Colic incidence, risk factors, and therapeutic management in a working horse population in Tuban, Indonesia

Background and Aim: Colic is the primary problem affecting equestrian care worldwide. The primary cause of colic is digestive diseases; however, they can also affect organs from different systems in the abdominal region. In addition to a prior history of the disease and its treatment, risk factors may be assessed to determine the etiology of the disease in horses without or with a history of colic. This study aimed to present a summary of the incidence, risk factors, and medical procedures for colic in horses. Materials and Methods: Based on owner reports, 223 horses in Tuban, Indonesia, suspected of having colic were investigated. During the investigation of clinical parameters, investigators went door-to-door with interested horse owners to gather information about potential risk factors related to equine colic. Information on horses diagnosed with colic was obtained from the medical records of treatment. A Chi-square test was used to investigate the potential association between the risk factors, medical protocol, and the outcome of colic in horses. Results: Of the 187 cases, spasmodic colic was the most common (48.13%), but 17 (9.09%) had no definitive diagnosis. Poor body condition scores (χ² = 58.73; p < 0.001), wheat bran feeding (χ² = 26.79; p < 0.001), concentrate (χ² = 10.66; p < 0.01), less access to water (χ² = 128.24; p < 0.001), recurrence of colic (χ² = 85.64; p < 0.001), no deworming program (χ² = 54.76; p < 0.001), the presence of gastrointestinal parasites (χ² = 56.79; p < 0.001), stressed physical activity (χ² = 28.53; p < 0.001), and summer season (χ² = 7.83; p < 0.01) were the risk factors for colic. We further reported that 185 (98.93%) patients who received the following medical interventions recovered: injection of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was necessary, Vitamin B complex (χ² = 39.98; p < 0.001), fluid therapy (χ² = 92.99; p < 0.001), and gastric intubation (χ² = 4.09; p < 0.05). Conclusion: The importance of colic was demonstrated in 187 (83.86%) of the 223 horses investigated in Tuban, Indonesia, documented. In this study, recommendations for medical procedures when colic risk factors have been determined are presented.