Colic Surgery

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mogs22

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On monday my horse had colic surgery and luckily survived. He is looking OK so far. Has anyone had to cope with a horse who has had this and what is the likely scenario over the next few months? He did not have any dead bits chopped out, just lots of displacement and a 3 1/2 surgery to go through. The horse is nearly 18 years and very laid back/relaxed about life. I know box rest is next, but thats all, just wanted to hear from someone who has been through this ordeal.
Thanks in advance
 
I have had a horse go through this and I know of others that have. Personally I am not the best person to speak to as I did infact lose mine in the end. She had the surgery, they said it was very good and she shouldn't suffer like that again but she was on box rest and 6 weeks later she suffered badly again and we lost her.She was 6. BUT that is only my experience and I can truly say stay positive as I have known plenty of horses that were worse than mine and have made a full recovery and are back in normal work and fit and healthy. One of these was 18-19 when this happened and he is still going strong at 22.
 
One at the yard at the same surgery (i.e. didn't have to have gut removed), he was 17 at the time and is still going strong 3yrs later. If I remember correctly, he had 3 months box rest (was walked in hand after the 1st few weeks), then 1 month in a small 20m x 20m paddock, then he was back out with a quiet herd. He was brought slowly back into work after a year off and is now back in full work again including jumping. The only extra care he gets is that he is never turned out on frosty grass and all his hay is soaked.
 
Ahh yes, good point I forgot to add. The older horse is never turned out on frosty grass, soaked hay and I believe they keep a very close eye on what he eats.
 
I've had 2 horses that had colic surgery - one was an impacted colic that had nothing removed, the other was more serious and had 17 ft of small intestine taken out. (they were 11 yrs apart and the first horse was on loan to someone else who terminated the loan while the horse was on the operating table - incase anyone thinks this reflects on my horse management!)
Both survived and I still have the second horse (6yrs since her surgery)

Plenty of experiences and learnings to share - PM me if you want more details/ have any questions
 
We do not think that at all - when my girl got colic the vet said that anyone who tells you they know 100% what causes colic is lying!!! it can be one thing for one and something totally different for another.

I know horses who have had massive colic operations and come thruogh to live a normal life afterwards. Keep positive!!
smile.gif
 
Echo had impaction colic, he had never had colic in his life before that. I know it is also going to be hugely expensive - no insurance either. His age is against him for any decent payouts, plus he has never had avet bill over £100 ever. I bred him. How can someone be so heartless to hand a horse on loan back when he is in surgery - poor you.
The vets are very pleased with him - I lost his mother 14 years ago with an injury at the same vets, so was expecting the worse.
Farmer at livery yard is very good & when time is right will put up a small paddock, making it larger as he can have more freedom.
 
I have known a few horses who have had the surgery. One had it (not sure if they removed anything) and recovered and even went on to qualify as a hunter at hoys but then he got colic very seriously and was put down. Another had the surgery and had a massive amount removed and lived and competed for many years although he was always prone to it. Mine had the surgery and had nothing removed but then he got colic repeatedly and they got more severe until he got it very badly and had to be pts.

I have heard of others though that have gone well so keep positive and good luck
 
Hi, my daughters pony had colic surgery in 2007 and had 10ft intestine removed, he was only given 30% chance of surviving, he had 3 months box rest and being held out for grass, it soon got too dangerous to hold him out, so we mildly sedated him and turned him out, after being out by day for a few weeks our vet told us to turn him away, which we did, he became a very fat pony! we started to bring him back into work after 6 months and 3 months later he won the open 15hh show hunter class at a large agricultural show, he then went on to do a 5 day Pony Club Camp at Pontsipool and has never had any signs of reccurent colic, so do be positive, it can all be worth it in the end. Unfortuately Arthur has become so fit this year he has been belting around field and is now on box rest awaiting x rays for suspected sesamoiditis. Cannot believe it!!!!!!!!!!!
Would also like to add that Arthur is 18 now, he had surgery at sixteen and vet said he recovered quicker than some 4 year olds so do try to remember that colic surgery is quite often very successful
 
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