From pain management to disease diagnosis to postoperative recovery rates, University of Florida (UF) veterinarians are advancing knowledge about equine colic, the No. 1 cause of premature death in horses. David Freeman, MVB, PhD, Dipl. ACVS; Ali Morton, DVM; Chris Sanchez, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM; Astrid Grosche, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM; Abel Ekiri, BVM, MS; and Johanna Elfenbein, DVM, shared findings from several studies related to this important disease during the 2011 International Equine Colic Research Symposium, held July 26-28 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Colic refers to diseases that cause abdominal pain, often originating from an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract. The sooner colic is treated, either medically or surgically by a veterinarian, the better the chance of survival.

One study by Freeman and his colleagues focused on survival after small intestinal surgery, which can be the most challenging type of colic surgery to complete successfully. The researchers concluded that recovery from a "twisted" small intestine following surgery is far better than previously reported.

"This is significant because this report shows a favorable long-term survival rate after one of the most difficult types of colic surgery, and that this surgery can allow horses to live a full and normal life," Freeman said