Texas A&M removes 13-pound enterolith from mare with chronic colic
Texas A&M veterinarians say they successfully removed a 13-pound enterolith from a 19-year-old mare named Winterfair after years of chronic, recurrent colic, according to a VMBS patient story by Dr. Rebecca Legere and Dr. George Elane. Enteroliths are mineral concretions that can form around a nidus in the equine colon and cause intermittent obstruction, which helps explain why some horses cycle through repeated mild colic episodes before a definitive diagnosis is made. Texas A&M’s report fits that pattern: advanced imaging and surgery at the university’s Large Animal Teaching Hospital identified and removed the stone, and the mare reportedly returned to normal eating and behavior after postoperative care. Outside references from UC Davis and Merck Veterinary Manual note that horses with a single large enterolith often present with chronic, intermittent colic, and that surgery is the definitive treatment when obstruction is present. (ceh.vetmed.ucdavis.edu)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the case is a useful reminder that recurrent, low-grade colic in older horses can still reflect a mechanical lesion that won’t resolve with repeated symptomatic treatment alone. Enteroliths are classically associated with alfalfa-heavy diets, alkaline colonic conditions, and certain geographic regions, and they can be difficult to confirm on routine workup unless radiography or referral-level diagnostics are pursued. Texas A&M has previously emphasized that delayed referral can worsen outcomes in enterolith cases, while UC Davis notes that early diagnosis matters because obstructive stones can lead to rupture and fatal complications. For ambulatory equine veterinarians, that makes serial history-taking, diet review, and a low threshold for imaging or referral especially important when “mystery colic” keeps coming back. (vetmed.tamu.edu)
What to watch: Watch for whether Texas A&M or the authors publish additional clinical detail on Winterfair’s diagnostics, surgical approach, or diet-management plan, which would make the case more broadly useful as a practice reference. (vetmed.tamu.edu)