guided role in a comprehensive treatment strategy.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Medical management with appropriate analgesics, antispasmodics, and supportive care is the most effective first-line treatment for colic in your practice
- •Reserve surgical intervention for cases that fail to respond to medical management, as surgery alone shows poor outcomes without concurrent medical support
- •Implement comprehensive fluid therapy combined with antibiotic coverage alongside pain management and antispasmodic drugs for best results
Key Findings
- •Medical treatment alone achieved 78% recovery rate in colic cases
- •Surgical intervention alone resulted in only 22% recovery rate
- •Combined medical and surgical approach yielded 25% recovery rate
- •Optimal medication protocol included flunixin, dexamethasone, butylscopolamine bromide, dipyrone, and drotaverine hydrochloride with intravenous fluid therapy and antibiotics