Colic and treatment

Hugs for you op. I hope she shows improvement soon.
How does she travel? I had an old vet who came out to one of my oldies who had an impact ion that we couldn't seem to shift, like you I was not willing to put an old horse through an op. He recommended doseing it up with paraffin and then taking it for an hours drive in the lorry. Apparently the vibration and movement can help break up the impaction. Worked for my lad
 
It is just so frustrating, as she seems to be quite alert and bright most the time. She hasn't worsened, yet she hasn't improved since they treated her. There is no difference and all of her symptoms are the same. If they were worse, at least I would have confidence in any decisions I made for her. I have tried walking her, and giving her a chance to have a good blast in the school to move it too (no access to lorry to take her out, so was advised to try and get her moving herself), but... nothing.

Just had a long chat with the vets again. I am concerned at her weight loss (she can have grass, and she was allowed small sloppy amounts of food, but she is turning them down now) as well as the fact she still isn't passing anything. They are going to give her an intensive treatment with fluids this evening and overnight. If that does not clear it or she doesn't naturally, then there will be little more they can do :( urgh I hate this week already!
 
I have just had a chat to a friend who I was sure had worked with a similar situation and her advice was go with the vets idea of more liquid paraffin, fluids and time. she once had a horse where she worked that had an impaction and they put a lot of LP through it which eventually worked its way into and through until it loosened the blockage. they walked the horse for 10-20 mins at a time and allowed a couple of mouthfuls of grass. then waited for she thinks about 6 days for the LP to do its job by which time yes the horse had lost weight but eventually a few balls of dung came out then a bigger ball and then a load of liquid parafin drenched poo that was like a jet of cow poo. she said it did take a long time but was very impressive when it came out. hope yours does the same and gets over it soon for you
 
crabbymare said:
I have just had a chat to a friend who I was sure had worked with a similar situation and her advice was go with the vets idea of more liquid paraffin, fluids and time. she once had a horse where she worked that had an impaction and they put a lot of LP through it which eventually worked its way into and through until it loosened the blockage. they walked the horse for 10-20 mins at a time and allowed a couple of mouthfuls of grass. then waited for she thinks about 6 days for the LP to do its job by which time yes the horse had lost weight but eventually a few balls of dung came out then a bigger ball and then a load of liquid parafin drenched poo that was like a jet of cow poo. she said it did take a long time but was very impressive when it came out. hope yours does the same and gets over it soon for you
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Thanks Crabbymare, will keep you updated in the morning :)
 
I was advised by a vet you would never ignore : ) to feed sloppy sugar beet and turn out on grass after fluids were given to my old boy.
I hope your horse is getting better. looking bright is a good thing, good wishes sent your way! x
 
How about hiring a 3.5ton lorry? Doesn't cost much for a day or maybe if you are close to a HHOer with transport they can help out. I'd take her for a trip if you were anywhere near me (hull)
 
I'm so sorry to hear this. What a nightmare! My mare colics often but hers is always gas..... I feel awful doing it BUT I trot her for a few mins at a time on the lunge (vets did the same too when she went to them with it) and that nearly always get's her moving.......... Are you allowed to trot her at all? I know this is a different scenario but just want to help if poss as it's such a horrid thing to see and deal with...........
 
I've arrived to a very quiet and sorry looking horse this evening. It's the first time she's actually looked really poorly and dull. She's definitely lost the same spark she had managed to maintain up until a few hours ago :(
 
Ah, sorry to hear this... it is hell for owners at times like this. You can only go with your vets advice and your own instinct. xx
 
Thinking of you, I have just had some bad news regarding my gelding (not colic related) which could possibly mean a hard decision. Sometimes it just doesn't seem fair but all we can do is put them first as you are x
 
Hi all.

Thanks for checking in. Vets came out last night to give her another round of intensive fluids. She had a nasal tube taped in too so they could give through IV and that, but she ripped it out, given the job they had to put the tube in, we decided against trying again. She's had two lots of 20L overnight, and a further 20L slowly today. She's passed a couple of very loose droppings since but I'm still not sure whether it's bypassing the impaction as she has still passed one or two very small ones a day before the extra fluids last night, but nothing more. I was expecting explosions(!) from her with all the liquid she's had. After that only time will tell. She's looks brighter than yesterday though so that's a good sign.

I'm off work today to keep an eye on her with the IV fluids. Vets have said they will have a feel internally again later but whilst the fluids work their way through there isn't much need as she's comfortable for now. I'm catching some sleep in between checking her. She's allowed out for grass and an in hand walk at lunch, so I think come this evening we will know one way on another.

Meesha so sorry about your horse, I hope that he can be sorted. It is a hard decision to make but as an owner at least we can take comfort that when we do make it, we can do so in their best interests.


ETA thank you for keeping me sane all! I've been by myself since it started so no horsey friends as they're away, to cry on. It's been a release as my OH tries to understand and help but he's not horsey at all!
 
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Didn't want to read and run. Just wanted to say you're doing great so far, so big hugs from me and hoping to hear that your poor horse manages to pass that blockage a.s.a.p! I've only had little experience of an impacted colic and it righted itself within 36 hours, so I do really feel for you having to go through this for so long.
 
Good news. Wrap up warmly for all the in hand grazing (if it is as cold with you as it is here) and hope she takes big steps forward now. x
 
Looser droppings sounds a lot better :) I hope you get a very impressive explosion soon when the fluids work their way through and that she feels a lot better later. would be great if she could shift it before the vets return or to give you a laugh that when they give her a rectal to feel the impaction she releases bigtime :-D
 
I have no experience of this so no advice but just want to let you know that I've got my fingers crossed for a positive outcome for your girl x
 
Evening all, some more positive news from me tonight.

Impaction seems to have cleared. I have one happier, but very hungry horse! She didn't pass as many droppings as I thought she would after the amount of fluids she's had in the last 24 hours, but it appears to have passed. The next few days will be telling as to whether it stays clear (and if it doesn't we know we're dealing with something all together more serious and I'll have to reconsider my decisions about PTS). The vets commented she's probably a record for them in terms of how long it took to pass and she had the office confused as to why, or what the reasons were. Fingers crossed it's just one of those things as she is the last suspect for a colic case given her routine.

For now though I have a much comfier horse who got to enjoy the sunshine a bit today. And it means she gets a teeny bit of food later tonight and in the morning and tomorrow back out for a good few hours. It also means I get a full nights sleep!

Thank you all so much for your well wishes and checking in. I'll keep you updated in a few days again. I very much owe you all a virtual shoulder to lean on in future :)

One things for sure though, that's the most excited I've ever got about horse poo!! And it was one expensive s**t at that haha!
 
Hope she will be ok

Since I got my boy I've always had the decision that God forbid he get colic I will try the treatments the vet can do at the yard but if he needs surgery I will be saying no more as he doesn't travel and doesn't like new places so he wouldn't cope with the hospitalisation and all the new people tending to him it wouldn't be fair to him to put him through it plus he's 18 now. It's such a big operation as well from watching programmes on TV.

Think it all depends on the individual horse, were I to have a younger horse with a different temperament I'd need to consider it but it would all depend on how successful the time after the recovery would be eg what % likelihood would the horse be to get colic again/ how susceptible they will be to repeat episodes.
 
So sorry OP, only just caught up with this thread .... have been reading with my heart in my mouth and I am so glad to see your latest update. Really hope this is the end of your troubles and that your mare makes a rapid and full recovery from now on. Hugs, and massive admiration for your wonderful nursing :)
 
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