Colic surgery - would you? And Insurance

Having nursed two (not my own) through recovery from colic surgery, I would not put a horse I owned through it. One horse lasted about 2 weeks, then broke a leg trying to get up after going down with a second bout. The other horse spent months on box rest, suffered a toxic laminitis episode then another 12 months not being right. Finally PTS. Too much to put a horse you care about through IMO.
 
I posted earlier in the week with my pony getting colic, all ended good and thankfully back to normal.

We talked it over that evening that if things didn't improve we would call it a day as I don't feel my Mare would react well to the operation and the recovery afterwards. I made my decision last winter when I was watching a vets programme and they had a couple of colic operations its such a massive ordeal for them, I really didn't feel it was fair and not always a happy outcome.
 
It would depend on the age of the horse and type of colic, but as a general then yes I would. My current two are 23 and 27 so probably reaching an age where I wouldn't but in a younger horse, if I could keep it comfortable enough to get to a referral hospital then at the very least I would want to open up and see what was going on. I'm not sure I'd want to put a horse through having a large amount of intestine resected as they do have more problems, but plenty of colics don't need resections and do fine afterwards. I have seen hundreds of colics have surgery at my old job - some have had 2 or 3 colic ops in years past, and some have had colic surgeries in the weeks previously. Obviously some do end up having to be put to sleep due to complications, but equally a lot do great. Most simple colics (i.e. don't have resections) are eating the next day and home within a few days, including broodmares in their 20's.

The trouble with colic surgery in the UK is that horses don't get to referral hospitals quick enough, both because of the distance from most people to a big hospital that can do surgery, and because owners are slower to refer, with a lot of people wanting to try giving pain killers first and seeing what happens. This means there is more compromised intestine when the horse does eventually make it to surgery, the horse is sicker and therefore has a more difficult anaesthetic and recovery. Where I worked in Kentucky, if a horse is violently painful the owners/stud farm staff don't even wait for a vet to come they just put it on the box and take it to a surgical centre, its on the table within 30 minutes. This is why so many horses do so well after colic surgery in kentucky and other places with big hospitals close by, and why I always try and encourage my clients to send their horses to a referral hospital straight away if I think a colic might be surgical and the owners would consider surgery.
 
Murphy88 do you have any recent longer term survival rates? The only stuff I can find suggests that two in ten will never go home, at least a third will be dead within six months due to further colic and maybe half dead within five years. That said, I did three hour ride today alongside one which was operated on twice in March this year. My own vet, qualified two years I think, told me recently that she thinks colic operation is immoral. Since that fits with my own decision never to have one of mine operated on, obviously I find that pretty persuasive. I do live close to a major teaching hospital and even closer to three reputable operating surgeries, but I still wouldn't have it done.
 
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ycbm said:
Murphy88 do you have any recent longer term survival rates? The only stuff I can find suggests that two in ten will never go home, at least a third will be dead within six months due to further colic and maybe half dead within five years. That said, I did three hour ride today alongside one which was operated on twice in March this year. My own vet, qualified two years I think, told me recently that she thinks colic operation is immoral. Since that fits with my own decision never to have one of mine operated on, obviously I find that pretty persuasive. I do live close to a major teaching hospital and even closer to three reputable operating surgeries, but I still wouldn't have it done.
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I put this on my thread but thought it ought to go on here as well, this thread needs a little balancing out with some success stories.

I have had a successful experience with colic surgery, not sending the horse in at the time was never considered as he did not present as a normal colic, no sign of impaction or twisted gut, the vet after 24 hours treating him was of the opinion it may be acute grass sickness so he was sent off for treatment, on examination it was found to be an intussusception, he was operated on, came through well, then had a build up of fluid so underwent a second op, so 2 GAs in 48hours, he then made good progress and came home.
In hindsight maybe it was not something to put a horse through but once they are in the hands on the vets you feel somewhat powerless and a bit out of the loop, at that time, over 25 years ago, owners were discouraged from visiting critically ill horses so we relied on daily phone updates, anyway he came home looking poor but otherwise fine, he had a good appetite, had no problems with box rest, enjoyed his numerous walks out for grass each day, made a complete recovery and led a normal active life for the next 12 years, he did have a few minor colics and then one major colic when it was obvious something catastrophic had happened so I called it a day.


On the view that colic surgery is immoral I guess everyone is entitled to their own views but there are other procedures that vets routinely do that must come under the same view, I think denerving the foot still happens, bar and pin firing is not actually banned and still takes place in racing yards although a young vet will not routinely see it , many vets keep going with laminitics that have no hope, my farrier has refused to work on a few due to welfare concerns, plus the numerous horses that are kept going with often until the insurance limit is reached when they declare they have done everything possible.
I am not sure all vets have morality as a priority and certainly some lack the ability to be honest with their clients when pts is the best option most will only discuss it once the owner brings it up as a possibility, many novice owners have no idea what questions to ask they just want their horse to get better and trust the vet to get on with treating it, it is why this type of forum is so useful as it allows a wide range of thoughts and ideas which only a few years ago people had no means to access.
 
Please do not judge me -

I -would- put my horse through it. To me, IMO, it seems far too flippant to just have them put down at the click of a fingers. Having your horse insured too is also important IMO.

One of my horses, my first actually, broke his leg 3 weeks in of owning him. I made it my job he got through it. I never forget seeing him in hospital. Admittably, he looked sad with his drip and cast on. But he got through it! I visited him daily for cuddles and grooming and eventually he came home. He didn't mind box rest. Didn't enjoy it, but accepted it. He got daily walks and eventually a small ring in part of his field where he'd graze in the day and good stretch his legs. He liked it, then he'd go in at night rugged up and cosy.

It's a very painful thing seeing your horse in pain with no way to help them. I nursed him through that for months. He fully recovered, can ride, and I jump him up to 90cm. He could go higher, (evidently as he once proved to me after clearing the gate on my yard jumping on a main road, but that's another story.) anyway, he's a dream cheeky baby. :)

He's a fighter. Without a doubt it would of been inhumane IMO to euthanise. He's having such a great life. So many would of just given up there, and to me, that just seems like you've given up on them when they still have a good chance of survival. My horse will be with me for the rest of my life. I love him far too much (sale wise).

We had insured him for a week or so. Totally worth it. He racked up a bill of around 7-8,000£ at the vets. I seriously doubt a lot of people here could afford to just pay up that much. We even considered selling our car if he wasn't covered. Euthanasia was the other cheaper option which you don't really want to be your 'back up' plan.


So yes. I'd put him through surgery if that was his best option. I'd do anything within my power to save him. I'm not saying that it's a wrong or option that shouldn't be considered, but I seriously think its an option considered far too lightly.

I know a lot of people will hate me for saying that. But I just had to be honest. I respect all of your opinions and understand you made your decisions based on what you thought was the best for your horse. I just felt this thread needed something for the other side. I hope I haven't offended anyone. But, maybe you will at least consider my points :)

In a nutshell- Yes I would.
 
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Fortunately I've never been in the situation to make the decision. A friend of mine did have her daughters pony operated on, it recovered well and is still bouncing around the paddock several years later.

They amaze me how they recover, as you can't tell them to lie still and not get up and down, I've just recovered from a hysterectomy and my god it hurt to sit up from flat. How horses cope I don't know.
 
Haz:) said:
Please do not judge me -

I -would- put my horse through it. To me, IMO, it seems far too flippant to just have them put down at the click of a fingers. Having your horse insured too is also important IMO.

One of my horses, my first actually, broke his leg 3 weeks in of owning him. I made it my job he got through it. I never forget seeing him in hospital. Admittably, he looked sad with his drip and cast on. But he got through it! I visited him daily for cuddles and grooming and eventually he came home. He didn't mind box rest. Didn't enjoy it, but accepted it. He got daily walks and eventually a small ring in part of his field where he'd graze in the day and good stretch his legs. He liked it, then he'd go in at night rugged up and cosy.

It's a very painful thing seeing your horse in pain with no way to help them. I nursed him through that for months. He fully recovered, can ride, and I jump him up to 90cm. He could go higher, (evidently as he once proved to me after clearing the gate on my yard jumping on a main road, but that's another story.) anyway, he's a dream cheeky baby. :)

He's a fighter. Without a doubt it would of been inhumane IMO to euthanise. He's having such a great life. So many would of just given up there, and to me, that just seems like you've given up on them when they still have a good chance of survival. My horse will be with me for the rest of my life. I love him far too much (sale wise).

We had insured him for a week or so. Totally worth it. He racked up a bill of around 7-8,000£ at the vets. I seriously doubt a lot of people here could afford to just pay up that much. We even considered selling our car if he wasn't covered. Euthanasia was the other cheaper option which you don't really want to be your 'back up' plan.


So yes. I'd put him through surgery if that was his best option. I'd do anything within my power to save him. I'm not saying that it's a wrong or option that shouldn't be considered, but I seriously think its an option considered far too lightly.

I know a lot of people will hate me for saying that. But I just had to be honest. I respect all of your opinions and understand you made your decisions based on what you thought was the best for your horse. I just felt this thread needed something for the other side. I hope I haven't offended anyone. But, maybe you will at least consider my points :)

In a nutshell- Yes I would.
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I am with you, and depending on the individual horse, " if you see a chance then take it " is my way of thinking - we had a livery who had two colic surgery treatments. Horse was okay and went back to work when alowed too. We are not alone thinking this and should not feel bad for this.
 
Its a lot like the dilemma of selling horses with a problem. If you send the horse for surgery it might work and the horse might have a lovely, long happy life, or it might have a traumatic journey, big operation, relapses, extra vet fees, more operations and then need euthanising anyway. Plus in my, admittedly limited, experience colic surgery has 100% less than 2 week survival rate. I couldn't sell on a problematic horse because i consider it irresponsible and unethical to risk sending a horse to a miserable future in the hope that it is lucky and lands on someone who loves it and takes care of it, because the likelihood it will go the other way is too high, and I feel the same way about colic surgery.
 
Haz:) said:
Please do not judge me -

I -would- put my horse through it. To me, IMO, it seems far too flippant to just have them put down at the click of a fingers. Having your horse insured too is also important IMO.

One of my horses, my first actually, broke his leg 3 weeks in of owning him. I made it my job he got through it. I never forget seeing him in hospital. Admittably, he looked sad with his drip and cast on. But he got through it! I visited him daily for cuddles and grooming and eventually he came home. He didn't mind box rest. Didn't enjoy it, but accepted it. He got daily walks and eventually a small ring in part of his field where he'd graze in the day and good stretch his legs. He liked it, then he'd go in at night rugged up and cosy.

It's a very painful thing seeing your horse in pain with no way to help them. I nursed him through that for months. He fully recovered, can ride, and I jump him up to 90cm. He could go higher, (evidently as he once proved to me after clearing the gate on my yard jumping on a main road, but that's another story.) anyway, he's a dream cheeky baby. :)

He's a fighter. Without a doubt it would of been inhumane IMO to euthanise. He's having such a great life. So many would of just given up there, and to me, that just seems like you've given up on them when they still have a good chance of survival. My horse will be with me for the rest of my life. I love him far too much (sale wise).

We had insured him for a week or so. Totally worth it. He racked up a bill of around 7-8,000£ at the vets. I seriously doubt a lot of people here could afford to just pay up that much. We even considered selling our car if he wasn't covered. Euthanasia was the other cheaper option which you don't really want to be your 'back up' plan.


So yes. I'd put him through surgery if that was his best option. I'd do anything within my power to save him. I'm not saying that it's a wrong or option that shouldn't be considered, but I seriously think its an option considered far too lightly.

I know a lot of people will hate me for saying that. But I just had to be honest. I respect all of your opinions and understand you made your decisions based on what you thought was the best for your horse. I just felt this thread needed something for the other side. I hope I haven't offended anyone. But, maybe you will at least consider my points :)

In a nutshell- Yes I would.
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I don't judge you, I certainly don't hate you, and I would ask the same of anyone who reads me saying that I simply don't feel the same way about my horses as you do about yours. I know that if I have one put to sleep, he isn't missing the years of happy life he might have had, he and I are both spared the risk that things will not turn out well, and there's another horse out there waiting for me to give him a lovely home. I also wouldn't judge anyone who makes the decision on economic grounds, because I'm one of them. It would cost a few hundred to replace my mini and insurance makes no sense when you keep three. Vet bills of thousands are not an option for her.

I guess I just don't love my horses the way you love yours. It wouldn't cause me so much pain to lose one as you believe it would cause you (You can't know until you've lost one. I was devastated by the first two, then I realised that I always loved the replacement just as much.) None of us should be judging others on the issue, we all believe that we are doing the best for our horses, given the advice that we have available.

For others, sixty percent survival at a year is enough, even as a paddock ornament. For me, I'd need at least eighty percent survival with return to full work and less than five percent chance of complications. My decision certainly isn't 'flippant' though, I did wince when I read that. I also think that you might not feel the way you do if the outcome had been bad. A horse I loved very much but did not own at the time was operated on for colic two years ago. He died two weeks after the operation and I can't get it out of my head that he spent his last two weeks on earth in pain and afraid :(
 
there's no judgement on my part, we all do what we think is best with the situation in front of us. I don't think people love their horses any more or any less for being pragmatic about their choices and I would never take the decision to have my horse PTS 'lightly' and mine all have a home for life.
 
Thanks for understanding my reasoning. Harry, to me is un-replaceable. He came from a uncertain background as he was starved and mistreated when he was around 3 years old. I wanted him to see the world as not all bad and I wanted him to see the better side of it, and by getting him operated on, it saved his life and he has gone on to live a happy life. You can't tell he broke it, but I always have special precautions in place, like I have a height limit on jumps, make him where supports when he works, etc.

There was a chance he would survive. It was small, but I took it. Not every time will the outcome will be positive. But I am one of those people where 'If there is a chance then I'll take it'.

I would not of cared at all if he'd only got to be a 'pasture ornament'. We'd find other ways to have fun and we'd excel in other things. Like going for walks and playing with them in the field, grooming, etc. It's just something I personally would do because I love them. It may mean you have to go the extra mile to care for them, but when you love them so much losing them is out of the question, it's worth it IMO if it means there is a chance they can live a happy life as a ornament.

I just don't like the way you said 'loved the replacements just as much'. I'm not a fan of 'replacements'. I've found all mine are un-replaceable. They are all so unique and special and have their own personalities. They can't just be replaced like that. ):

I'm sure you loved all your horses just as much as I do mine, we just have different views and I'm sure you did what you thought was best for them. :)
 
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ycbm said:
Murphy88 do you have any recent longer term survival rates? The only stuff I can find suggests that two in ten will never go home, at least a third will be dead within six months due to further colic and maybe half dead within five years. That said, I did three hour ride today alongside one which was operated on twice in March this year. My own vet, qualified two years I think, told me recently that she thinks colic operation is immoral. Since that fits with my own decision never to have one of mine operated on, obviously I find that pretty persuasive. I do live close to a major teaching hospital and even closer to three reputable operating surgeries, but I still wouldn't have it done.
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Just had a quick browse through the literature

1) in a 2013 study out of University of Florida of 35 horses who had strangulated small intestine but didn't have resections, all 35 survived to discharge - 13 the owners weren't available to follow up/horses were sold on, 12 survived long term for an average of 10 years, and of the 10 who died only 2 were from things related to the original surgery, the rest died from old age/liver disease/cancer mainly.

2) 2010 study out of Bell I would assume as Tim Mair is author, of 300 horses, 84% survived past 12 months.

3) 2009 study of of Marion Du Pont in Virginia of colic surgery in over 20yrs vs under 20yrs - "Survival rate at the time of hospital discharge was 50% (28/56) for geriatric horses and 72% (352/487) for nongeriatric horses. Of horses that survived surgery and anesthetic recovery, 82% (28/34) of geriatric horses and 89% (352/396) of nongeriatric horses were dis- charged from the hospital alive. Seventy percent (14/20) of geriatric horses and 84% (108/129) of nongeriatric horses with long-term follow-up information survived > 1 year after surgery."

4) Two papers of racehorses that underwent surgery, 69% and 76% returned to racing and performed as well as horses that hadn't had surgery.

5) 2012 study from Leahurst on large colon torsions - "The study population comprised 116 horses. Eighty-nine (76.7%) survived general anaesthesia. Of these, the percentage that survived until discharge, to one year and to 2 years was 70.7%, 48.3% and 33.7%, respectively. Median survival time for horses that survived general anaesthesia was 365 days."

6) Kentucky study on large colon torsions, 1039 surgeries on 896 Thoroughbred mares - 88% survival to discharge over the years 1986-2011 (so will be a lot better now!)

This is where my point re how fast we take horses to surgery comes into play - of the 100's of large colon torsions I saw in kentucky, I can't remember one that died during surgery and I would estimate greater than 80% were discharged and survived long term. It is very common post-foaling and a lot of mares will get it again later the same year or in future years. Because the colon is so large, they reckon a complete twist can kill the horse in around 6 hours due to the massive release of toxins, therefore in the UK it would probably be the worst colic in terms of survival because its probably going to be at least 3 hours before a horse makes it onto the surgery table.

As for the immoral debate, I think every person is entitled to their opinion based on their own experiences. I have been qualified 4 years and don't think I'm wrong in saying I have probably seen more colic surgeries/been involved in the aftercare for more horses than the majority of equine vets aside from surgeons/those who work in big hospitals. The hospital I worked at did more colic surgeries in a month (30/40/50+) than a lot of places do in a year. The record we did was 14 colic surgeries in one day. Based on these experiences I would have absolutely no qualms about doing surgery; if they found bad compromised intestines at surgery I would probably euthanise on the table, although I have seen horses that should by all rights have died bounce back and be discharged within days.
 
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Very, very interesting, thank you Murphy88.

Can you give us some insight into whether they can tell before the horse is opened up what the problem is? Survival rates seem to be quite dependent on what's actually gone wrong inside?
 
Survival (or not) rates are interesting statistics, but it is the ordeal that the horse can go through whilst recovering that would be the decider for me. I would not want to put a beloved horse through that, even though I know that some horses can sail through.
 
No I wouldn't put my boy through surgery. He isn't insured anymore as there are too many exclusions to bother, saying that colic would be covered but I personally wouldn't agree to it.
 
i lost my best mare to colic at 18 we were 4 miles from a colic surgery facility I always said I wouldn't operate, but when confronted by losing her I was useless, anyway had lots of help got there, specialist colic surgeon, took lots of tests, bloods looked not good, decision was made to explore, it was vets decision to pts based on what was found, it was bad so she went, he didn't really want to operate, said she was too old,

an 18 year old stallion, three miles away had three ops and recovered still there at 23, but he is world champion of showjumping.

at lot depends on what is actually going on inside the horse, at the time its a horrible nightmare, for the horse and the people involved, listening to the advice from a colic vet using his experience to judge the the probable outcome of any action taken is the best decision, because it all happens so quickly very often, and this is the biggest problem
 
ycbm said:
Very, very interesting, thank you Murphy88.

Can you give us some insight into whether they can tell before the horse is opened up what the problem is? Survival rates seem to be quite dependent on what's actually gone wrong inside?
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Yep, a lot of the time you can have a good idea of what is going on beforehand. Heart rate at admission is one of the main prognostic indicators for survival, along with certain values on bloodwork. Then ultrasound examinations can usually tell you if small or large intestine is involved and collection of a sample of abdominal fluid can give a good idea of whether there is compromised bowel. In some cases, the horse will be so violent that it isn't fair to transport it to a referral hospital, but I think if you can get the horse there without too much stress and money isn't an issue (whether through insurance or not) then starting the surgery and making an informed decision based on the findings is often the best option and it makes no difference to the horse.
 
I probably wouldn't put one through colic surgery again. Many people are assuming that being a young/fit horse means they will get through it easily. Sadly that was not the case with my fit 6 year old. The vets were aware of the issues as I was there when they did all their investigations, but they did not operate for several hours until the horse was unable to get up anymore. Surgery was OK and he was about to come home, then he went off his food and they found inflammation in new areas of his gut. So had my gorgeous horse pts. Most 'success' figures I have seen tend to relate to discharge - it is a very long road after that, with a lot of in hand grazing and walking over quite a period of time, plus the chance of further colic. A friends horse had surgery several years ago, and they still panic if its head isn't over the door, or it doesn't produce the right number of droppings. I would be the same, and if your horse is at home alone, while you are at work, you are going to be pretty anxious.
 
Speedyfluff said:
That's what's so mad about some insurance rules. They actually end up paying you more if you go through surgery and still lose the horse. And it doesn't seem fair because some horses cope really well with recovery and box rest, whilst others are climbing the walls. It doesn't seem right that an owner should be forced to put their horse through major surgery and lengthy box rest if they know it wouldn't cope with it.
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The owners not forced to do anything they are at liberty to PTS the horse if they believe it's the best option for that horse.
 
I have personally put a horse through colic surgery.

Horse had a twisted colon after never having colic before in her life she was always healthy so decided on surgery.

It went fine and she recovered no problem she did however have a previous injury to the surgery site which we didn't know about that caused a hernia in that area. We later had that repaired and as far as I'm aware she's had that looked at again since we did (in a new home now). She never suffered from colic again though so I'm glad I took the risk.

I wouldn't operate for colic twice though tbh, there's a lot of factors to be thought about before just saying yes or no.
 
I have a friend who events and her main horse had colic surgery last year. He then proceeded to need more surgery whilst in horspital and developed an infected wound.

12 months on and she has just gone out and competed in dressage on the regional team and qualified for the nationals. She has even started jumping him again. So many people said 'PTS he will never comptete again' - well he is :)

If anyone wants to see her story she is on Facebook - NDM Eventing
 
I had one of ours operated on, when they opened him up on the operating table it was just too bad so he was not revived, we got the call just as we arrived back home (it was the middle of the night).

I don't think I would put another to surgery.
 
Personally no i wouldn't. I've basically had colic surgery myself. I have Crohn's Disease and suffered a perforated bowel a few years back resulting in a resection. I cannot describe the pain i was in following surgery and my recovery was slow. Obviously i knew full well what had happened and understood what needed to be done to aid my recovery.

I couldnt put a horse through it. I've always been sceptical of GAs on horses and colic surgery. I've lost horses to colic. Having had the operation myself i am convinced it wouldnt be an option for my horses. They are large animals and unable to understand. I love my horses dearly but just because you can operate doesnt mean you should.
 
For me, the answer would be no. But I do believe that just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. This applies to all my animals not just my horses though.

No judgement on anybody who does go for more invasive ops/treatments, it's just not an option for me after my experiences over the years.
 
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This horse had colic surgery 6 and a half months ago. Apart from the day he tried to die, and the morning following his surgery, he was nothing other than bright and happy. He was admitted to the horspital on sunday evening and I picked him up the following Saturday morning, six weeks of box rest with in hand walking for grass, eight weeks of field rest then back into work. That is the standard recommended colic recovery period now; it's not the six months of box rest people seem to think it is any more! You'd keep a horse in that had done a tendon for longer...

So yes, I did put my horse through colic surgery. However, he's only 10, fit as a flea, and had only just started with mild colic signs at 2pm that afternoon, just 5 minutes from an equine hospital. So all the indicators were good. He's insured so thankfully cost didn't have to come in to it, and if I had felt PTS was a better option then I would just have had to take a loss (I don't understand how insurance can 'force' you in to surgery - if you do that against your morals for money then that's not fair to the horse imo).

Would I put him through it again? Potentially.

On the other hand, my 20 year old pony with severe colic for an unknown period of time (potentially 10hrs - we found him in the morning), arthritis in every leg, showing every sign of something severely nasty and toxic, and 3 hours from an equine hospital capable of colic surgery, having spent all day at my vets being treated for what they thought was an impaction (it was a strangulated lipoma) was PTS. Insurance wasn't too happy but it was the best decision for the pony.

You have to take every horse and colic as an individual thing. There's no right or wrong option that fits every case. However, my only advice is that, if your horse needs surgery for colic send it as soon as possible! There's nothing worse than owner's umming and ahhing all day and then the horse's intestines slowly dying off before you they decide to let it go on the table. Timescale is so important. (Similarly, please don't send it for surgery, get everyone all geared up and ready to operate at 11pm on a Saturday night and then decide to have it PTS just when we're about to knock it out... This has happened a few times!)
 
I wouldn't put mine through it. They live out so the box rest period would be stressful in it's self. Mine are insured for upto 5k vet bills, but colic surgery can run into thousands more than that and I would have to take that into consideration too. I have it on my notes at the vets that I will not agree to surgery so If I'm away they can PTS on humane grounds if needed, the vet fully understood and has no problem with this.
 
It would depend for me, if there was a clear external cause for the colic (e.g. Horse escaped and ate a bag of feed) then possibly. But if they just colicked with no clue to why then I don't think I would put them through the surgery as you don't know the cause and it will likely just happen again. Tricky decision for anyone though especially in the middle of the night with your best friend in pain.
 
No I wouldn't. Had one with it and he was pts. The insurance company did pay out in the end. He had twisted gut as well. He wouldn't have done the recovery after surgery well and I didn't think it fair on him.
 
Personally no I wouldn't and I think the vets will get their 'claim all you can' comeuppance, bigtime, in the not too distant future!
Some of the sums being claimed for 'average dobbins' are utterly unsustainable and horse insurance is fast heading toward being financially unviable!
One of mine had colic a while back, the vet wanted him in to the hospital as his resps & heart rate were sky high. Colic surgery was not something I would put a horse of mine through so there was no gain to be had by admitting him(well apart from the vets financial gain but don't even get me started on that one!), only stress of transporting an already distressed animal.
She gave him the obligatory Buscopan & pain relief. (IV Bute even though I told her he was intolerant to it 😠) but at 2am I was in no fit state to argue!
Thankfully he recovered fully but if he had deteriorated or not improved when the drugs started to wear off then he would have been pts immediately.
On blood tests it was discovered he had a tapeworm burden (despite yearly worming for tape & encysted, religious poo picking and never an egg seen on any of their worm counts EVER!... they live at home but tapeworm host comes in on the hay 😕). I'd been using Pramox which had obviously not been doing the job, arghhhhhh! )
I have now gone back to non combination wormers and have used double dose Pyratape for tapeworm which *toucheswood* did the trick!
 
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