pistolpete
Well-Known Member
One of my lovely share boys is on box rest and has colicked today. Vet says dehydration. Poo very hard and impacted. Apart from obviously hydrating him more I’d appreciate thoughts and experiences on this. Thanks.
Colicking while on box rest
- Thread starter pistolpete
- Start date
spotty_pony2
Well-Known Member
what is he on box rest for and how long? is there anyway he can be in a stable with a small fenced off area/walked in hand? lack of movement will be upsetting the digestive system too. It’s one of the main reasons I only do box rest if it’s absolutely essential and even thenI electric fence an area off outside so they can wander in and out but can’t go silly. Keeps them happy both physically and mentally.
pistolpete
Well-Known Member
He’s had annular ligament surgery. He does get walked out twice a day for 15 minutes. Agree he needs out. I’d be making a stable sized paddock covered in soaked hay.
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
Plenty of Electrolytes or salt in his dinners to encourage more drinking. Even just a small hand graze will make a huge difference from just dryish hay in their tummy
shortstuff99
Well-Known Member
I used equidgel on mine as it doesn't have all the sugar that is in recovery mash but still gives them plenty of fluid. I would give 5-10l a day and then soak all forage too.
spotty_pony2
Well-Known Member
I’d be seeing if he can get out more for a hand graze or something even perhaps every 2 hours if Vet is happy. Put some apples in his water to encourage him to drink more and entertain him. I’d spread his hay around his stable so he has to move more to get it. If he’s your horse can you not have a word and see if they can do a stable sized turnout area?
LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
Mine absolutely loved the Saracen Recovery Mash the other day and is a fussy drinker at events. Just add it to their water. I got some free samples but it seemed to work well.
Nari
Well-Known Member
Soak his hay and feed sloppy mashes or pony nut soup. Sometimes offering warm water helps, or flavoured water - apple juice, Ribena, sugar beet water are all ideas.
Pinkvboots
Well-Known Member
Soaked hay wet feeds and the saracen recovery mash is brilliant for getting them to consume water it's like crack for horses, alot of people use it when they compete to keep them hydrated.
When Arabi had impaction colic vet told me to pick long grass and put it in a shallow bucket of water.
When Arabi had impaction colic vet told me to pick long grass and put it in a shallow bucket of water.
TheOldTrout
Completely Unknown Member
I was going to suggest some hand grazing but someone has beaten me to it.
pistolpete
Well-Known Member
I pick grass for him when I visit but only see him once a week. He’s a bit of a handful to lead so he doesn’t get any hand grazing. Hopefully they’ll soak his hay 
Pinkvboots
Well-Known Member
To be honest I would always soak hay for any horse on box rest purely because they are not moving around much, horses that don't are not moving much don't tend to drink as much as they don't get to warm plus the gut slips down.I pick grass for him when I visit but only see him once a week. He’s a bit of a handful to lead so he doesn’t get any hand grazing. Hopefully they’ll soak his hay
I'm surprised the vet has not suggested this as a matter of change of management it is just common sense really.
Even a little dunk or a good spray will help get more water into them.
Midlifecrisis
Well-Known Member
Soaked fibre dinners and soaked grass cobs in addition to hand grazing I think would help.
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
I use Lamigel. They kind of drink it like soup.
I also soak hay, and feed from a greedy feeder. Most importantly, I bed on a non edible bed, so they aren't scoffing straw.
For the hand walking, I do a mooch and a munch, so 15 minutes walking is fitted into an hour of a mooch then munch. I either hand graze of have two soaked hay stations in a large area and mooch from one to the other. This actually keeps them calmer than officious hand walking IME.
I also soak hay, and feed from a greedy feeder. Most importantly, I bed on a non edible bed, so they aren't scoffing straw.
For the hand walking, I do a mooch and a munch, so 15 minutes walking is fitted into an hour of a mooch then munch. I either hand graze of have two soaked hay stations in a large area and mooch from one to the other. This actually keeps them calmer than officious hand walking IME.