Vetdle Archive Case #10: Equine Colic

Clinical Clues

A 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding is presented for acute discomfort.
The owner reports the horse has been pawing the ground and looking repeatedly at its flank.
The horse has rolled several times and appears restless.
On examination the horse is sweating with an elevated heart rate.
Rectal examination reveals signs of gastrointestinal distension.
Pain originating from the gastrointestinal tract is a common emergency syndrome in horses.

Diagnosis

Equine Colic

Colic describes abdominal pain in horses and can arise from many gastrointestinal disorders such as gas distension, impaction, or displacement.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this horse case supports the provided diagnosis, Equine Colic, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

Clue 1: A 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding is presented for acute discomfort.
Clue 2: The owner reports the horse has been pawing the ground and looking repeatedly at its flank.

Clues 3-4

Clue 3: The horse has rolled several times and appears restless.
Clue 4: On examination the horse is sweating with an elevated heart rate.

Clues 5-6

Clue 5: Rectal examination reveals signs of gastrointestinal distension.
Clue 6: Pain originating from the gastrointestinal tract is a common emergency syndrome in horses.

Self-review prompts

After clues 1-2, what evidence from this horse case shaped your initial interpretation?
When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Equine Colic?
How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Equine Colic?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.