Colic surgery - would you? Have you?

Would I? No. Have I? Yes, and that's why I now say no. I've cared for 3 horses post colic surgery, 1 made it; 2 did not (1 was my own). It's not the survival odds that put me off, it's the traumatic recovery that is, I feel unfair.

And I very much give a **** about these horses.
 
I was away in NZ for a month last year leaving my 2 horses and 2 dogs to be cared for by other people. I was worried that something might happen to one of them whilst I was away and was also aware that it might be difficult to contact me in an emergency so I wrote my wishes down. It was a very useful thing to do as none are insured (but I am able and willing to pay vet's costs) and it made me think very hard about what was acceptable to me and what was not, what injuries or illnesses I would wish to treat and which I wouldn't. I decided I wouldn't go for colic surgery with the old boy and it was a very easy decision. It was very difficult to decide for Mr B, he's in his early teens and is a fit and otherwise healthy horse, would be a good patient (I think) but is quite large. My vets is an excellent equine practice/equine hospital and is very near and I have good facilities for a recovering horse, so I eventually decided I'd agree to colic surgery if needed. It is a decision I'll revisit as things change. I hope I never have to make that decision and it may change as he gets older but at least I've thought about it in some detail.
 
I have recently stopped paying insurance on my 18 year old and I did think about it quite hard, as I realised that most of the reason I paid was in case he develop colic or other traumatic condition, but I thought £600 a year was a bit much for a horse that they have already paid out smallish claims on leg problems, and wouldn't pay out for anything like that again.

I could afford it, but he is a real whimp, a fighter he is not, and I have the memory of when he was on box rest with his leg injury, which was a complete nightmare and dangerous for him and me. I have heard both good stories and bad from colic surgery, and I wouldn't rule it out completely, but the trouble is that you are in shock and in an emotional state when it occurs and would be hard to think straight.

I think the vets underestimate the care and time needed afterwards, they think a successful operaton is where the horse is alive and standing after surgery and has gone home, but some horses can't stand to be confined.
 
pepsimaxrock said:
I did, and I would certainly consider it again, despite a difficult and uncertain recovery which is ongoing.
We are nearly 6 months from surgery and my mare has had vets consider PTS 5 times. Each time the vet has pulled back from recommending it despite initially suggesting it to me.
I find anyone who posts "I wouldn't put one of my horses through it" has either not considered it properly, isnt insured and cant afford it, or doesnt care for his/her horses enough.
This decision takes extraordinarily careful consideration. My dear little mare is now being worked, will start canter this week, is still on steroids and may not yet make a full recovery, if any recovery at all. But she has never (apart from when colicking) been unhappy or miserable and is enjoying life. So it is good we have come this far.
It actually angers me when holier than thou folks say they would never put their horses through it. Because I dont think they have properly considered it or the alternatives, or they dont give a s***
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The reason why I won't put mine through it is watching two separate horses.go through its and not live a year after.

On the other hand a friends horse who had it is still going strong.

But my personal preference is that I will not put them through that and the very difficult recovery after. There are some things in my own opinion that horses should not be put through.
 
I wouldn't put any of mine through it but a friend did have colic surgery on her horse and he came through it well. He was a big, lazy horse who was quite happy to do the box rest in a box where the other horses could all come and chat to him and he had lots of forage to eat. Most horses would have hated the confinement or been hard to handle but he was very placid and it worked well.

Have to say that the reason he colicked was because he was so fat that he developed a huge lipoma which strangled his gut so I would say its worth making very sure that your horse doesn't get too fat. Of course there are other causes of colic which are unavoidable but its sensible to mitigate the ones you can.
 
Really well timed thread as our uninsured 18yo NF pony had colic surgery this afternoon. At the time, you may not have a lot of time to consider options. We didn't. It was surgery this afternoon or PTS. Latest report from the vet hospital is that she came through the op fine and is standing, so fingers crossed. She is just a field ornament, but one who taught my children to ride and who has been part of our family for 12 years. I am hoping that as a small, food orientated pony, she won't find box rest during the worst bit of the winter too stressful.
 
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I did because she had a four day old foal at foot. It has got to be one of the most stressful experiences and she was not a great candidate due to hating vets and needles with a passion! A late night trip to vets and a three o'clock in the morning phonecall to make a decision. As it turned out she didn't have 'normal' colic, it was biopsied and treated with steroids. The vets had me calling for a foster mare as they were convinced she would die as her guts were (and I quote) 'like jelly'. I defied them with her recovery as refused to keep her and a tiny, rocket fueled foal on strict box rest for 12 weeks. So walked her out in hand twice a day. She was amazing, she dug through the hedges for the first two weeks to find the herbs and plants she wanted. Then she would just graze. The whole thing had to be the most stressful experience. And in terms of behaviour, I don't think she will ever fully recover. I swear she was PTSD when a vet appears...
 
I have already made an advanced decision not to put my WB ( who is retired through joint problems ) or my Section D aged 21 through colic surgery after deciding I do not want to put them through it. Have seen and heard too many cases where the complications cause more agony. The technology is available for all kinds of surgery, however, the recovery is not always easy or straightforward. Unlike human surgery,horses cannot rest in the same way.
I know there are success stories which is great to hear. I just wish to make an informed choice while I am thinking rationally.
Neither of my horses are insured now as my WB maxed the insurance in the last year and is barely covered for anything
 
lme said:
Really well timed thread as our uninsured 18yo NF pony had colic surgery this afternoon. At the time, you may not have a lot of time to consider options. We didn't. It was surgery this afternoon or PTS. Latest report from the vet hospital is that she came through the op fine and is standing, so fingers crossed. She is just a field ornament, but one who taught my children to ride and who has been part of our family for 12 years. I am hoping that as a small, food orientated pony, she won't find box rest during the worst bit of the winter too stressful.
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How is she doing? Here's hoping for a timely and incident free recovery.
 
One of ours had surgery and pulled through quickly and very successfully. It turned out that he had a fatty tumour (pedunculate lipoma) on his colon and so was not a 'normal' colic. As others have said it is incredibly stressful and you don't get a lot of time to consider the options. The choice was PTS or surgery IMMEDIATELY. In our case the horse had no history of gastro-intestinal issues at all so surgery seemed a reasonable option. At the time we were insured - the final bill was over £3k. I no longer insure the horses but set money aside and would make the same call again. However, if old cob ever has colic I will PTS as he will not tolerate being in a stable and at 30 years of age it would not be fair to put him in that situation.
 
I lost one to colic fairly soon after the surgery due to peritonitis. I wouldn't put another horse through it knowing now how much she suffered in recovery and didn't pull through anyway. I also don't think I could cope with the stress of the aftercare, potential recurring episodes, etc.
 
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Ours are all either middle aged or elderly now (14, 17 and 21) so I have to say that if I had to make the decision I would probably say no to surgery..

WHen my welshie got colic in his 20's a few years ago we didn't even consider surgery as an option, and the vet (v senior) didn't even suggest it as an option.

We would have to travel a considerable distance here in NI though, which may have bearing on my decision....

Fiona
 
I had one have colic surgery (of which the cause was found to be scar tissue from gelding strangling the small colon) at age 4 and he made an absolutely textbook recovery no problems at all. Returned to work after 6 months and carried on as if nothing had happened. He never had any issues with colic for the next 4 years before he was sadly pts due to kissing spine.

In total the operation etc cost £6k and I had to pay £1k of that in excess to the insurance company.

I would consider colic surgery as an option again in the future.
 
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