Any suggestions?! Stomach related?

lillie07

lillie07

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Thought I would pick your brains whilst I wait for my Vet to call me back...

Bailey has been on box rest for the last 6 weeks and over the last couple of days he has become really really funny about his flank (on both sides) being touched (to the point he bit me and threatened to kick me- which is totally out of character). Not sure it is related but he is also making the occasional gulping sound (like a wind sucker but not actually grabbing anything) on his haynet and when he gets his "feed". He also has a swollen sheath but I think thats just from standing in.

My initial thoughts were Gastric Ulcers but having read a bit more about them I am not so sure. Could they make his flanks tender?!

He is fed ad lib wet hay, has no hard feed just Hifi Lite and a balancer. Doesnt have a temperature and he is fine in himself other than being fed up with being stuck in.

Any ideas? Sorry for the essay
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could he just be bored with being in? gulping in air - its still windsucking, even if they dont get a hold on anything

some horses can habitually bite their flanks when bored as well.

good idea to get the vet to check him out though
 
He is definately bored, but I have never known him put his ears back let alone actually go for me so he must be quite tender
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He still loves being groomed everywhere else. He doesnt actually bite his flanks- just get upset when I touch them.

The wind sucking may also just be a boredom thing, but I have had him 3 years and never ever heard him do it before- if it was just boredom surely he would be grabbing something for a reaction? He does it before he actually swallows his food which to me is a symptom of something else?
 
I would expect the sheeth is swollen from standing in - yes.

My horse gulps ocassionally - in and out of the field. Never been able to identify triggers for it though.
 
No it has never happened before but he has never been on box rest for this length of time- I called the Vet about it last week and he reasurred me that it is fine as long as there is no sign of infection (temp etc!). Just a collection of fluid as he isnt moving about!

Only mentioned it as I wasnt sure if the tender flanks might be related
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I am convinced the gulping and sore sides are related as they both came on at the same time
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Can't find any information online at all though about tender flanks.

I am going to try Coligone (when my Vet eventually gets back to me to OK it!)- figure it won't do any harm if it doesnt do any good!
 
that was exactly why i asked if it was normal, the tender flanks may be related to the ureters as they course to from the kidney to the bladder, i'd be inclined to ring the vet again as it may be related to the sheath swelling and could poss be an infection, does it reduce if he walks out in hand or is he not at that stage yet?
 
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