Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital and Colorado State University together reviewed the records of 896 broodmares over a 25-year period that had been treated for large colon volvulus in their clinics. Large colon volvulus is a painful type of colic where the intestine twists on itself, often during foaling; it's often called “twisted gut.”
Though the study focused on broodmares, large colon volvulus can happen to any gender and breed of horse, meaning the study is likely relevant to all equines, reports EQUUS magazine.
The study found that the time elapsed between the onset of signs and the initiation of treatment was key to the overall survival rate. Mares that had been colicking for two to four hours before being sent to the clinic were three times less likely to survive than those mares sent to the clinic within two hours of colic signs.
Mares colicking for four hours or more were nearly 12 times less likely to live than those who were referred to the clinic in the first two hours. The longer this type of colic occurs, the more damage is done; the tight twist in the colon limits the blood supply, eventually causing shock and organ damage.
The best survival rate for horses with large colon volvulus occurred in horses colicking for less than two hours. The overall survival rate was 88 percent
Read more at EQUUS magazine.
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