Colic/hernia aftercare

C

Copp

New User
Joined
7 May 2011
Messages
3
Visit site
Hi my boy had colic at the end of January he needed immediate surgery and they removed 25ft of his intestine...he spent a week at the hospital and we did the best we could managing his aftercare. I have to say the hardest part is trying to keep the support wrap/corset in place it just keeps slipping back my vet gave me advice on how to protect his back from pressure areas that could occur due to the bandaging. Unfortunately 3 wks in he developed a hernia which is just bad luck and has since been back to the hospital for his second op to fix that so we are still battling on with bandages/dressings etc. Has anybody else out there had a horse who has had to wear a support bandage/Corset? If so do you have any advice on how to stop it from slipping?
 
Sorry can't help with the support bandage/corset, we were told that it wasn't possible to have one that was effective for our little one. I'm suprised that they operated on the hernia quite so soon as we had her first op (colic) 10th oct, then went back for a check up mid dec to be told it was too early? The hernia errupted so she had to be operated on again 23rd Dec, it didn't work and we need to take her back again but have been told to leave it as long as possible to make sure the surrounding tissue becomes strong enough, we've decided to try and keep her as she is until the autumn (to reduce flies etc) so are dreading it as we have to now pay each operation. on each occaision we only had bandages on for the first few days but we didn't loose any intestine.

Is your chaps hernia at the front or the rear? I'm interested to see if its a support thing we can ask for when she goes back? Love to hear how he gets on....
 
Hi I am suprised that they have not operated sooner.....we were told the sooner the better!!? He is healing but slowly he has still got half his staples in and its now been just over 3 weeks since the op but he is still loosing a bit of fluid from it too I just wish the wound would heal as I am so worried about infection. We have managed to secure his bandage with a poly pad then 2 strips of 2inch thick memory foam pads along his back either side of his back bone like a saddle would be then a sheepskin numnah on top then pull all the support bandage as tight as possible around him to secure it, we have to strap the dressing on the support using masking tape I will try and get some pics if you want incase this is something you end up doing. I was told the support is essential for the first 6 to 12 weeks by the vet at the equine hospital to avoid any further complications...please keep in touch would love to know how your getting on.

His hernia is at the back I definately think it would be worth asking about support....
 
Last edited:
My mare developed a hernia following 2 colic surgeries 6 wks apart. Was advised to wait 5-6 months to allow muscle wall to strengthen, but due to various reasons did not have the op done until 11 months after the second colic op. She wore a corset after the second colic op & again for the hernia repair. The corset did have a breast strap but wasn't that effective so I improvised with a hunting breastplate which seemed to do the trick. I also ended up with about 3 pads and gamgee underneath to prevent pressure sores over her spine.
The op was done last Summer. She has been back in work 6 months now & all well to date.
Good luck with your horse and feel free to pm me if I can be of any further help.
 
Our reason for waiting is also for the area to strengthen, they way it was described was like sewing a bit of fabric that is rotten or not very strong, where the thread simply pulls it apart. I don't know how to post pictures but ours looks like a shark fin on her belly!!

Its hard not to become a nervous wreck over it, we check it daily. I've recently seen a gelding that has one at the back, a small one about 2 inches by 1 inch, he wasn't bothered by it and had obviously had it for a long time, it wasn't the end of the world, I just wish our little one's wasn't so big!!

Our reason for the 2nd op was the hernia errupted - the infection could have killed her, so I understand your concern about infection, by the sound of it you are getting on well!

Let us know how you get on?
 
My mare had colic surgery eight months ago while 3 months pregnant. She has 3 foot of intestine removed.

She had bandages on her for the two weeks that she was in hospital, but was not discharged with a support bandage. She did 4 months box rest and her scar healed well, with no lumps or bumps (except a foal), so I cannot comment on the hernia, is this why they give you the support bandage?

Just want to say good luck with your gelding. Hope everything goes well.
 
I rehabbed a horse last year from double colic surgery. His owner bought him a hernia belt from America. He wore the belt as a precaution but it also came with various inserts so that in the event of a hernia it would help to keep everything in the right place.

Regarding the pressure points - this one came with a breatplate type of attachment but that didn't really stop it moving. The felt pad that it came with also cause rubs. We ended up with various bits of polypad etc to try and protct his back, but just found that the best thing was to keep readjusting it during the day to make sure it was as comfortable as possible.

This horse suffered from recurrent bout of peritonitis following his surgery, plus a thrombosed vein and various abcesses on it. We hadn't used the hernia belt due to the peritonitis. However he did form a small hernia so the belt then went on. You wouldn't be able to tell know that it had been a problem.

Good luck.
 
God its really good to know other people out there have had similar problems and they are now over it and its all behind them.....I don't know why the vet at the equine hospital thought we had to operate sooner than later but all I can say is he is now going into his 5th week of box rest after surgery we are still changing his dressing twice a day but he has finally stopped leaking fluid he has just got a hole the size of an egg shape under his belly where the open drain was which aparently will heal from the inside out in time..I didn't realise he would have a wound like that and called the vet out on an emergency one night thinking his belly was going to fall out :)
Anyway he seems better in himself the improvised corset seems to be holding out he does have to wear it for another 7 weeks then he will be free. Thanks everyone for your lovely messages x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top