Box rest post surgery Nervous!

pistolpete

pistolpete

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 July 2009
Messages
5,763
Visit site
I get my boy back from Liphook tomorrow after ten days in hospital post colic surgery. Really worried about how to manage him, what he is going to be like, always lived out before this. I have only had him three months. So worried he will be very stressed. Any advice experience of any of this I will be very grateful for.
 
anyones i've ever had that had lived out 24/7 i prefer just sectioning off a tiny paddock outside for them where possible. I find being stabled was stressful for some of them (some adjusted fine though) and i find they settle better when outside in the open near other horses. It saves all the stress and boxwalking and looking miserable. Even just having access to directly outside a stable works for most of them
 
Some ideas to keep your horse occupied...
-cut holes in plastic milk cartons, fill them with food and hang them in the stable.
-Get some chopped oat straw- they dont eat it like hay and will pick at it when they have finished their haynet.
- Do some clicker training in the stable- keeps their mind occupied.
hope that helps
 
firstly, try not to stress out about it yourself - that won't help him or you.
Some of them take to it well, so it might not be as difficult as you fear.
The main thing for mine is that they need company - mine get stressed out when they are alone for long periods. Will he have other horses nearby?
Your vets will be able to advise on diet, so use that as a starting point before introducing anything new in terms of treats etc.
 
If he's been kept out 24/7, I would ask if you can just section off a small part of the field. This would certainly help psychologically. Otherwise sedatives and having a friend in the next stable, hay in doubled nets/ small holed nets. Even a stable mirror might help.
Fingers crossed everything works out ok for you.
 
milliepops said:
firstly, try not to stress out about it yourself - that won't help him or you.
Some of them take to it well, so it might not be as difficult as you fear.
The main thing for mine is that they need company - mine get stressed out when they are alone for long periods. Will he have other horses nearby?
Your vets will be able to advise on diet, so use that as a starting point before introducing anything new in terms of treats etc.
Click to expand...

This, initially he will probably still be tired from surgery, post colic seems to knock them back more than other types, don't feel you have to keep him entertained unless he starts to play up leave him to be quiet and "bored" he needs to rest, switch off and relax not be constantly fussed with and stimulated with toys and the like.
If he does not settle then look for ways to help but until you have a problem treat him as normally as you can, most accept rest better than we think they will and are more than happy if allowed forage 24/7, which he probably will be by the time he gets back to you.
 
If you can keep in with company that's what I'd do. Too risky in a tiny paddock imo, I've seen too many horses jump out, unless you have heras fencing to use, even then, at this time of year, you'd be moving it non-stop to fresh grass.

On my yard we only have a few horses and it is quiet, so I normally find they settle best onto box rest if left pretty much alone during the day (with horse company). Every time I come round they seem to expect something to happen (fresh hay net, horses in/out etc) and that stirs them up.

I've only dealt with colic surgery recovery once, I kept the mare in for 10 weeks and then put her out in a small paddock with a pony friend and sedalin, left them grazing quietly for 10 minutes and came back to find she'd jumped out and was galloping up and down the whole field while the pony grazed in the paddock :) Gave up then and put her in the field as normal the next day, she was fine, vet said if the wound had withstood her antics the day before just to get on with it! She is fine nearly 5 years later as well.
 
If he is 2 weeks post surgery he will already be used to box rest at the vets so the starting of it is done for you and its just a case of sticking to the routine when he comes home. main thing is that he has company and is checked regularly especially checking how many droppings are passed in what time frame for the first few days. its likely that he will start hand walking and picking at grass fairly soon (if he has not already done so) to make sure the gut keeps moving so you should be fine with him. you may find the hardest part is making sure other people do not feel sorry for him and feed something that is wrong so it may be worth having a notice on the door stating that he has had an operation for colic and is to be fed nothing unless you have said it is ok.
 
AnShanDan said:
If you can keep in with company that's what I'd do. Too risky in a tiny paddock imo, I've seen too many horses jump out, unless you have heras fencing to use, even then, at this time of year, you'd be moving it non-stop to fresh grass.

On my yard we only have a few horses and it is quiet, so I normally find they settle best onto box rest if left pretty much alone during the day (with horse company). Every time I come round they seem to expect something to happen (fresh hay net, horses in/out etc) and that stirs them up.
Click to expand...

yep, agree. I have done lots of pen rest outdoors but it's a PITA in the winter if you need to keep them really confined as opposed to just a bit restricted, and mine is also inclined to jump out for a bit of entertainment - after major surgery I would not be prepared to take that risk and would rather find a way to keep them happy indoors.
 
Thanks all, he is safely installed in loose box. Not too grumpy yet! Seven weeks left to go! Will be popping back up there shortly to check for poo!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top