Colic surgery

[Ambypamby]

My poor boy had to have colic surgery last week. He seems ok and is eating well again but im still worried about him. Has anyone got any happy ending colic surgery stories to give me some optimism thanks xx

 

[unbalanced]

Yes. One of my YO's horses had colic surgery years ago (so before it even got anything like as good as it is now) and he went on to live for quite a few years after that. Sadly he died last winter but I just wanted to tell you that after the surgery he went on to live a completely full life - hacking, jumping, competing at dressage, sponsored rides. They always had to be careful with his diet but they were really glad they did the surgery because it meant they kept the horse until into his early twenties which for his type is quite a good innings.

Good luck for your horse and I hope everything goes to plan.

 

[lochpearl]

My friend's horse had surgery as a 2 year old, he is now 4 coming 5 and he has been broken in and they are having lots of fun together and he's never had it again.

 

[abb123]

Yes. My mare is almost 1 year on from colic surgery. We are back riding now and she is going better than ever. She had a text book-perfect recovery and so far no more signs of any colic. We also had another case on our yard 6 months before mine - totally unrelated. He was rushed in for surgery, had many metres of intestine removed and was touch and go for a while. He is now totally back to normal and enjoying life again. So there's two happy ending stories for you!

 

[Crazydancer]

Yes, two I know of, one lady on here who's mare was in foal at the time, and managed to retain the foal, which is due in 2 weeks I think!
Also a friend with an Arab mare, who had surgery, and it still fit and well, and in fact has had some sucess in the showring, she is a picture of health.
Good luck with yours.

 

[Ambypamby]

thank you all for your replies im keeping everything crossed he will be ok. I love him so much

 

[Polo*Pony]

Yes

One of mine had colic surgery a few years ago. It was terrifying - not going to lie! Afterwards the vet said that when she first saw him, she didn't even want to operate as she thought he was past that stage and there would be nothing she could do.

However, he made a complete recovery and you would never know he'd been through that. We took it really slowly, followed all the vets' advice - he had 16 weeks box rest (luckily he was very good about it....) with short (5min to begin with) walks three times a day, building up. The surgery was the start of April and I first sat on him that September. He looked well before that, and a lot of people of my yard started a chorus of 'Just get on! He'll be fine!' weeks earlier, but I wasn't about to push my poor horse who'd never even had a tiny scratch before then. I think the fact that he went on to hunt the following year and show jump for a few years after that shows taking it slow it didn't do him any harm in the long run!

It is a horrible time so hugs to you and your horse. I'm glad he is doing well though and hope his recovery goes as smoothly as the rest of the horses on this thread!

 

[pintoarabian]

I have two here that had colic surgery within a couple of months of each other. That would have been about five or six years ago. One was impaction colic that resulted in a twist where a section of gut had started to go necrotic. That section was removed. The second was for a displaced colon due to gas build up. Both made full recoveries, although the first one did get an infection in the wound that led to a hernia. Hasn't done her any harm though and they both live normal lives. Hope your pony makes a full recovery too.

 

[haras]

Yes, two I know of, one lady on here who's mare was in foal at the time, and managed to retain the foal, which is due in 2 weeks I think!

This will be my beautiful mare.

My mare had colic surgery in september when she was three months in foal. She had 3 foot of intestine resected, due to 2 abcesses and a perforation caused by a piece of wire, probably from a chinese lantern. she also had peritonitis, so was a very poorly girl.

Following four months of box rest and hand walking, and a strict diet, foaly is due any day (officially two weeks, but she's all set to pop!) She's had a pretty un-eventful recovery and (touch wood) no further episodes of colic. I have kept her on sloppy feeds to make sure she gets enough fluid with her meals and make any changes VERY slowly. Treats are kept to a minimum. and I try to buy the same ones, so again, they don't change. When she was on box rest I tried all the usual tricks to keep her occupied, but we also put her in the corner/foaling box, so she had a bit more space and also because she could see more there. I am also lucky that as I have 2 other horses, I rotated the other two, so that one was in during the day and the other at night, next door to her, so she always had company. (was a bit like having two on box rest though, as my welshie is supposed to live out 24/7, so I only had the one spare stable, so was mucking them both out morning and night!)

What I will say, is listen to your vet and don't rush things. My mare had to do extra long box rest because of her scar and the growing foal putting extra pressure on it, but she did the box rest and then we made a stable size paddock and then a tennis court size one. It was 5 months before she was allowed anywhere near proper turnout again with a friend.

heres a couple of pics

24 hours post op, at the vets

First turnout in small stable sized paddock (after 3 months as she was so bored, vet called it a change of scenary rather than turnout)

And a very pregnant girly now

I really hope your horse is ok and home very soon. Keep your chin up. He's got this far. I'm only a PM away if you want to talk or have any questions x

 

[JoBird]

My mare had colic surgery 4 years ago, a month after I bought her! She is fabulous and has never had a serious colic since (touch wood), and bred a lovely foal and also the whole experience helped us really "bond".

2 Tips: Definitely a tiny turnout square is preferable to stable box rest.
Aloe Vera Juice is great for internal healing and Aloe Vera Gell for the external wound. (No I have no connection!)