Investigation of false colic in the horse

COLIC refers to a syndrome of abdominal pain that encompasses a wide range of disorders, which can be gastrointestinal or non-gastrointestinal in nature. The clinical manifestations of the latter are often referred to as ‘false colic’ and can pose a considerable diagnostic challenge for the veterinary surgeon. Of particular relevance are non-gastrointestinal causes of colic that present with clinical signs suggestive of a strangulating obstruction of the intestine. An accurate diagnosis in such cases is essential and hinges on the objective assessment of historical information and on the results of a systematic physical examination, clinical laboratory tests and appropriate diagnostic imaging. This article reviews the diagnosis of disorders in the horse that do not originate from the gastrointestinal tract, but which elicit real or apparent abdominal pain.