Colic, now laminitis?

[Black_Horse_White]

I brought my horse in from the field on Sunday, he could hardly walk. He kept lifting his hind legs up and looked very tender through his hind quarters. I rang the vet who came out and started the usually examination for colic. His heart rate was 60. He was not sweating trying to roll or trashing about, he was very calm. He had 2 Pooh's wanted to eat and generally looked relaxed.The vet made a comment that he could feel nothing in the rectal examination, so tubed him and flushed his stomach. Now I'm not a vet and have never claimed to be an expert. But he has had colic before and this was completely different, he didn't want to walk. As i had explained all this to the vet he then pressed down his back, then asked me if he was a bit of a mard arse as he was tender on his hindquarters. He never asked me to walk him out neither did he examine his feet. Advised me to leave him in with no food and to feed him on Monday then turn out on Tuesday. Monday he was still shifting the weight off his hinds, but was walking better. I rang the on call vet Monday who obviously wouldn't comment. So i called out another vet today for a second opinion. He straight away lifted up his legs and tapped his feet. Laminitis he says. Now bearing in mind he has the same symptoms today has he had on Sunday. So i rang my now ex vet and explained to him what the vet had said, he replied laminitis can be brought on by the stress of severe colic.And that when he checked his feet they were not sore, urmmm i was in the stable the whole time and he most certainly did not go anywhere near his feet. I told him he had a strong digital pulse, he said it was ok when he felt it. Another fib he didnt do that either. So my poor baby was in his stable for a day with no pain relief. I'm so angry and upset at them and myself that he now has this horrible illness. He is now on a nice deep bed and getting the pain relief. No thanks to my old vet.

 

[Nari]

I'd be fuming. I'd certainly argue with them about the bill & maybe threatening to report them if they insist on full payment. Would it be worth putting everything in a letter to them (keep a copy) & sending it recorded delivery?

 

[Black_Horse_White]

He's already said that laminitis can be brought on by severe colic. That's my point, he only had a raised pulse rate. No other symptoms of colic. So it would hardly be classed as severe. He was holding his hind legs up not kicking at his belly just shifting the weight. Had gut sounds on both sides. No sweating and not once did he try to go down. In fact when i arrived at the yard he was standing in the field resting. I truly believe my lad did not have colic. I'm just going to pay up and change vets. It's taken them 4 years to diagnose Uevitis. After saying it was conjunctivitis.

 

[Lippyx]

Can you get your new vet to put something in writing. Only because I would not be paying the call out fee etc from old vet, and if he argues, you could pass over to him a copy of your second opinion.

Some vets do think they are God, and think no horse owners read books, or have any basic knowledge of horse care!

Personally I would have thought it was Azotoria (sp) based on the symptoms (not wanting to walk etc) but certainly would not have thought of colic, especially as he was eating, drinking and pooing!!

 

[Black_Horse_White]

Thats what other people had suggested. He seemed a little un sound a few days earlier. I thought maybe he was a little sore as he had a mark which looked like a kick. So maybe it was starting then. Which i told the vet. So it couldn't be caused by colic. It was there all along.

 

[china]

there would be no way on this earth that i would be paying the bill. a stomach flush for no reason? i think hes had you by the b*llocks im afriad. definatly have it out with the vets and get your now new vet to back you up if he will. if hes insured they can prob give you legal advice.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would let him take me to court for the bill, if I were you. I certainly would not be paying for completely unnecessary treatment for a mis-diagnosed illness, although it is quite true that laminitis can follow colic. Did the vet not give pain relief for the 'colic'?

 

[Black_Horse_White]

No, only a sedative and an anti spasmatic. Told me to starve him over night keep him in the next day, small amounts of hay then out the day after. Good job i got the other vet out on Monday for a second opinion as he was walking better the day after. If i'd have turned him out he would probably be dead now. It's only the fact that i thought he didn't have colic why i got him out.