colic or something else, help please

madlady

madlady

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We got to the stables this morning to find that daegan hadn't eaten his hay (all the others had) and he'd also not had any of his water.

He seemed okay in himself so we gave him fresh hay and water in case he was just being unusually fussy and mucked him out but decided to keep him in to keep an eye on him.

He pooed on his clean bed as usual but then left his hay, still didn't drink, and then lay down. I got him up but he seemed very quiet and a bit listless, pulse and heart rate were OK. By 3pm still not eating and no more poo so called vet. By that point I was thinking impaction colic.

Vet has been, can't find any impaction, temp normal, heart rate normal and some gut sounds. Vet has given anti spasmodic and pain relief and we have him on a dirty bed so that he won't eat it. I'm doing 2 hourly checks to see how he is but vet was not 100% that it was colic as he said he would have expected to be able to feel the impaction given the signs.

Any ideas or anyone had a similar experience? I'm just hoping it isn't something more serious.
 
A few years back I had a youngster with an impaction colic - which sounded quite a lot like yours. He was 'off colour', not eating, lying down but not rolling, and symptoms were 'mild'! It took about 12 hours to show a bit more - but it never came to much. He was 'off colour' for about 3 days - and then he was fine. Let's hope your chap will follow in his footsteps!

Obviously, it MIGHT be something worse - but it is just as likely as it will be something less. Keep an eye on him - but don't get yourself into a stew.
 
We had one similar that colicked due to dehydration, the impaction was higher up.

He spent 24hrs in the vets on IV fluids which fixed him, then we gave him tepid water all winter, as he wss a bit precious about drinking water that was too cold
 
Sounds similar to my mare, no rolling/thrashing around. Just listless and laying down more than usually. Took a good 5 hours or so before it became obvious something wasn't quite right, but still wasn't screaming colic.
Vet came out, did internal etc and didn't find an impaction but suspected one so recommended that i take her up to the clinic for scans as it was getting late. She had an impaction fairly high up, was tubed and was home the next evening
 
Well it's good his temperature is normal so no infection and nothing obvious from vet.

Could you turn him out for a while, see if he eats and perks up?
Or walk him in hand for a nosey and a munch?

Are you sure your hay is ok?
Have you tried a new bale or some nice haylage?

I hope he feels better soon.
 
Does sound colicy. I've had two with very similar. Unfortunately (and without wanting to cause too much concern) first didn't end well. Two days of listlessness behaviour, temp, heart rate normal but wouldn't eat or drink. Lost battle 48 hours in when fluids being tubed came back up showing displacement. But on the positive, pony showed the same only last week. Only oddity was temp was slightly raised. Buscopan and 24 hours later was totally back to normal. Keeping everything crossed for you this passes quickly x
 
Just got back, he's drinking and seems brighter but still no poo.

Making myself a flask up now and getting my warmest clothes on, will go and camp out up there for the rest of the night.
 
HI is he swishing his tail and trying to kick his willy?Mine did this and at first i thought it was colic but then when i watched him wee it seemed to be coming out at just the front I got a vet and she agreed and after sedating him gave him a really good examination and got a really large bean out of his ureatha He was fine after could it be this?
 
He's done 3 poos during the night but still quite small, hard droppings. Still not taking in much water so he hasn't peed at all.

Our field is mainly underwater at the moment so I can't turn him out but did take him out for a good half hour and let him have a graze as he did want to eat (which I'm taking as a good sign).

He seems a lot brighter than yesterday, no ulcers or anything in his mouth, temp, heart rate and breathing all normal. Have come home for a warm and some food and have left him with a very small haynet of soaked hay. If there is still no poo and no drinking then I'll be back on to the vet as I don't want him to get worse because of dehydration.

Another sleepless night on the cards methinks.
 
It is such a worry when they are just not right! Sending positive vibes that he improves. I would call vet if you are in doubt, even if just to let them know he is still not right and you maybe asking for a visit later.
 
Listen for gut sounds - lay your ear on the soft part above and behind his last rib. If you can hear gurgling his gut is working, if it is silent then he is still not processing properly. If an antispasmodic was going to work it should have within 24 hours - if he is expelling air or poos that is good, means his system isn't completely stopped. Did the vet do a rectal?
Is there any incidence of grass sickness nearby? In that the peristalsis which moves the food through the system stops, so no gut sounds, but probably no passing of anything either.
 
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