A quick WWYD!

Suzie86

Suzie86

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Hi all, pony escaped from his stable last night and tucked into the rest of the yard's breakfasts, a bag of apples and got in to the feed area, although I can't be sure exactly how much he had eaten out the bins.

I was really worried about him this morning as he was understandably really off, very bloated yet looking tucked up and breathing heavily. I put him on the walker slowly and he was really struggling so took him off and rang the vet.

Vet didn't come out but advice over the phone was to leave him in and starve for 24 hours. I stayed up the yard with him til 2, in that time taking him for a couple of walks. He now seems totally fine, he pooed once before I left the yard and my friend just told me he has had another 2 poos and seems fine.

So should I stick with the vets advice and give him nothing overnight, try calling them again, or as he seems perfectly fine give him a small haynet tonight?

He has been in all day without food so I will feel really guilty not giving him any hay tonight!!!!

What do you suggest? I've been so lucky with him over the years that I'm pretty useless in this situation and I'm just about to go see him now!

Thanks
 
Why would the vet want complete starvation? I'd call the vet back for an update and just double check the vet ment no hay at all and not just no hard feed.
It would be very unusual to stop all feed completely for 24 hours for a grazing animal.
 
Polos Mum said:
Why would the vet want complete starvation? I'd call the vet back for an update and just double check the vet ment no hay at all and not just no hard feed.
It would be very unusual to stop all feed completely for 24 hours for a grazing animal.
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^^ This ^^
Horses digestive systems work on "little and often". When belly is empty stomach acid still goes at it regardless.
Im no vet but I'd definitely double check with them about the advice they gave you. Just incase.
 
Polos Mum said:
Why would the vet want complete starvation? I'd call the vet back for an update and just double check the vet ment no hay at all and not just no hard feed.
It would be very unusual to stop all feed completely for 24 hours for a grazing animal.
Click to expand...

I would think it would be due to a risk of colic from the grains consumed, these not wanting to add more to the gut. Even though hay is a moving fiber, it is slow compared to grass etc, so would only cause more problems.

Go with what your vet has said OP, they're the ones qualified, with a minimum of seven years education in their field, giving you advice....

Eta- we had one colicing, and it was advised no feed at all over night. It depends entirely on the situation, I know, but if you have been advised by a professional, I would far rather listen to them, that some people on a forum, who you don't know.
 
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Polos Mum said:
Why would the vet want complete starvation? I'd call the vet back for an update and just double check the vet ment no hay at all and not just no hard feed.
It would be very unusual to stop all feed completely for 24 hours for a grazing animal.
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Ditto - it's ***** advice. No hard feed, sure - but NOTHING!! Colic guaranteed!
 
Thanks :)

I can only assume I didn't shut the door properly, not sure how or why as never done it before in 12 years of having him but no other explanation!!!

He seemed absolutely fine this eve so I gave him a tiny pile of hay to keep him going and he will be checked again in a bit to make sure he's ok.
 
Vet mentioned laminitis and said to hose his feet which I did a few times, fingers crossed on that one although he's never had it before in his life. He has never touch wood had colic either, I really have been so lucky with him.
 
Suzie86 said:
Vet mentioned laminitis and said to hose his feet which I did a few times, fingers crossed on that one although he's never had it before in his life. He has never touch wood had colic either, I really have been so lucky with him.
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Did he get into any barley bins.
 
Suzie86 said:
Vet mentioned laminitis and said to hose his feet which I did a few times, fingers crossed on that one although he's never had it before in his life. He has never touch wood had colic either, I really have been so lucky with him.
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Hosing feet won't stop laminitis ??? It would just temporarily reduce heat and possible inflammation, the sugars will still be present in the blood stream/digestive system so lami can still occur. Agree with others that horses need fibre and the gut needs to be kept moving. Granted no hard feed but hay/straw (if usually fed) should continue but in little and often quantities. Gentle movement is also best.

Hopefully your horse will be ok tomorrow but perhaps keep to a bland diet for a week or so to reduce any sugar surge. And perhaps seek a second vets opinion
 
Slightly worried here. OP rang vet and was given instructions. Vet is qualified and carries professional indemnity insurance. In spite of this, forum members advise OP to take different action from that advised by the vet. OP checks with vet who confirms how they want horse managed. Still forum members offer different advice . What happens if OP takes your advice and horse dies? Are YOU insured? Probably not and in that scenario OP has no come back or has to go through courts to sue forum members? My advice to everyone is be very careful and to OP 'follow vet's advice'!!
 
sport horse said:
OP checks with vet who confirms how they want horse managed.
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As far as I can see ^ this hasn't happened yet, OP just said they were going to check. And that is what most other posters suggested, clarifying as the advice, as understood by OP, sounded odd to many.
 
When the OP originally phoned the vet, the horse was bloated and tucked up. Now the horse's condition has changed, the vet's first advice may well be different. If it was me, I would phone the vet, update him/her on the horse, the fact he has pooed etc and ask if the original advice still stands.
The OP did ask for opinions and these were given. I don't think anyone has said to disregard the veterinary advice. Title of the thread is WWYD? after all :)
 
sport horse said:
Slightly worried here. OP rang vet and was given instructions. Vet is qualified and carries professional indemnity insurance. In spite of this, forum members advise OP to take different action from that advised by the vet. OP checks with vet who confirms how they want horse managed. Still forum members offer different advice . What happens if OP takes your advice and horse dies? Are YOU insured? Probably not and in that scenario OP has no come back or has to go through courts to sue forum members? My advice to everyone is be very careful and to OP 'follow vet's advice'!!
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I agree, usually the first advice on this forum is "ring the vet" and now you're all saying ignore the vet! Besides I'm pretty sure Auslander's horse was starved for more than 24 hours.
 
Vets can get it wrong, they aren't super human.
It could be a communication mishap.
I'd double check. The length of the horses intestine makes it dangerous to leave it empty.
Only ever been advised to starve when they have colic.
 
BBH - sorry my tablet isn't quoting atm!
Lots of people have said they wouldn't starve a horse for 24hrs - yes, I agree, but not directly told the OP to ignore the vet. Maybe im splitting hairs here :)
OP asked WWYD and not starve a horse for 24 hrs seems to be the majority opinion, that's all.
 
have to admit i would be concerned at a vet suggesting cold hosing to prevent laminitis!! it's the sugars in the food causing toxins that will cause lami , cold hosing will do nothing to prevent that, just alleviate the symptoms if there are any! and starving totally for 24 hours wouldn't sit well with me either due to how the horses digestive system works, yes i would avoid hard feed as he's had enough but i would give small amounts of well soaked hay.
of course it is entirely up to the OP whether she follows her vets instructions to the letter or not but she did ask for opinions.
 
Hello there I have had this happen a couple of times with my miniature shetland.... He ate every breakfast on the yard and we had at least 7 big horses at the time.... I would check the vets advice again, in my case he waddled off to the field, fell asleep... pooped a lot and was fine by bedtime... Sending you good vibes xx
 
Thanks for all the advice - interesting to see a range of opinions, pretty much mirrored what everyone said on the yard everyone has different thoughts and suggestions!!

I'm glad that I went with my instincts and gave him just a small pile of hay, no hard feed for his dinner last night. He was checked later that eve and still quite happy and had pooed again, this morning he seemed totally normal so went out in the field.

I am so lucky with this pony :) I will be extra paranoid about shutting his door properly though now!! I just got myself a bit upset as I know that if anything major happened to him I would have him PTS and not put him through any major vet treatments (he's 23) so was panicking that he could colic, this would be the end result and it would be all my fault. Thank god he's ok, the way he dragged me to the field this morning shows he's got plenty of life left in him yet!

:)
 
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