Colic - what should you do?

jcberry

jcberry

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A horse at our yard has just had a big bout of colic. Bad enough that you could hear her groaning from the drive. She was lying down, shaking and looked in so much pain. With the help of some of the liveries, we heaved her up and got her walking round her lean-to (barn type thing), keeping her moving. when YM got here he walked her round the menage.
I know it used to be the 'thing' to do help colic, but i have heard so many stories that you should just leave them lying down?
Got me thinking, whats the right thing to do for colic?
 
I have always heard that movement and keeping them
up is best. If that has changed , I have heard nothing of it.

What does the vet say? That is who should be deciding and advising...not the YM
 
Depends on the colic and the situation.

My boy died of colic in March. My neighbor saw him go down in the field and he never got up again. There was no way we could have made him walk. He had twisted gut and died within hours. It sounds awful to say, but he was a dead horse when he lay down. Walking him would have only caused him to suffer more, so I made him comfortable.
 
Im sorry
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Yes, I suppose it does depend on the situation.
 
Any of our horses who even show the most subtle signs of colic will have the vet out - that is what happens when you have horses worth seven figures.
 
If the horse isn't too ill, I might walk them for a minute or two (or to get them to the stable or somewhere safe) but if they lie quiet in a safe place I'd let them.
I always phone the vet, and don't really agree with doing any home remedies such as Finadyne etc without a vet exam as pain killers can mask serious signs (bute probably isn't strong enough to mask much in my experience).
S
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I would'nt give any drugs just get the vet out asap. If you give pain killers it may hide how bad the horse really is. My horse had a twisted gut in October 2005 and we had to take him to Edinburgh for surgery he had 10feet cut out of his small intestine and we are one of the lucky ones he is still with us. BUT IT HAS'NT BEEN EASY BELIEVE ME! good luck
 
I learnt from a traditional yard to walk colic-y horses, but have since spoken to a vet and been advised otherwise. Her opinion was that walking may help horses with mild gas build up (if that is the cause of pain). Walking for any other reason doesn't help ease pain or prevent guts twisting. Walking a horse with moderate/severe colic will just exhaust it. I think that is fairly similar to us- with mild indigestion a walk can help, but cramps and agony and I certainly would not fancy a "leisurely stroll"!!! I think it is a grey area and opinions between vets may vary on walking or not. I personally would get them in a safe, quiet area and get the vet!
 
I get them out of any area where they could do themselves damage and allow them to do what they like. That's very old advice to make the horse continue walking when it has colic. All of my vets in recent years are of a mind to leave the horse be....and that's what I do.

No I wouldn't call the vet out for mild colic, however I would have him on stand-by. Big difference between serious colic and mild colic.
 
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