RECURRENT COLIC IN THE MATURE HORSE - A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW OF 58 CASES

The clinical features of 58 horses presenting with recurrent colic exa mined over a 5 year period were reviewed. The horses were categorised into 3 groups on the basis of the history of colic episodes, Recurrent transient colic Group 1 was characterised by 3 or more episodes of tr ansient colic (of apparently similar type) occurring within one month, Recurrent transient colic Group 2 was characterised by 3 or more epis odes of transient colic occurring within one year, Recurrent prolonged colic was characterised by 3 or more episodes of prolonged colic occu rring within one year. Fifteen horses were classified as recurrent tra nsient colic Group 1. This group had the highest mortality rate 53%. T hey included 3 horses with lymphosarcoma, 2 with intussusceptions, 2 w ith thromboembolic disease/verminous arteritis and 2 with partial ilea l obstructions, The recurrent transient colic Group 2 comprised 27 cas es with a mortality rate of 4%, Nine of these horses were affected by spasmodic colic, The recurrent prolonged group involved 16 horses with a mortality rate of 31%. These included 3 cases of recurrent colonic impaction and 2 cases each of lymphosarcoma, 2 thromboembolic disease, 2 partial ileal obstructions and 2 intestinal adhesions.