Any ideas? Mystery gastric issues/pain

[Lnat]

Hello!
I have a 21 yr old Connemara cross who never had a day sick in his life until 2 weeks ago when he had colic like symptoms- totally off eating and drinking, lethargic and lying down/stretching onand off in field. Vet came out 3 times, no impaction, temp and heart rate ok so she put fluids in and gave him painkiller and took bloods. She wanted to send him to hospital but he has never travelled and too attached to his field mate it would’ve been too much for him. We were so worried was going to be liver disease or something but bloods came back normal apart from v slight anaemia.
Vet prescribed course of iron . steroids and omperazol but didn’t have any real suggestions of what it could be. Over last 2 weeks he is eating better and most of the time seems normal, however now and then will stop eating and stretch as if in pain then a few mins later he is ok again. We thought maybe ulcer although he is not typical candidate at all for ulcer with v light work and good pasture access.
Just wondered if anyone had experienced anything similar? I’m hoping he will improve but also worried it will happen again or that once steroids are completely out of system his appetite will drop again. Vet not really suggested any more tests/treatment- just see how it goes.
Thank you!

 

[racebuddy]

Mine never presented typically of upcers but did have ulcers hidden , he had severe abdomaonal pain / sent to vet hospital to be worked up twice and he had bleeding into his abdomen and inflammation throughout his digetive tract x

 

[Lnat]

Yikes! Thanks for your reply. What were his symptoms? Vet just said because he is in light work, a good doer etc it would be v unusual for him to have ulcer. It all started v suddenly and as I say he’s improved a lot but obv still has some kind of pain. Maybe I’ll ask vet what other investigations can be done. Thanks again!

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes I have in a younger horse though turned out to be bowel tumours is the horse grey ?

 

[Midlifecrisis]

Has ponio been scoped? My mare went lethargic and off feed but still passed dung...turned out her stomach wasn’t emptying ...completely impacted. Worth an investigation.

 

[Lnat]

Yes I have in a younger horse though turned out to be bowel tumours is the horse grey ?

Yes grey and vet did mention internal melanomas but said they are usually only found post mortem :/ she did think he would be colicking worse by now if it was that though. Thanks for your reply

 

[Lnat]

Has ponio been scoped? My mare went lethargic and off feed but still passed dung...turned out her stomach wasn’t emptying ...completely impacted. Worth an investigation.

Thanks I will ask about scoping, can it be done on yard? - I have no idea about things like this as he’s never even been lame before! He is still pooing and weeing it’s just this stretching every so often particularly after feed/haylage. X

 

[Midlifecrisis]

Some vets can scope on the yard others have to refer to a horsepital..it’s worth a question I think.

 

[LadySam]

Yes, I have seen this before. Much like yours but much younger, a good pony who was not your usual candidate for ulcers. Presented with colic-like symptoms over a period of time, bloods didn't reveal much. Started losing condition, nothing could fix it, was miserable so was pts. Post mortem found inflammation in the gut and two ulcers so severe that they had eaten right through the gut wall.

 

[racebuddy]

Hi have pm u

 

[Goldenstar]

They saw my horses tumours on diagnostic ultra sound , you need a specialist vet though .
Have they tested the droppings for blood ?
Try feeding small amounts of wet bran mashes several times a day that really helped my horse .

 

[Lnat]

They saw my horses tumours on diagnostic ultra sound , you need a specialist vet though .
Have they tested the droppings for blood ?
Try feeding small amounts of wet bran mashes several times a day that really helped my horse .

Thank you something to bear in mind and I will try bran mash. He seems ok in field but stretching in discomfort after eating feed/haylage

 

[Lnat]

Yes, I have seen this before. Much like yours but much younger, a good pony who was not your usual candidate for ulcers. Presented with colic-like symptoms over a period of time, bloods didn't reveal much. Started losing condition, nothing could fix it, was miserable so was pts. Post mortem found inflammation in the gut and two ulcers so severe that they had eaten right through the gut wall.

Ouch I hate the thought of being in pain, he looks happy in field but going to call vet again I think.

 

[shergar]

Hello!
I have a 21 yr old Connemara cross who never had a day sick in his life until 2 weeks ago when he had colic like symptoms- totally off eating and drinking, lethargic and lying down/stretching onand off in field. Vet came out 3 times, no impaction, temp and heart rate ok so she put fluids in and gave him painkiller and took bloods. She wanted to send him to hospital but he has never travelled and too attached to his field mate it would’ve been too much for him. We were so worried was going to be liver disease or something but bloods came back normal apart from v slight anaemia.
Vet prescribed course of iron . steroids and omperazol but didn’t have any real suggestions of what it could be. Over last 2 weeks he is eating better and most of the time seems normal, however now and then will stop eating and stretch as if in pain then a few mins later he is ok again. We thought maybe ulcer although he is not typical candidate at all for ulcer with v light work and good pasture access.
Just wondered if anyone had experienced anything similar? I’m hoping he will improve but also worried it will happen again or that once steroids are completely out of system his appetite will drop again. Vet not really suggested any more tests/treatment- just see how it goes.
Thank you!

Have you seen your horse pass urine ? a friends horse that was stretching him self out and showing signs of pain had bladder stones ,on this same page vet and hoof care ,someone has asked about sheath cleaning ,read the links on that thread a bean will slow the flow of urine and cause the horse a great deal of discomfort .

 

[Lnat]

Thanks I’ll have a look although I have seen him see and seems to be more feeding related. Worth a thought though thanks!

 

[Goldenstar]

What really made my horse worse was feeding him hay of course that was entirely logical once we had PTS and seen the tumours obstructing the bowel .
The bran and Epsom salts drew moisture into the bowel and kept everything soft and moving.