title: Colic after swimming exercise in racehorses: an investigation of incidence, management, surgical findings and outcome.
abstract: The incidence of colic following swimming exercise (SC) in a racehorse population examined over 3 years was 0.08%. Following 167,977 swims, 136 cases were reported. Colic resolved spontaneously in 2 horses, medically in 129 or surgically in 5. In a separate study, 21 horses were subject to exploratory laparotomy for SC. Findings included non-strangulating displacements in 7 horses, strangulating displacements in 7, a combination of non-strangulating and strangulating displacements in 1, prominent gaseous intestinal distension in 5 and no abnormalities in 1 horse. A poor response to analgesia prompted surgery in all cases. Rectal palpation and/or abdominal ultrasound was performed in 16 of 21 cases and abnormalities were found in 14 of these. Of the 21 surgical cases, 20 (95.2%) survived to discharge and 18 (90%) raced postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic and Hospital, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia. eawa@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Walmsley
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lumsden
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003085:Colic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006736:Horses; D015994:Incidence; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013550:Swimming; D016896:Treatment Outcome