Colic

[Sparks28]

Hello. Im new here and hoping for some help please.
our 2 horses ( both age 28) love carrot tops ( leafy tops) and I had some fresh ones from our local farm shop for them. I gave them in the usual way - half of the bunch each in their food skips. It was just the tops, as I had removed the carrots for our use.
I don’t know exactly how long after, it was between 1-2 hours that we went to feed them their lunch and one of our horses didn’t want their lunch and threw himself on the floor, sweating and rolling.
the vet was called and after a thorough examination said he had colic. I explained they had had the carrot tops, but she didn’t think it was connected.
i can’t help but think something happened with the tops - maybe our other horse tried to get his so he gulped them down without chewing properly - so many thoughts going round my head!! Did they get stuck in his oesophagus or his small intestines?!
the vet gave the usual treatment of painkiller and sedative to relax him, he seemed to be okay but didn’t eat. He was given a chance to see if he would recover, but sadly didn’t and died shortly before the vet returned. We are devastated and I blame myself as feel it was too much of a coincidence that this happened after giving them the carrot tops!
could this have been a possibility, or is the vet correct that it was highly unlikely?
hopefully I have given all the information, but any advice would be very gratefully received as I’m beside myself feeling responsible for putting our horse through the nightmare that took his life.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I am so sorry for your loss. I am absolutely certain that the carrot tops had nothing at all to do with the colic. If the horse had bolted his share, he would have been more likely to get choke than colic and ime if that vet had thought the carrot tops were involved she would have said so. 28 is a good age for a horse and sadly, just like humans, their bodies stop working properly as they get older.
Unfortunately feelings of guilt are a natural part of the grieving process but that doesn't mean that you have anything that you should feel guilty about. I think whenever we lose an animal good owners wonder what they could have done differently, whether it's a planned pts or an emergency situation. Usually the answer is 'nothing' and I'm sure that is the case for you. Try to remember that one of the last things you did for him was to give him one of his favourite treats.

 

[be positive]

I think it highly unlikely that it was the carrots, at his age they often have lipomas which cause complete blocks/ twists and are fatal frequently with no history, I have lost two to it and a friend recently lost her old boy to colic all which were unavoidable, it is horrid and terrible to watch when they are in such pain but you did all you could, try not to blame yourself xx

 

[Lois Lame]

I lost a pony once due to colic -- the vet thought it probably a lipoma. A terrible thing and I went through the usual 'if onlys'. I still don't absolutely know the cause as no autopsy was done (at my request).

You need to remember that you gave him a good life.

 

[Quigleyandme]

So sorry for your loss in such traumatic circumstances. We have treated our horses and ponies to carrot tops for years without incident. You did everything you could to help your horse and that is all you can do. Sending you a virtual hug x

 

[WandaMare]

So sorry for your loss, its a terrible shock to lose a horse so quickly and completely natural to look for things you might have done wrong, I think we all do it when we lose one, go over the event time and time again wondering whats happened and trying to understand the exact cause. As others have said, its very unlikely to have been caused by the carrot tops, our horses have them regularly with no problem. I lost one very suddenly to an acute colic once which did turn out to be a lipoma, there is nothing I could have done to foresee it or prevent it but I kept on feeling bad about it for ages, I think its just part of the grieving process.

Your horse lived to a great age and from the care you show for him in your post I'm sure he had a wonderful life with you, no need to blame yourself for anything x

 

[meleeka]

Sorry for your loss
The only way it could have been anything to do with the carrot tops would be if they had something on them that was poisonous, but presumably your other horse was fine and you ate the carrots without incident.
Horses are pretty rubbish in their design. It was more than likely just one of those things. I lost an oldie in similar circumstances (apart from he was pts before he died). In some ways I was glad he went that way. It was a shock for me, but he was right as rain that morning. Looking back I’m glad his end was quick and he didn’t just wilt away to be found not able to get up or something.

 

[paddy555]

I am terribly sorry for your loss. I had exactly the same thing happen to my 25 yo a few weeks ago. All that appeared to have caused it was a small increase in beet pulp in his feed. Of course it hadn't and like your carrot tops it was just coincidence that 15 minutes later he started pawing and 1.25 hours later he was PTS with totally appalling colic. He was totally out of control with the colic, it was too dangerous for the vet to bring her car into the yard. We couldn't hold him, he was throwing himself to the ground, running off and getting cast in the stable and finally galloped off down the field, having removed the gate, with half an injection in him. Finally he fell in a heap.
Like you I did everything I could but it was horrendous. However you have to stand back and realise sh1t happens. Neither you nor I could have done anything different. We both did the only thing possible which was to get the vet.
At 8.30 pm I was thinking my horse would get through another couple of winters. By 10 pm he was dead.

I have had lots of old horses and, unlike many who have to PTS their horses due to lameness, I have found colic to be the usual cause of death. I am afraid it happens very suddenly and without warning in older horses. The colic they get is very acute and I have never had much success in treating it. My thought has always been if we somehow save the horse then the vet is going to be back in a couple of days when we have a repeat performance which is simply more suffering for the horse.

Please take on board that you didn't put your horse through this and neither did the carrot tops. What caused it was simply an old horse, 28 is a very good age, and more than likely, an internal problem such as an lipoma that you could have done nothing about.
It is truly horrible losing a horse but you have absolutely nothing to blame yourself for. Once again I am sorry for your loss.

 

[oldie48]

Sadly I've lost two like this and it is horrible but like everyone else I am totally confident that it had nothing to do with the carrot tops. One of mine was 28 and the other only 16 but the vet was pretty confident that it was a lipoma in both cases. Give yourself time to grieve but don't blame yourself, there's nothing that you have done which has caused it.

 

[Sparks28]

Thank you everyone for your condolences, advice and for sharing your experiences.
paddy555 - I’m so sorry to hear of your loss recently, it must’ve been such a shock for you and very distressing for all involved. It’s unbelievable how quickly you can lose them sometimes.

I forgot to add that our horse had never had colic before, which is why it was such a shock. He had been diagnosed with Cushings about 5 years ago, but had no symptoms since being put on medication.

The carrot tops., I had given how I always give them, just as they are - didn’t chop them up. They were very fresh and I checked at the farm shop (afterwards) that they hadn’t been sprayed with anything. I was going to put them in their skips,‘which I thought were in the tack room, but they had been left out from breakfast, so I went to fetch them. The boys were both there so thought they could have them then. I spilt the bunch in half and put them in their skips. As expected K had his and headed off for R’s skip to try and get his. R grabbed his and they both walked off, so I left them to it.

An hour or 2 later we went to give them lunch and this is when it was apparent he wasn’t well.

It was a nice day, so our doors and windows were open, but may not have heard any noise from the horses if there was a problem and they were behind the stables.

I wonder if he choked on them, but would he have stopped choking symptoms an hour or so later and developed colic when we went to give them lunch? I’ve found out that food is only in a horses stomach for about 15 mins before entering the small intestine, so could the tops have blocked that if they hadn’t been chewed properly?!
The vet had said that she would’ve expected the tops to cause choke if there was a problem with not chewing them properly, but there was no sign of choke.

Could the Stalks have been too tough and got wedged somewhere? I’m sure I would’ve realised if they had been!

I just can’t get away from the fact he was normal until after the carrot tops. The vet didn’t think it was anything to do with them and I would’ve thought if there was any chance it was, she would’ve said?

The vet didn’t mention lipomas. Would this be something that would cause gradual weight loss or other symptoms, or can it be sudden? He hadn’t lost weight or acted any different to normal until then.

We’ve only ever had the 3 boys. We lost the first a couple of years ago and the vet suspected a stroke. He was 28 as well.

Our remaining old boy has surprised us with how he’s coped since losing his best friend. After a couple of days of calling and charging about like a man on a mission looking for him, he’s been very calm and relaxed. Which is a huge relief.
Thank you again for your replies. I really appreciate you all taking the time to read and post a reply.

 

[Sparks28]

Forgot to add that the vet had said they had seen a big increase in cases of colic just recently.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

OP, please don't keep trying to find something that you did to explain the colic. There wasn't anything, there really wasn't. It was just coincidence, sadly he had something catastrophic inside just waiting to happen. He was a good age and you had looked after him very well. Try to concentrate on the good times

 

[be positive]

The horse I lost to suspected lipoma was totally fine had just been turned out for the night got down to roll almost normally in front of me and within moments he was in obvious pain, it was instant no build up, no warning no change to diet or routine, I have dealt with many colics but this was so fast to take hold it was a real shock, he did respond to initial treatment but similar to the one paddy has just lost when the drugs started to wear off he was totally out of control so the call was made.

In my experience colic is rarely easily explained, some may be related to changes in diet/ weather/ routine etc but of the ones I have seen, whether the outcome has been good or bad none have had a cause that could have been avoided, or at least nothing we could think of at the time other than one pony I have now who does get the odd mild gassy colic if she gets a bit too much grass but that is avoidable with a bit of care, the others have tended to have no history and it is often a one off.

 

[Sparks28]

I guess it’s just the shock of it all and it was very distressing to see him as he was. I’m overthinking it and convincing myself it was the carrot tops and blaming myself. I’m sure time, along with the vets opinion and all your replies will hopefully convince me that maybe these things just happen, unfortunately.
He had a lovely life and we miss him very very much.
Thank you again. X

 

[View]

So sorry you have lost your faithful friend. It wasn’t your fault, nothing you did caused colic. Just sheer coincidence.

You called the vet, ensured he received painkillers. He was lucky to have you.

Don’t overthink this, just let the grieving process take it’s natural course. Most importantly, cherish your happy memories of him.

 

[paddy555]

The horse I lost to suspected lipoma was totally fine had just been turned out for the night got down to roll almost normally in front of me and within moments he was in obvious pain, it was instant no build up, no warning no change to diet or routine, I have dealt with many colics but this was so fast to take hold it was a real shock, he did respond to initial treatment but similar to the one paddy has just lost when the drugs started to wear off he was totally out of control so the call was made.

In my experience colic is rarely easily explained, some may be related to changes in diet/ weather/ routine etc but of the ones I have seen, whether the outcome has been good or bad none have had a cause that could have been avoided, or at least nothing we could think of at the time other than one pony I have now who does get the odd mild gassy colic if she gets a bit too much grass but that is avoidable with a bit of care, the others have tended to have no history and it is often a one off.

thanks for the kind words Sparks. I am afraid the above is how it is. For most there is no explanation. Another one of mine got colic at 28. He had never had colic before. There was no reason for him to get colic. We went to bed as normal. Luckily the stables are connected to the bedroom and we heard him going crazy. He was throwing himself off the stable walls to the ground. Vet called and we decided to PTS. He was in so much pain. It happened so quickly and so violently.

The one I referred to earlier had never had colic before. I had brought him in for the night, he had been rugged in the daytime as it was slightly colder and a little wet. He was in perfect condition. Trotted in happily, ate his feed enthusiastically. I was just at the stage of handing his hay in for the night and leaving him when he started mildly pawing. Within 15 minutes he was throwing himself to the ground in the yard (we had got him out of the stable) screaming in pain. It can be that quick and there is very often no explanation.

As people have said try not to overthink it. No one is to blame. If you hadn't fed him at all it would still have happened.

 

[Lois Lame]

The vet didn’t mention lipomas. Would this be something that would cause gradual weight loss or other symptoms, or can it be sudden? He hadn’t lost weight or acted any different to normal until then.

My pony was a curvaceous fellow at the time of the colic, enjoying the new spring weather. It happened on 10.9.03 and that day had started so well.

Then it all went to Hell.

One thing I did notice several days before The Day was his droppings seemed to be slightly less in mass than what I would have thought. You know how us horse people are -- we study droppings as though they are works of art, sussing out colour, texture and size just as a matter of course. I wondered at the reason for a slightly lesser amount as I gazed at a fresh deposit one day, but I did nothing more than that.

There were no other symptoms. Appetite good, waistline stable, everything fine. Until it wasn't.

For a time I suspected the consumption of a plastic bag. The paddocks where my pony lived at that time was near a rubbish dump.

Then I suspected the wormer that he'd received maybe up to a week prior.

Nothing showed up on ultrasound at the vets.

I'd never had a colic case before. Just this utterly horrible one.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

My 23 yr old mare colicked on a 1st Jan 2010. It had been a very cold spell and that day the grass was frosty. She lived out 24/7 and was in great health. Didn't want her feed in the evening, called the vet, had all the usual treatment but didn't improve, vet came back several times through night and we eventually had to call it a day about 7 next morning. I blamed the frosty grass, my not having wormed her for tapeworm, you name it I found a reason it was my fault but it wasn't, just one of those things. She had colicked previously at 8 and that was a bad one too but she came through it. Horrible way to lose a horse. You have all my sympathy, just stop beating yourself up about it. He was a very good age.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

im so sorry to hear this, please don’t blame your management. We lost a 5 year old to colic recently and two other cases occurred. In a yard close by horses have been to horsepital due to colic...its difficult to know why. Grieve and be gentle on yourself.

 

[fusspot]

Op, so sorry for your loss and was and still is a big shock due to the speed of it all.Having been around horses for 35 years I can honestly say that it is really not unusual for a horse to suddenly go that quickly.A clients horse had foaled 8 weeks before,been in field all day as usual,came in for tea,within 15mins was down and died on the lorry on the way to the vets.

Another clients 24 year old was absolutely fine,lying down when I went to feed in the morning,not sweating or anything but obviously uncomfortable,was pts at the vets as highly likely he had a lipoma.

Please do not beat yourself up and keep going over what it could have been,it is really unlikely that the carrots had anything to do with it and was a total coincidence.The only way you would have found out would be by doing a postmortem.There is a lot of colic at the moment and probably Laminitis due to having the rain and warmth and the grass coming back through again,it’s like spring in September.

I have been in your position where I kept thinking about it and blaming myself but I can honestly say that it doesn’t help and you almost end up driving yourself mad.Take comfort in that he went peacefully at home, was a very good age and had a wonderful life with you.Spend your time thinking about the lovely times you had together.

 

[Orangehorse]

Sorry for your loss, it is horrible and a terrible shock.

If they get choke, it is immediate. Happened to mine and I knew immediately what had happened, so put your mind at rest about that. In fact, you can think that the horse really enjoyed his carrot tops.

 

[Sparks28]

Thank you everyone.
Thank you orangehorse. I wondered if he could’ve choked after I left them to eat the carrot tops. They took them out of the skips in one go and walked off with them. I didn’t think anything of it, as we leave them to eat their meals as well - we don’t watch over them, never have really.
I don’t know anything about choke and don’t know if it’s something that could calm down on its own, but cause colic. Its all just guesses. We will never know.
our other horse was perfectly normal after the carrot tops.
I wouldn’t be thinking anything of it if he hadn’t got colic shortly afterwards. I guess I can’t help but focus on those as it’s the last thing I gave him.
Unfortunately, we will never know.
not in a hurry to feed carrot tops again though! X