PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF EQUINE COLIC RISK-FACTORS

A 1 year prospective study was conducted on 31 horse farms to identify risk factors for equine colic. Farms were randomly selected from a li st from 2 adjacent counties of Virginia and Maryland, USA, The associa tion between colic and farm or individual horse risk factors related t o management, housing, pasture, use, nutrition, health and events was first examined by univariate statistical analysis, individually signif icant (P<=0.25 for farm factors, P<=0.10 for horse factors) variables were used in a stepwise multivariable forward logistic regression to s elect explanatory factors (P<=0.05). Analysis was conducted at 2 level s: farm and individual horse with farm specified as a random effects v ariable, No farm-level variables were significant Significant horse-le vel variables included: age, adds ratio (OR)=2.8 for horses age 2-10 y ears compared to <2 years; history of previous colic, OR=3.6 relative to no colic; changes in concentrate feeding during the year (1 per yea r, OR=3.6, more than 1, OR=2.2) relative to no changes; more than 1 ch ange in hay feeding during the year, OR=2.1 relative to no changes; fe eding high levels of concentrate (>2.5 kg/day dry matter, OR=4.8, >5 k g/day dry matter, OR=6.3) relative to feeding no concentrate; and vacc ination with monocytic, ehrlichiosis vaccine during the study, OR=2.0 relative to no vaccination, Feeding a whole grain with or without othe r concentrate components reduced risk, OR=0.4, relative to feeding no whole grain, Results of the study suggest that diet and changes in die t are important risks for colic in a population or horses on farms.