International Symposium identifies colic priorities
A report which was created by the Research Priorities Panel of the International Equine Colic Research Symposium identifying future research priorities in the study of equine colic has been published by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation. It was written by a panel of distinguished researchers who met during the 10th International Equine Colic Research Symposium, which was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, from July 26th to 28th 2012.
The symposium, which alternates every three years between being held in the USA and in Europe, is held to allow leading researchers, residents, practitioners and graduate students to share their thoughts on equine colic. As with symposia in previous years, the gathering in Indianapolis allowed those attending to exchange ideas, propose new collaborations and suggest new directions. At this symposium, the consensus of those attending was that epidemiology should be the primary focus of new research, technological advances have opened promising new avenues of research, and that detailed surveys are required to collect clinical data in certain specific areas.
"I want to thank all the researchers who volunteered their time to help develop this important document," said Symposium Co-Chair Nathaniel White II, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS. "I look forward to the equine and veterinary communities embracing and using this information to help horses through much needed equine colic research."
The Symposium was presented by AAEP Educational Partner Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. Additional sponsors included the American Quarter Horse Foundation, the British Equine Veterinary Association, Bioniche Animal Health, USA, Inc., the Equine Feed Oat Project, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, The Horse Trust, Merck Animal Health, the Morris Animal Foundation, the North American Equine Ranching Information Council, Nutramax Laboratories, Inc., Nutrena and Platinum Performance.
A full list of the symposium's conclusions, priorities for future research and projected allocation of resources is available at http://www.aaep.org/images/files/colicresearchsymposiumreportfinal122011.pdf
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
