Colic experiences

I am 57. Woody had colic twice this year. May and August. Emergency vet. I’ve owned him since he was 5. He’s 17. Never had colic before with him. No change in routine. I lost one to colic last summer. He was 26. Absolutely fine at 11am. Dead by injection in the afternoon. Joker has colic 6 years ago in October, temperature had dropped overnight and heavy rain which was not due. He’d tucked himself up, was cold. And not pooped.
 
I had my first this morning - I've only owned for six years but I've been around horses all my life and never actually seen a colic. Greedy little horror ate his bed - my older horse has always done this so it doesn't worry me, but the baby clearly had eyes bigger than his stomach. He was flat out on his side with his legs sticking out, groaning. Touching his nose to his tight quiet tummy, rolling, getting stuck up the wall, the works, poor little man. Fortunately he was still a good temperature and his gums were the right colour. Lots of walking and IV buscopan seemed to have done the trick by early afternoon, so I've given him a sloppy mash for tea and have my fingers crossed that he's his usual opinionated self still in the morning.

Oh and I mixed the grotty wet bits into the clean parts of their bed :eek: Don't need him performing the same trick twice. I'm pretty shattered myself after spending the morning with a small but significant concern that he might die on me.
 
Never had experience of colic until 11 years ago so had 30yrs or so without it. Sadly my mare used to have bouts of it without explanation. I ended up treating the episodes (with veterinary agreement) with crushed buscopan and bute. Eventually we discovered she had delayed gastric emptying hence the spasmodic colic. Lost her after a field accident which led to another episode and a scope showed there was another food bolus. I had no option but to let her go.
 
Peregrine Falcon said:
Eventually we discovered she had delayed gastric emptying hence the spasmodic colic.
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I'm sure there have been a few posters on here with similar sad experiences of delayed gastric emptying. I'd never heard of it before joining the forum but it sounds awful. It must have been so stressful for you too - I'm sorry you lost her like that in the end.
 
I too believe it can happen to anyone at any time. Most of my experience was commercially, but Rigs has had colic twice. He is stoic and I have had to insist on an internal as his main symptoms are initially to stop eating. The first time, I nearly lost him but much tubing got the impaction shifted.

My worst one was a horse I'd literally just bought. Travelled quietly and well, but looked a little off colour. I suspected colic starting so called the vet and brought him out of the stable to walk and browse the lawn. He there had a massive heart attack, thrashing around, nostrils sucking so hard they stuck to his face.

He was in so much pain, he would have crashed round into the buildings etc, but I was able to help him to lay down, whereupon he did a laid down gallop and died. Awful.

I have been graphic as this thread is in response to one about people needing to be experienced to cover and this was an incident where my experience didn't save the animal but did save my sanity. I called the vet back to tell them it was too late. The horse was a 9yo and well used to travel, and had passed a full 5 stage the day before.

The body was removed by a local firm and a PM done the next day.

It really can happen to any horse at any time.
 
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I have just remembered I did have another that coliced, a few times actually. It was one of my son's pony. He was a greedy little so and so. Pony not my son 🙄 and would literally eat almost anything if not watched carefully. One of the fields we kept him had a row of houses with their back gardens lining the field. One keen gardener kept throwing his grass cuttings and general vegetable rubbish into the field.

I only found out when the inevitable happened and poor greedy fat little Hardy coliced, quite badly. Thanks to very quick intervention he was ok. But even after speaking to the guy and carefully explaining the danger he still kept dumping stuff in there. Unbelievable how someone could do that to a kids pony, well any animal really.

After yet another colic with the same pony, we gave up that field and have never kept any horse with houses adjacent fence lines again. Some people are just so ignorant and unpleasant even if you politely try to explain that sort of thing to them. No wonder I have become more and more insular and anti social as the years go by. 😕
 
Mrs. Jingle said:
I have just remembered I did have another that coliced, a few times actually. It was one of my son's pony. He was a greedy little so and so. Pony not my son 🙄 and would literally eat almost anything if not watched carefully. One of the fields we kept him had a row of houses with their back gardens lining the field. One keen gardener kept throwing his grass cuttings and general vegetable rubbish into the field.

I only found out when the inevitable happened and poor greedy fat little Hardy coliced, quite badly. Thanks to very quick intervention he was ok. But even after speaking to the guy and carefully explaining the danger he still kept dumping stuff in there. Unbelievable how someone could do that to a kids pony, well any animal really.

After yet another colic with the same pony, we gave up that field and have never kept any horse with houses adjacent fence lines again. Some people are just so ignorant and unpleasant even if you politely try to explain that sort of thing to them. No wonder I have become more and more insular and anti social as the years go by. 😕
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I think I would have shovelled the lot back into his garden every time just so he got the message. I'd have sent the vet bill also. Awful man.
 
My old boy got mild colic about 3 times in 17yrs. Each time a shot of Buscopan and Bute resolved it. The big ginge has not had any 🤞.

Current young horse colicked mildly a couple of times once after worming with Equest Pramox for tape and encysted (had been worm counted and was no eggs seen so not a high burden) and again Buscopan and Bute resolved it. Was scoped and treated for ulcers due to behaviour and the colic. Then colicked again this time badly and had surgery for a displaced colon. Touch wood nothing since.

I’ve seen a few horses that had fatal colic on the various yards I’ve been on over the years. Two on my last yard over a period of 14yrs, one an advanced dressage horse and one an older horse which probably has lipomas. His was the most horrible because he’d been thrashing around over night before he was found in the morning and really hurt himself.
 
I have had three experiences.
First was Jan 2010, was snowy/cold and I think horse had not been drinking enough. Horse was 13 at the time. Got to the yard to feed and he was pawing at the ground, and unsettled. Vet came and tubed, gave drugs which helped, said it was an impaction. Symptoms returned an hour or so later when drugs started to wear off so I decided to take him in to hospital. He was there about a week, had a slight relapse when they started to feed him again, but didn't need surgery. He had another very mild spasmodic episode a year or so later, but that only needed one vet visit and buscopan/bute to resolve. No other episodes, I lost him age 26 but not to colic.
Third was my current horse in Sept 2019, he was 6 at the time and he had just had a GA for an arthroscopy. I took him home 48hrs after the op, and after a day of not passing anything, had to take him back in (vets tubed him several times at home). He had a hugely compacted caecum, an affect of the GA and the fact his tail was damaged in recovery so he could not move it. They pumped him full of fluids and fortunately he was able to come home after 3 days. Had to go on a mash only diet for several months until he could lift his tail again. No issues since thankfully! 🤞
 
My own horses, twice, once spasmodic around fireworks night. Scary as hell as she was very dramatic thrashing around.
Second time was a few years later when she had an impaction and ended up hospitalised (liver issue set it off we believe) and it was so much worse, but so much more subtle. No rolling or dramatics, just not right.
Tubed and flushed and pumped full of meds and she thankfully managed to pass it.

I've seen quite a few other horses in 21 odd years, either pts, end up in colic surgery etc having worked and on livery in big yards and it's always the most stressful thing
 
Mrs. Jingle said:
Had my own for several decades and very grateful that I only ever had one mild gassy colic, that was almost certainly a case of an overdose of clover. I have experienced a few more of friends horses colic'ing, in two cases they were new to their owners and probably cause by the stress of moving on top of high worm burdens and too fast and harsh worming recommended by their local vet's practice. Ho hum, choose your vets carefully.
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Yes, be incredibly vigilant, particularly against Pramox or moxidectin in Equest, with such horses, far too many young vets - possibly practices that have a financial interest in stocking the stuff? - can be catastrophic. We won’t touch it because of the laminitis risk, but it’s exceptionally harsh and active in the system for a very long time.
 
My first horse had one episode of spasmodic colic, seemingly caused by the excitement of going for a walk out after box rest. One jab and he was fine.

My current horse has had multiple episodes of colic. I've had him for 7 winters and in 6 of them he has colicked at some point. He's had spasmodic colic, a small impaction which was resolved with tubing down the nose, a small intestine twist which required surgery but no gut removal (although he healed with hernias) and another spasmodic. The last one was caused by a particularly wet haylage bale, the rest the cause was unknown. He has no changes of food or routine and he's on a pre- and pro-biotic.

On my yard (40+ horses), leaving aside my boy, there tends to be an episode of spasmodic colic every couple of years. I think historically there have only been a couple who have required hospitalisation (including mine).

I am envious of the people who haven't experienced colic!
 
Exasperated said:
Yes, be incredibly vigilant, particularly against Pramox or moxidectin in Equest, with such horses, far too many young vets - possibly practices that have a financial interest in stocking the stuff? - can be catastrophic. We won’t touch it because of the laminitis risk, but it’s exceptionally harsh and active in the system for a very long time.
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in 2012 I had a horse in horse hospital. Unclear what his problem was (gut type probably) under < 50 and neg. on elisa so not a worm problem. They discussed worming with me. It was Oct.
They advised pramox in Jan, I expressed my dislike of giving 2 wormers (a combination) at the same time. They didn't understand me. Not a problem to them. I ask what the benefit was ie couldn't I give moxidectin and praz (if needed) separately. (that was in the days of equitape) Yes I could they said, somewhat surprised. However if I gave them together in pramox then I wouldn't forget about the other. So it seemed the only technical reason for Pramox was my memory. :D:D:D:D:D I didn't like to enlighten them that someone had invented calendars. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

I never come across vets yet who don't recommend pramox. if you sign up to a horse vet plan with your vet it always includes pramox.
 
I've had a pretty colic free life over dozens of horses - until Rusty!

He sometimes gets colic mildly when wormed which is always a worry - he's always had a zero worm count.
He has also had a bout of colic also every Oct/Nov for the past 5 or 6 years with one occasion requiring the vet for a displaced colon. Keeping everything crossed for no big Autumn storms or major local firework events.
I now know when he does the downward dog He is not stretching!
 
I've only dealt with two cases in 25 years of ownership (7 owned). One of those was pedunculated limpoma induced in an aged pony (35-40 years old) and was fatal. The other is my Exmoor mare who has twice mildly colicked in the 16 years I've had her, both times Autumn. No poos for 24 hours or so and just lethargic, loss of appetite, very gassy. Last time she was scoped and nothing found, so I just keep buscopan at the ready now and pay more attention during Autumn months!
 
paddy555 said:
in 2012 I had a horse in horse hospital. Unclear what his problem was (gut type probably) under < 50 and neg. on elisa so not a worm problem. They discussed worming with me. It was Oct.
They advised pramox in Jan, I expressed my dislike of giving 2 wormers (a combination) at the same time. They didn't understand me. Not a problem to them. I ask what the benefit was ie couldn't I give moxidectin and praz (if needed) separately. (that was in the days of equitape) Yes I could they said, somewhat surprised. However if I gave them together in pramox then I wouldn't forget about the other. So it seemed the only technical reason for Pramox was my memory. :D:D:D:D:D I didn't like to enlighten them that someone had invented calendars. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

I never come across vets yet who don't recommend pramox. if you sign up to a horse vet plan with your vet it always includes pramox.
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The relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and prescribers of their products ( animal or human, private or public) isn’t based on philanthropy!
 
paddy555 said:
you are a VERY cynical person Exasperated. :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
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Not always, and in relation to this issue - merely an informed realist; and in relation to initial marketing of moxidectin in UK, happen to know quite a bit about it; furthermore, believe a globalised economy only intensifies such strategies….😕
….and won’t be using moxidectin 😡
 
I've kept my horses on a big yard for over 10 years and mild colicky type "episodes" are fairly common and treatable at home by the vet. We've had a few pretty extreme cases too though.

- One referred to the RVC with spasmodic colic and has had a couple of episodes since, but nothing requiring another referral,
- One referred to the RVC with impaction colic after sedation and a stressful situation,
- One with intestinal displacement who pulled through after a team of liveries spent all day and night keeping him moving and the vet reattending to hydrate periodically,
- One with severe intestinal torsion, which came out of nowhere. She had to be PTS,
- Two elderly horses who both succumbed to it and;
- Not on our yard but a livery's friend had one PTS after colic caused by an encysted redworm burden.
 
Exasperated said:
Not always, and in relation to this issue - merely an informed realist; and in relation to initial marketing of moxidectin in UK, happen to know quite a bit about it; furthermore, believe a globalised economy only intensifies such strategies….😕
….and won’t be using moxidectin 😡
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what do you use for encysted?
 
I’ve had two episodes(ish) that resolved quickly on their own.
One other that required a vet visit but all good once he’d had some drugs.
And last year I lost my elderly pony to colic. She was in her 30s and it was awful so i had the vet put her down as soon as the vet arrived (after waiting a painfully long time for them)…
Edited to add: have had horses for a bit over 20 years.
 
DP loves to colic and it’s usually in winter although he has been known to throw a surprise summer one too ☹️ Not as bad since I realised Pramox that was a potential trigger and the last time he was in the horspital for an unrelated injury so was in good hands. Previous to that mostly grumbling over a few days and resolved with buscopan and a drench. Worst one on a Sunday morning required the help of next door livery yard manager and was touch and go whether I called the vet out. Thankfully after some Bute, lunging and allowing him to roll he passed a huge amount of poo and was as right as rain within a few hours. Needless to say I am always on colic watch with the change in seasons and know the sounds of his gut to a tee.
 
paddy555 said:
thanks
I am pretty sure we have febendazole resistance.
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You may well do, it varies, altho is that resistance to fenbendazole single dosage? Or to 5 day Guard? I gather also some reported resistance to moxidectin, too.
I don’t ever use Panacur single dose, my understanding from the vets being that Guard 5 day remains a far more robust and reliable treatment in this respect; and if ever a horse had a large encysted burden to expel, Guard is a far less abrasive method of tackling that horse’s guts (than moxidectin, and certainly far less downright abusive than sodding Pramox). P. Guard can be repeated fairly soon, if necessary.
but again, resistance also depends on where horses have been ‘imported’ from, and what burdens of resistances they might be bringing with them. Anyone with a floating population of grazing horses must be at increased risk, wherever situated in the country.
So, no advised or experienced issues with fenbendazole thus far, ours keep returning 0epg (altho I don’t have much faith in counts!), and no related health issues - so keeping fingers permanently x’d.
 
Exasperated said:
You may well do, it varies, altho is that resistance to fenbendazole single dosage? Or to 5 day Guard? I gather also some reported resistance to moxidectin, too.
I don’t ever use Panacur single dose, my understanding from the vets being that Guard 5 day remains a far more robust and reliable treatment in this respect; and if ever a horse had a large encysted burden to expel, Guard is a far less abrasive method of tackling that horse’s guts (than moxidectin, and certainly far less downright abusive than sodding Pramox). P. Guard can be repeated fairly soon, if necessary.
but again, resistance also depends on where horses have been ‘imported’ from, and what burdens of resistances they might be bringing with them. Anyone with a floating population of grazing horses must be at increased risk, wherever situated in the country.
So, no advised or experienced issues with fenbendazole thus far, ours keep returning 0epg (altho I don’t have much faith in counts!), and no related health issues - so keeping fingers permanently x’d.
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it was with 5 day PG. The pony, newly arrived, had been worm counted beforehand as a worm burden was anticipated, treated and then resistance tested afterwards still with a high burden.
 
paddy555 said:
it was with 5 day PG. The pony, newly arrived, had been worm counted beforehand as a worm burden was anticipated, treated and then resistance tested afterwards still with a high burden.
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😕That’s a shame for you, well for the pony, really, but if burden showing on a worm count - ivermectin, I’d use Eqvalan.
I just use Guard against possible encysted.
Presumably pony wasn’t being targeted for encysted, though, as using the counts?
Did you retry with Guard, or suspect encysted too, and go straight onto moxy? I have heard of owners achieving expulsion only after a second course of Guard, which can’t be risked with moxidectin, anyway, hope pony was purged clear in the end.
 
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