Colic advice please

[Shilasdair]

How long after colic surgery for small colon impaction following a blood clot (unusual I know) can I start backing and breaking my youngster?
Please don't advise me to phone my vet - I've been trying for more than 2 weeks and can't get to speak to one!
S

 

[kcgibson]

thats a difficult one. It depends on the severity of the colic, the damage done and how the horse is recovering. Im sorry but im gonna say it - you need to speak to your vet. He/she will have been dealing with the case and each case is individual. I would have thought the horse would need weeks and weeks of recovery time as backing is a very stressful time for a horse and the immune system needs time to recover. Also, i dont mean to scare you but after talking to the vets at work (i was asking them if i should send my horse for colic surgery if he ever needed it), they say that many horses (i think the figure was around 70%) that have colic surgery suffer from the condition a second time and usually need surgery again. Please be on your guard and go carefully with your young horse. I really would speak to your vet and insist that they phone you back.

 

[legend]

my boy was colic op'd for a totally different reason, but he had 2 months box rest with increasing walks before i got back on him. Maybe try the horsepital he was admitted to if you can't get hold of your own vet?

 

[Shilasdair]

Thanks both.
I've been lucky with her so far in that she wasn't very sick before she had the op, and the vets were very pleased with her recovery, commenting on her strength and good condition....she has a great enthusiasm for life!
It's been about 4 months, and she's back out in the field with her mates living a normal life as her vet advised..as her condition wasn't management related.
The vet that did the op seemed to think that her chances during surgery were poorer than normal...due to the unusual type...but afterwards were a bit better than usual...as she's had no gut removed etc.
Don't worry though...I'm not desperate to work her so will happily leave her til next year....just wish I could get past the snotty receptionists and speak to a vet!
S