Colic

[Breagha]

Hi all,

I experienced my first bit of colic in my 3 year old section A the other night. I have only ever dealt with it in other peoples horses from afar - so to speak.

It just goes to show you need to know your horse/pony, I was poo picking and noticed him lying flat out and not answering to me calling, so begun to walk towards him and he got up. So went back to my poo picking. Couple minutes later he was down again and thats when I realised there was something wrong so went to investigate. At first, I thought he was lame in his hind end, so we decided to take him into the stable block and that is when more of the signs started to appear biting at his belly, trying to go down, extremely tucked up and just wasnt himself.

Phoned the vet to come out and she told me to take him into the school and if he wants to go down let him whilst she travels to us. He was pawing and thinking about going down but didnt actually go right down until the vet was there, sedation, pain killers and rectal examination later and she thought it was spasmodic colic (thankfully I think it was). Vet had to ask me if needed would I want him referred for colic surgery, our vets have to think ahead with being up in the Highlands and I think they would have to go to Glasgow or something but I said I wouldnt put him through colic surgery and would probably PTS if it came to that (it didnt).

He is all back to normal now but what a worry.

Not sure the reason for the post but what do you think causes spasmodic colic?

Thanks

 

[meleeka]

Mine had a touch the other day too. She’s 27 and never had colic before so I’m also wondering what caused it. Thankfully a stroll round the field fixed her after a very short amount of time so no vet needed.

 

[Breagha]

I had given him 45 mins to "come right" but he was still not happy, thats why I ended up phoning the vet (bank balance will hate me when I get the bill) but I felt he just wasnt right with attempting to go down. We ended up having to keep him in a shavings bed for the night with no food.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I am glad he has recovered well. We have made the same decision about colic surgery for ours, which is one reason that we don't insure. Colic is horrible and they really do show how much pain they are in. I am sorry that I can't really help with the cause of spasmodic colic but would probably try to ensure that he isn't allowed rich grass without gradual introduction (which of course might have nothing to do with it in your pony's case). Thank goodness that you took notice of what he was telling you.

 

[Breagha]

I am glad he has recovered well. We have made the same decision about colic surgery for ours, which is one reason that we don't insure. Colic is horrible and they really do show how much pain they are in. I am sorry that I can't really help with the cause of spasmodic colic but would probably try to ensure that he isn't allowed rich grass without gradual introduction (which of course might have nothing to do with it in your pony's case). Thank goodness that you took notice of what he was telling you.

Thank you.

When they told me the price of the surgery as well, I knew it would be a few thousand but I was quoted 6K and I said to the vet, if I knew that the surgery guarented them NEVER to have colic again I would but its alot of money for them to basically colic again the next day and still have to be PTS. It has made me make the decision on all 3 horses that I wouldnt put them through colic surgery.

He doesnt tend to get grass, I am strip grazing one half of my paddock and the 2 biggers ones tend to get in first and then he gets through but it has made me look at everything although, nothing has changed in his management which makes it more worrying. If there was a factor then you could prevent but it seems as though it has just "happened".

 

[windand rain]

It can just happen, it can be because of restricted grazing and soil intake it can be something they have eaten. I would be inclined to give him a course of psyllium especially if he is on short grass on sandy soil. I had my first experience of colic in a 5 year old section A on restricted grazing it was the sandy soil psyllium was the cure

 

[Carrottom]

Glad your pony has recovered. My local vet (wales) said the other day he has seen a lot more colic cases recently and puts it down to the very changeable weather we've had causing grass to grow sporadically.

 

[tristar]

have you dosed for tapeworm

 

[Breagha]

It can just happen, it can be because of restricted grazing and soil intake it can be something they have eaten. I would be inclined to give him a course of psyllium especially if he is on short grass on sandy soil. I had my first experience of colic in a 5 year old section A on restricted grazing it was the sandy soil psyllium was the cure

Thanks - He isnt on restricted grazing as such, he is get kept on the shorter side but its still just under an acre of paddock. The other half was sprayed and has extremely long grass which I am strip grazing mostly with the bigger 2 but he does get in once they have eaten it down a little. This has been the same for a couple of months. We dont have sandy soil at the yard but I will look into the psyllium. Thank you.

Glad your pony has recovered. My local vet (wales) said the other day he has seen a lot more colic cases recently and puts it down to the very changeable weather we've had causing grass to grow sporadically.

Yes - up here in the Highlands we just cant get the rugging right for the changable weather. My mare ended up with a sunburnt back one day after a horrible day before.

have you dosed for tapeworm

The last time he was wormed which was a few months ago he was done for tape.

 

[tristar]

i think its twice yearly, well our vet says to do twice yearly, worm count and test for tape would be my first elimination

 

[Breagha]

i think its twice yearly, well our vet says to do twice yearly, worm count and test for tape would be my first elimination

He wouldnt be due to be wormed for tape yet. I normally do it October and March.

 

[Equine_Dream]

I've been through it with my mare and honestly it was one of the worst moments in my time of owning horses.
Came back from riding and she just wasn't herself. Then she began to paw and kick at her stomach. Phoned vet straight away. Vet arrived sedation, internal came back clear, so vet gave her buscopan but that didn't help. The vet then tubed her as thought she may have a blockage, but the inevitable question of "will you be happy to refer her for surgery if necessary?" was asked.
Like you OP I will not put a horse through that, so I knew if tubing her didn't work, then it would be the end of the road. I genuinely thought I was going to loose my beautiful girl that night. Thankfully tubing the fluids in to her did the trick and dislodged the blockage.
I spent weeks afterwards second guessing myself why she had coliced. I hadn't fed her before our ride and didn't notice her drinking massive amounts before I tacked up. Vet said it was just one of those things unfortunately ?
I'm so glad your boy was OK in the end. Colic is just horrible.