Advances in nutrition and medicine are allowing our equine companions to live longer than ever. But for the average horse owner that also means more years worrying about colic; and the older the horse, the greater the risk.

A recent study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center gives hope to owners of geriatric horses; the study found that overall survival rates of geriatric horses post-colic surgery were similar to those of mature horses.

The two-part study determined that horses in their late teens and early twenties with colic should not be euthanized because of a poor prognosis based solely on age.

"Some owners and veterinarians are of the opinion that older horses do not do as well following colic surgery," said Louise Southwood, BVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, Dipl. ACVECC, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania and lead author on the study. "It is important that we provide owners with accurate information so that they can make informed decisions about whether or not to have their horse undergo colic surgery