The cost of colic

Leah Walker, talks to KBIS to find out how far your insurance pot might have to stretch, if your horse has a colic episode

Colic is responsible for every one in three emergency equine vet callouts in the UK. In its simplest form, colic is the term used to describe pain associated with the abdomen but, there are a great number of types to be aware of, which range in severity from mild to potentially life-threatening.

In some instances, where the colic is just medical, it may require one vet visit and potentially medication and fluids, whereas with surgical cases, your horse will likely need to be referred to and operated on at an equine hospital. As there are many different types of colic, it can be hard for horse owners to prepare for the overall cost, which is why we’ve put together this guide to help give you an idea of what to expect.

How much does colic treatment cost?

The total cost of colic will depend on the type and severity that your horse has, and the treatment required. In the UK, surgical colic accounts for around 10% of all cases, however, in many instances when caught early enough, it can be treated medically.

A study carried out in 2018 gathered data from 108 cases of colic that were referred to nine different equine hospitals in the UK. The following mean and range costs were determined for four outcomes of a colic episode:

In instances where just euthanasia was carried out, cases were euthanised within the first 24 hours of admission to hospital, without surgical intervention. When surgery and euthanasia were performed, cases were euthanised either during or after the first surgical procedure.

Will my insurance cover the cost of colic?

If you have chosen to include vet fee cover on your insurance, your Certificate of Insurance will detail the cover your horse has, including the limit of the vet fee cover. Standard insurance policies typically include vet fee cover up to £5,000 per incident, however, there are more comprehensive options out there now including up to £6,000 per incident with extensions to £7,500 in the event of colic surgery. Bear in mind the cover you choose won’t only need to cover the treatment costs of surgery, but you will also need to factor in the initial vet visit, diagnosis and treatment at a referral centre, any post-operative care if required and, management of potential further complications. For surgical cases, the limit can often be exceeded by the surgery costs alone.

What to be clued into on your insurance policy

As colic can be very costly, it’s vital to read the small print and understand what is and isn’t covered by your policy. Here are a few things you should check for and be aware of:

• There is usually a limitation period at the start of the policy unless the horse passes a vetting and is insured within a certain time frame to prevent pre-existing conditions being claimed for. Make sure you’re aware of how long this period lasts and what is covered during this time. Often, it can just be open wounds only, but sometimes colic surgery is covered providing the horse has not had colic previously.
• If the horse has previously had colic prior to the insurance policy being in place, the condition may not be covered. Exclusions are based on whether or not an issue has occurred and therefore the horse is a higher risk, rather than whether or not the issue was claimed for, so an exclusion will be applied regardless of whether a claim was made elsewhere or not.
• Make sure you read through your policy each renewal to be clear on any changes that have been implemented as your horse gets older. In many cases there may be a maximum age limit on the policy, this is usually 16 for the more comprehensive policies, however, most will now offer illness cover up to 25.
• If a horse is euthanised outside of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) guidelines it is unlikely a claim will be paid. The guidelines currently state that to satisfy a mortality insurance policy claim the horse must have: “a disease that is so severe as to warrant immediate destruction to relieve incurable and excessive pain [and there are] no other options of treatment available to that horse at that time”. This means that any costs that go with disposal will also not be covered.
• Costs that go with livery, stabling, grazing, feeding and general care whilst the horse is hospitalised can add up. If you have hospitalisation costs included in your policy, these can be claimed for under this section, up to the agreed allocation again outlined on your Certificate of Insurance.
• It may be that a post-mortem examination is required for the purposes of insurance in some instances. Be aware that the costs of a post-mortem will not be covered by your policy.
• Any pay-out may require proof of ownership or identification such as your horse’s passport. This is why it’s important to send all documents requested by the insurer when you first take out the policy, to save the need to track anything down much further along the line and at a sad and stressful time.
• Further documentation concerning previous health issues will be requested, in order to support that the horse has not had the same issue previously.

Getting to grips with your policy and understanding your veterinary fee limits is crucial. Not only will it determine what you can afford, it will help you to understand the options and with your vet, decide on a treatment protocol that works for you and your horse. Visit our page on colic for more information on the types and causes of colic, the signs to look out for and, preventative measures you can take.