Surgical Colic

Colic is a term used to describe a range of conditions associated with the gastrointestinal tract which present as abdominal pain. Colic can be classified into three general categories, including: Medical colic, false colic and surgical colic. Medical colic can be treated conservatively using drug therapies and other non-surgical means, without resorting to surgery. False colic refers to conditions which can appear similar to abdominal discomfort, but are conditions outside of the abdomen (e.g. tying up and laminitis). Surgical colic refers to those cases of colic which require surgical correction under general anaesthesia. This fact sheet will focus on surgical colic.