Graham qualified from University of Bristol with honours in 1979nd spent nine years in equine practice in Wendover, Newmarket, Arundel, Oxfordshire, and a stud season in New Zealand. Whilst in practice Graham studied for and gained CertEO and DESM from RCVSbefore joining Glasgow University in 1987 as a Lecturer in Equine Surgery and Reproduction.

Graham obtained a PhD by thesis on Neonatal Foal Ophthalmology and Fellowship of the RCVS by examination in 1994 then moved to Edinburgh as a Senior Lecturer in Large Animal Surgery in 1994. He obtained DipECVS in 1997 then set up private equine consultancy practice based in Scottish Borders in 1998 and consults in clinics in Scotland and Northern England, and occasionally in Europe.

• Pathophysiology of the acute abdominal pain case
• Clinical approach to the colic case
• Use of diagnostic aids in the colic case
• False colics
• Benign colics and their treatment
• How to recognize and refer the surgical colic case
• Rectal examination of the colic case
• Basic understanding of the surgical treatment of acute abdominal pain
• Complications post colic surgery that the practitioner may have to deal with
• Case based discussions of colic cases

Who should attend:

Any clinician involved with horses in mixed or equine practice who is looking to increase their knowledge of the very common problem of acute abdominal pain in the horse and pony. Suitable for candidates enrolled on RCVS certificates in equine practice.

What the course will help the attendees to do:

• Improve their understanding of, and approach to, the various types of acute abdominal pain in the horse and how to recognise them
• How and when to use the various diagnostic techniques that are available in the colic case
• Improve their management of acute abdominal pain cases and how/when to refer cases for surgery
• Rationalize their treatment of benign colic cases

Learning objectives

By the end of this course delegates should have a thorough understanding of:

• Approach to the diagnosis of acute abdominal pain in the horse
• The basic pathophysiology of the acute colic case
• When to refer the acute abdominal case
• How to treat the benign colic case
• Major longer term post operative complications of colic surgery