17/08/2021
With the change of season and dry weather, we have been called to quite a few colic cases over the past 2 weeks. Horse owners have long believed in a link between weather and colic episodes in horses but recent research suggest it may not be as simple as that..
Lack of Association Between Barometric Pressure and Incidence of Colic in Equine Academic Ambulatory Practice.
Justine Cianciab, Ashley G.Boyleb, Darko Stefanovskib, Amy S. Biddlea.
Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA
Researchers in the USA recently published some interesting data relating to the influence of weather and atmospheric effects on colic episodes in horses: ‘The authors hypothesized that changes in barometric pressure would increase the likelihood of a colic diagnosis compared with other noncolic sick events. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to look for associations between colic diagnosis and barometric pressure. The University of Pennsylvania Field Service electronic medical records were searched collecting 3,108 equine medical events along with corresponding weather data from the National Weather Service from January 1, 2005, through January 1, 2017. Barometric pressure values and changes were not found to be statistically associated with a diagnosis of colic (P = .1). Although the study did not find any associations between barometric pressure and a diagnosis of colic, the season, and geographical location of the animal were in fact risk factors. Perceived association of colic with barometric pressure changes may have more to do with changes in management associated with these weather alterations. As many other studies have shown, colic is multifactorial, and weather is not the only cause involved.’
