Can't believe it's happened to me...Long, sorry.

tammyisback

tammyisback

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Yesterday, got up, went to yard, bring in darling pony, go for lovely hack, put pony in stable while I put tack away, get chatting to someone for 10 mins, hear banging noise? Go back to stable to check on pony, she is thrashing around on the floor.

I hadn't fed her, I hadn't done anything excessive, just a quiet walk to the village and back, complete mystery, vet was baffled, but stated that due to the extremely strange weather we're having he is seeing a lot of colic, so anyway...

I was in complete shock and beside myself, in 5 mins she's gone from completely normal, to literally throwing herself at the walls and floors and projectile pooing (very watery) everywhere. Vet came straight away, gave painkillers and sedation and she went calm. Did a rectal and couldn't find anything abnormal, said he's wait for the sedation to wear off (pain killers would still be working) and see how she was. Well literally as soon as the sedation wore off she started throwing herself around again, by this time all her front legs were bleeding where she'd gone down on the concrete etc. I was surprisingly composed, amazing what you can achieve composure wise when it's needed.

The vet decided to do another rectal (almost an hour after the first) and decided that things had moved inside and that he was concerned there might be an entrapment? He said that normally they can be managed with pain relief but as she wasn't responding to that he was referring to newmarket. (Heart Sinks) He told me that he thought it was still a relatively small chance that she'd need surgery however he thought that was the place they'd be able to manage her medically. So transport arranged, off we go, break down at a garage on the way, cue nervous breakdown from myself, not helping the lorry driver much when we're already in a bit of crisis as the vets had to give her opiates to travel and we only had a limited time to get her there, however a really nice lorry driver helped us get the old girl going again and we were back on our way.

So we arrive, greeted by a team of vets, who sedate her straight away, do an ultrasound to check whats going on as my vet had told them he couldn't feel exactly what the problem was and then they break the news that there was a question mark over what exactly was going on and if she started to go down when the sedation wore off again they'd be taking her to surgery. We were asked to leave, we were no more than ten minutes down the road when they decided to take her down to surgery and I got the dreaded call for my permission.

Well here I am the day after, apparently her secum was wrapped around her colon and then the whole section folded back on itself. They've told me there was some damage to the bowel but they opted not to remove it. She is up, very twitchy but they are pleased with her progress so far.

In all the years of having horses i've never had to deal with something this extreme, can't believe the range of emotions i'm going through, but i'm just so glad she's still with us. Fingers crossed she can just get better and better now. I miss her so much, doesn't feel right her being so far away, but i'm going to visit her tomorrow and I can't wait!

And for those of you that read my last thread on loading, when we got to newmarket, despite all the drugs, she still tried to launch herself off the lorry, however it wasn't as drastic as I normally experience! Just trying to figure out how I get her to unload calmly when I eventually get to bring her home!

Thanks for listening, just needed to tell someone! xx
 
Well you sound like you handled that bloody well. I wouldnt have been half as strong as you.

I hope she makes a swift recovery, in light of recent threads with mistreated animals shes lucky to have an owner to go to the extremes for her.
 
Poor you, what a nightmare day. I think I would have lost it when the lorry broke down. Fingers crossed she makes a full recovery x
 
wow.... someone must be watching down over you both. Had you not been there when you were... phew, well, it just doesnt bare thinking about...

Well done for keeping a sane head xxx Sending her healing vibes xxx
 
Fingers crossed for her, and a big hug for you.

It sounds as though she is a lucky horse to have you react so quickly, along with the vets, so you did everything right.
 
Oh my goodness, how awful for you, what a shock to come on so suddenly after such a normal start to the day! Glad she is in the right hands and all good vibes for a swift and full recovery. Well done you for coping so well and taking it in your stride, I guess when push comes to shove what else can you do but you did good - hope she's back home with you very soon, must have been a horrendous situation x
 
Hope your girl makes a full and trouble-free recovery.
Two of mine have had colic surgery - one for a blood clot in the small colon (no parasites so no idea how that happened - very rare), and one with IFEE related to an immunity issue (also rare - I am just unlucky :D).
If it gives you hope - both of mine recovered fairly well from the colic surgery - the first has had no further problems in 4ish years, the second has other allergy issues, but no further colics to date (in more than 1 year).
The website link below will give you more info.
http://www.liv.ac.uk/equinecolic/index.htm
S :D
 
Hi, thanks for all your responses.

I've still got my fingers crossed for her as I know it can be a long road, but she's a tough cookie and I hope that'll help her through this. She is my horse in a lifetime and I just can't bear to think of anything bad happening to her.

I guess I am so lucky that I didn't just turn her straight back out, as no-one would have checked on her till the evening, and by then it may have been to late, doesn't bear thinking about.

Thanks for the info on Colic, Shilasdair, its not something I have much experience of so any info is appreciated, i've never known a horse to have colic surgery before either so am glad both of yours are doing well now!

xx
 
It's horrible isn't it when one of your beloved animals is in pain and distress like that, you feel so helpless and bedside yourself with worry, only another horse,dog,cat etc owner can relate and understand what you are going through. Glad she's on the road to recovery and thank god you were there and not off home before it happened, Oz :)
 
Thanks everyone, will endeavour to keep you the best informed that I can.

All they have told me at the moment is that she is settled, but a bit nervy (she is an arab) and that she's not drinking but they wanted to know if she'd seen an automatic waterer before as she didn't seem to know what to do!! I told them we didn't have anything that posh and they said they'd try her with a bucket!

xx
 
You & she are truely lucky that you were around when it happened and that you acted so fast otherwise she may not have got the chance etc...and you got her over to Newmarket fast!

but fingers crossed that she will make a good recovery .... you just never know
 
Hope all goes well and that she makes a full recovery. I have been there so I know how you feel. Two of mine had colic surgery within six months of each other. Fortunately, both recovered. Take care of yourself too because all of that emotional stress will take its toll if you are not careful.
 
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