Colic paranoia!

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AmberThePony

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A close friend lost her horse to colic totally suddenly a few months ago and since then i have just become completely paranoid about my own horse colicking. I am really struggling to leave the yard at night out of fear there is something “off”. I also frequently end up driving back later in the evening to check. Has anyone else experienced this and how did you deal with it? Living with the constant fear is draining, I am considering installing a stable camera to help put my mind at ease through the night.
 
I have a camera for a similar reason. A horse on the yard had severe colic overnight and had to be pts in the morning. It really suffered until it was found.

When my oldie was unwell last autumn I checked it after I got home after evening feed. A couple of times during the evening and just before bed. I then set my alarm to wake at 2am and then again at 5am. People are on the yard after that. It meant I didn’t have to stay at the yard all night.
 
I have a camera (reolink works off solar so no electric needed) not sure helped paranoia though as was checking it through the night for weeks after mine had colic. Chat to your vet next time u see them or phone them, they should be able to out your mind at rest.
 
All three of us up our yard have now got cameras. A couple of the horses/ponies have had colic recently so it’s good to Be able to check on them after everyone has gone home. One person, whose pony is in his 30s, checks in the middle of the night which I would only do it if I thought there was something wrong though!
 
Red-1 said:
I have cameras after a similar incident.

At first, I checked them all the time. Now, it is only infrequently.

I find it very comforting.

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That's adorable!
My barn neighbour's horse colicked last night. I now really want a camera.

eta: horse is ok, it was spotted and vet called, but an hour later and we'd all have been off the yard till morning.
 
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We've had cameras in the stables for years because my mother's mare was a regular middle of the night colic vet visit. And as our old horses got older (and more fragile) it was worth it to have peace of mind to check on them through the night. Now I check on my boys around midnight and if they're not both curled up in the same position every night with the right amount of poo in the stable I can't sleep!
 
I’ve been looking for a camera for this same worry, but there’s no mains/lives out 24/7/internets not too good, not sure what would work if anyone has any answers or if it’s just not feasible!
 
I have one that colic’s for fun and has left me destitute. Camera is a god send, you get to know them so well, I’ve just given the last haynet and she will finish that by 2am and go to bed, in the same spot lying on her right side before getting up and lying on her other side. Horses really are creatures of habit and it is the change of habit that alerts you to something not right.
 
AdorableAlice said:
I have one that colic’s for fun and has left me destitute. Camera is a god send, you get to know them so well, I’ve just given the last haynet and she will finish that by 2am and go to bed, in the same spot lying on her right side before getting up and lying on her other side. Horses really are creatures of habit and it is the change of habit that alerts you to something not right.
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No such thing as "colic paranoia" Colic is terrible. Do your best but be afraid!
 
Reolink! Solar panel keeps it charged up and a sim card put in on a cheap contract for the signal. (I don’t have one myself, but use their app to check my friends mares during foaling time).
Livestock eyes look good too but not sure how they work in terms of solar etc
 
I have a reolink camera, but I will say, it doesn't ease the anxiety.
My boy (homebred) appears to be prone to a colic episodes, which always end up in a night in the horse hospital.
He is a lazy dumpling and a growing baby, he sleeps a lot! The anxiety I feel watching him on the camera is a lot, every time I look and he is laying down I have to watch until he gets up to ensure he is just sleeping, I turn the volume up so I can hear the breathing, is it normal, is it fast, does he sound laboured.
I cannot tell you the number of times, night and day I have been on the verge of getting out of bed and going back to the yard just to check, then he gets up and eats hay, has a poo etc.

It is a good thing to have but don't bank on it reducing your anxiety!
 
I was terrified of colic for years probably after loosing one to it.
A horse only had to lie down or roll and I was getting itchy fingers to call a vet!
It’s a horrible thing to witness.
 
Mine came with a solar panel, which I haven’t used (yet). Its not very big. I have the slightly more expensive Reolink which rotates as I have it between two stables.
 
spotty_pony said:
Sorry to jump on post but those of you with reolink - do they work off the same solar panels you use for electric fencing?
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I bought a solar panel with the Reolink but I’ve never used it. I’m on a livery yard and in the end I decided it was easier to just take the camera home and recharge it. The charge lasts for ages so it’s only every couple of months. I check it every evening once or twice and sometimes first thing.
 
spotty_pony said:
Sorry to jump on post but those of you with reolink - do they work off the same solar panels you use for electric fencing?
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Mine came with a small solar panel. You need to get the positioning of the solar panel as good as you can if possible. I have had to charge mine at home a few times because the positioning of my solar panel isn’t ideal for the winter sun.
 
AmberThePony said:
A close friend lost her horse to colic totally suddenly a few months ago and since then i have just become completely paranoid about my own horse colicking. I am really struggling to leave the yard at night out of fear there is something “off”. I also frequently end up driving back later in the evening to check. Has anyone else experienced this and how did you deal with it? Living with the constant fear is draining, I am considering installing a stable camera to help put my mind at ease through the night.
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I lost my boy to colic suddenly in July :(:(:(:(.


I lost 3 to colic all different types
I always have this to hand https://pro-equine.com/products/colikare

I have gone back to feeding bran like I used to in the 80's to keep things moving.

I recommend a camera cctv I have one in my current ponies stable as she has IBD and will colic, cctv is a godsend
 
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