Risk factors of colic in horses in Austria

Abstract

A hospital-based case study was conducted at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna for a 1-year period. The purpose of this study was to determine possible alterable and non-alterable risk factors of equine colic in Austria. The investigated parameters were obtained from hospital medical records (individual factors, duty of the horse, deworming, change in diet and water intake), from questionnaires (feed intake, watering types, housing and pasture practices) and from http://www.orf.at (weather-related factors). Moreover, 221 collected feed samples were investigated through hygienic quality sensory evaluation and mould, yeast and bacteria presumptive samples were confirmed by microbiological investigation. Variables that were observed from the hospital medical records and found to be significantly associated with colic in a univariate analysis were included in multivariate analysis and the only remaining risk factor was decreased water consumption (p < 0.001, OR = 5.025). Consequently, a total of 2743 horses and 366 cases of colic were observed during the study period. The risk factors for colic in Austria were identified for the first time in this study and these increased risk factors were decreased water consumption, high amount of concentrate intake (p = 0.037), low hygienic quality of hay (p = 0.027) and high temperature on the arrival date (p = 0.003). Results suggest that the occurrence of colic may not stop, but may decrease with better feed management practices in Austria.

Changes of the hindgut microbiota due to high-starch diet can be associated with behavioral stress response in horses

“…As expected the HB diet induced changes in the microbial hindgut ecosystem: we found an increase of colonic total anaerobic bacteria, lactate-utilizing bacteria 0,0E+00 and amylolytic bacteria concentrations in accordance with data previously reported with such diets [5][6][7]. These microbial disturbances occurring in the hindgut might be responsible for digestive upsets [31] and induce intestinal pain in animals [2,32]. However no symptoms of colic were noticed along the experimental trial.…”

“…However, the domestication and the use of horses as athletes have led managers to feed them large meals of low-fiber and usually high-starch diets in order to provide more energy. Epidemiological studies reported that the ingestion of a large amount of concentrate or cereals, and therefore starch, induced intestinal pain and strongly increased the risk of colic [2][3][4]. Moreover several studies showed that high intake of starch created disturbances in the equine large intestine ecosystem, not only in terms of its composition but also …”

Intestinal disease

“…The consumption of 2.5-5.0 kg of concentrates daily was shown to increase the risk of suffering colic by almost 5 times in one study (Tinker et al 1997), whilst a separate study found a similar quantity of oats to be associated with almost 6 times more colic episodes (Hudson et al 2001). It has been suggested that pelleted-, extruded-or sweet-feeds may pose a greater risk than whole grains (Morris et al 1989, Tinker et al 1997 although this is disputed by other studies (Cohen et al 1999, Kaya et al 2009, Little & Blikslager 2002. Studies of racing Thoroughbreds (Richards et al 2006, Southwood et al 1993 indicating that an increased incidence of colic is expected as an occupational hazard of competitive racing.…”

“…35.1, Table 35-3a) (Hudson et al 2001, Kaya et al 2009, Tinker et al 1997. Such feeding practices are frequently associated with further potential colic risk-factors such as suboptimal forage intake, high levels of exercise, particular breeds of horses and perhaps restricted turnout although multivariate analysis has been applied in several studies to specifically identify causal factors ( Fig.…”

“…Higher levels of concentrate feeding were even more hazardous with horses fed >5 kg concentrate daily having a greater than 6 times increased risk of colic (Tinker et al 1997). Hudson et al (2001) found that horses that were fully stabled or had a recent reduction in grazing were three times as likely to have colic as those at pasture full time even after controlling for many other associated variables (Table 35-3a), although some studies have found no association between pasture access and colic risk (Cohen et al 1995, Cohen & Peloso 1996, Kaya et al 2009. It has been suggested that pelleted-, extruded-or sweet-feeds may pose a greater risk than whole grains (Morris et al 1989, Tinker et al 1997 although this is disputed by other studies (Cohen et al 1999, Kaya et al 2009, Little & Blikslager 2002.…”