Louise L. Southwood 
Practical Guide to Equine Colic 

Practical Guide to Equine Colic takes a step-by-step
clinical approach to the medical management of this common
condition. Covering colic management and treatment from the
veterinarian’s first involvement through referral, surgical
intervention, and long-term recovery, the book offers practical
advice on managing a colic case. Designed for easy navigation,
chapters are brief and fully cross-referenced, allowing the reader
to quickly find and apply information in the practice setting.

The book incorporates key points, checklists, clinical tips,
step-by-step illustrations, and case examples, emphasizing
clinically relevant information throughout and referencing the most
applicable and up-to-date literature. A companion website offers
clinical cases, quizzes, and videos at href=’http://www.wiley.com/go/southwood’>www.wiley.com/go/southwood.
Practical Guide to Equine Colic is an ideal resource for
daily use in treating horses with colic, appealing to students,
equine practitioners, and specialists alike.

Table of Content

Contributors ix

Preface xi

Overview of Practical Guide to Equine Colic xii

1 Patient Signalment and History 1
Louise L. Southwood

2 Physical Examination 12
Louise L. Southwood

3 Abdominal Palpation per Rectum 22
Louise L. Southwood and Joanne Fehr

4 Nasogastric Intubation 38
Joanne Fehr

5 Management of Mild Colic 45
Sarah Dukti

6 Analgesia 51
Luiz C. Santos and Louise L. Southwood

7 Enteral Fluid Therapy 62
Jennifer A. Brown and Samantha K. Hart

8 Referral of the Horse with Colic 71
Louise L. Southwood and Joanne Fehr

9 Clinical Laboratory Data 78
Raquel M. Walton

10 Abdominocentesis and Peritoneal Fluid Analysis 87
Raquel M. Walton and Louise L. Southwood

11 Intravenous Catheterization and Fluid Therapy 99
Louise L. Southwood

12 Abdominal Sonographic Evaluation 116
Jo Ann Slack

13 Abdominal Radiographic Examination 149
Sarah M. Puchalski

14 Trocharization 160
Joanne Fehr

15 Medical versus Surgical Treatment of the Horse with Colic 164
Louise L. Southwood

16 Colic Surgery 173
Kira L. Epstein and Joanne Fehr

17 Specific Causes of Colic 204
Eileen S. Hackett

18 Postoperative Patient Care 230
Samantha K. Hart

19 Postoperative Complications 244
Diana M. Hassel

20 Biosecurity 262
Helen W. Aceto

21 Special Considerations 278
Louise L. Southwood

22 Long-term Recovery and Prevention 292
Louise L. Southwood

23 Nutrition 301
Brett S. Tennent-Brown, Kira L. Epstein, and Sarah L. Ralston

24 Gastrointestinal Parasitology and Anthelmintics 316
Louise L. Southwood

Appendix A Clinical Scenarios 325

Appendix B Drug Dosages used in the Equine Colic Patient 330

Appendix C Normal Ranges for Hematology and Plasma Chemistry and Conversion Table for Units 339

Index 343

About the author

THE EDITOR

Louise L. Southwood, BVSc, Ph D, DACVS, DACVECC, is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Critical Care at New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania.