ABSTRACT
Signalment Signalment may be helpful in identifying certain problems. A horse more than 10 years of age with small intestinal distention has a high risk of having a strangulating lipoma,7 whereas a foal between 2 and 4 months of age with small intestinal distention is likely to have a volvulus.8 The commonest cause of colic in the neonate is meconium impaction. Ileocecal intussusceptions are most common in horses 6-18 months old. Arabian,9 Arabian crosses,9 Morgans,9 American Saddlebreds,9 and miniature breeds10 have an increased risk of developing enteroliths. Female ponies and American miniature horses are more predisposed to small colon impaction compared with other breeds in one population.11 Standardbreds and some warmblood breeds have an increased risk of inguinal/scrotal hernias.12 Paint foals, from a dam and sire which both carry the Overo lethal white syndrome gene, will be born with ileocolonic agangliosis and functional obstruction of the intestine.13
