🩺 Equine Colitis: A Vet’s 2025 Guide | Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Meta description: Learn to recognize, treat, and prevent colitis in horses—diarrhea, colic, endotoxemia—with structured care plans and Ask A Vet support.

1. 💥 What Is Equine Colitis?

Colitis refers to inflammation of the colon in horses. This affects fluid absorption, causes diarrhea, and can be life-threatening due to endotoxemia, protein loss, and dehydration :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.

2. ⚠️ Why It’s Serious

Severe colitis can quickly lead to hypovolemic shock. Untreated acute cases exceed 90% fatality; prompt veterinary care within 7–14 days improves outcomes :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

3. 🔍 Signs & Symptoms

• Diarrhea: watery, foul-smelling, sometimes bloody or “cow-pie” in consistency :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
• Colic signs: pawing, flank-watching, rolling :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
• Fever, tachycardia, toxic gums, prolonged capillary refill :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• Dehydration and protein loss leading to ventral edema :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
• Reluctance to eat, depression, weakness.

4. 🧪 What Causes It?

Infectious causes:

• Salmonella, Clostridioides difficile/perfringens, Potomac Horse Fever, equine coronavirus, rotavirus, strongyles :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Non-infectious causes:

• NSAIDs—particularly right dorsal colitis from phenylbutazone/flunixin use :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
• Diet changes, stress, parasites, sand ingestion, neoplasia, IBD :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

5. 🛠️ Diagnosis

• History & physical exam, including hydration assessment
• Blood tests: CBC, chemistry, protein levels, electrolytes :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
• Fecal culture/PCR for Salmonella, C. difficile, Potomac Horse Fever
• Ultrasound/endoscopy for right dorsal colon thickness:contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
• Rectal exam and abdominal ultrasound for complications

6. 💊 Treatment & Hospital Care

• IV fluids & electrolytes—often large-volume therapy to correct dehydration :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
• Plasma transfusion for protein loss or endotoxemia :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
• Anti-endotoxin therapy, NSAIDs avoided if causing colitis
• Intestinal protectants: kaolin-pectin, smectite clay, activated charcoal, probiotics like Saccharomyces boulardii :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
• Antibiotics if bacterial infection is confirmed
• Nutritional support, including parenteral feeding when intake is inadequate
• For right dorsal colitis: stop NSAIDs, switch to low-fiber pellet diets, give misoprostol, sucralfate, psyllium, and possible colonoscopy monitoring :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}

7. 🛡️ Prevention Strategies

• Limit NSAIDs; prefer COX-2 selective like firocoxib :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
• Avoid abrupt diet changes; use gradual transitions :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
• Minimize stress—transport, competition, boarding
• Parasite control and prevent sand ingestion
• Manage antibiotics judiciously

8. 🤝 Ask A Vet Support

• 📋 Personalized fluid/electrolyte and nutritional protocols
• 📸 Remote monitoring of vitals, fecal consistency, hydration status
• 📆 Follow-up bloodwork reminders and recovery tracking
• 🎓 Webinars: “Colitis basics,” “NSAID-safe protocols,” “Sand colitis prevention”

9. ❓ FAQs

Can colitis recur?

Yes—recurrence risk is high after NSAID-overuse or unresolved stress/diet triggers.

How long until recovery?

Critical initial 7–14 days; full recovery may take weeks, especially in protein-losing cases.

Is diarrhea always present?

No—right dorsal colitis may present with colic and weight loss before diarrhea appears.

Should I isolate the horse?

Yes—infections like Salmonella/Difficile are contagious; barrier nursing is essential.

10. ✅ Final Takeaway

Equine colitis is a potentially fatal condition that demands swift veterinary intervention. Early diagnosis, intensive fluid therapy, colonic protection, and addressing the underlying cause improve chances of survival. Preventative management—including safe NSAID use, stress reduction, and diet control—reduces risk. With Ask A Vet’s remote guidance, you can monitor recovery closely, adjust care as needed, and educate yourself to prevent future episodes. As Dr Duncan Houston, I’m here to support you and your horse through acute illness and long-term gut health in 2025 and beyond.