Concern after colic incident - Help please

Bay TB

Bay TB

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My boy colicked on Sunday for the first time.
We called the vet who examined him and stated that part of his gut was out of place over the ligament that joins his spleen and left kidney.
They then put a tube up his nose into his stomach and pumped in a load of epsom salts in warm water into his stomach. The vet said to wait for 2 hours then lunge him in trot for 45 mins. This was to try to cause the spleen to contract and allow the intestine to fall back into place.
Anyway, it seemed to work as he passed some gas and had a poo. The vet then called me again later to see how he was doing and as he hadn't shown any more pain I was told to give him a small feed then wait for 30 mins to see how he was and if OK repeat. I did this and he seemed to really perk up, he ate and I walked him out a few times. The vet then said to go back to normal routine and just to call them if he showed any more pain.
Monday morning he seemed bright, ate his breakfast and we turned him out, however, when we brought him in last night he seemd a bit subdued. He did eat his tea but v slowly and didn't eat much hay overnight. He was the same this morning and we have turned him out.
I'm just after a bit of advise as to whether I should be worried or is he just still recovering and taking things steady? If he continues to not quite be himself I will give the vet a call again for some advice but just wandered what others experiences are over how long it has taken your horse to recover from a colic episode. Thanks for your help
 
I would call the vet for advice but in the meantime restrict his grazing a little, to try and avoid him gorging, which he probably did yesterday as he would have been hungry after a night eating very little. Feed him sloppy feeds to get plenty of fluids through him.
 
Thanks for the reply.
I don't think he will have gorged himself in the field to be honest as there is absolutely sod all grass left in it!! We have had to put some haylage out in the field even as it's so bad (although we didn't put any out yesterday for his sake to make sure he was steady).
He has only been having small feeds since of just 1/2 scoop alfa A and 1/2 scoop speedibeet as advised by the vet.
I will see what he's like tonight I think and decide whether to call the vet again or not.
 
He may just be tired and a bit sore, keep him quiet for a few days and as I said make sure he gets plenty of fluid, hopefully he will perk up quickly.
 
Thank you, I will make his meals nice and sloppy!! He does seem to be drinking normally in his stable thankfully
I was hoping that he is just still recovering as it was quite a traumatic day for us all. I will see if he picks up soon and if not call the vet again.
I was contemplating whether or not to turn him out but the vet said to go staight back to his normal routine to keep everything as stress free as possible and I suppose it is better for him to be moving about to get his gut working properly.
 
I would probably be giving the vet a call now. One of mine suffered gassy colic (which we later learnt was a displacement). Overnight she seemed to perk up and by morning seemed her usual self. Vet advised turn out on limited paddock and keep an eye on her.
By 10 o clock that night we'd lost her :(
Symptoms started off again with her looking a little depressed, picking at grass but not eating properly - vet was called straight away but despite a lot of hard work we couldn't save her.
You know your horse. Go with your gut instinct.
Best of luck x
 
I would not be happy at all. IME horses recover very quickly from colic and have no adverse effects if it is mild compaction type. I would be very concerned and be ringing the vet.
 
My mare colics a couple of times a year, luckily its just spasmodic but the vets always ask me if she's been wormed recently! As its possible for them to get colic if they have a high tapeworm count! Also they can colic if you give them equest pramox as it does a really good job! So just wondering if he's been treated as its the right time of year for this :)

Good luck, I know how horrid it is :(
 
He hasn't been wormed for a while on vets advice as last two times he's had a zero worm count. The YO is keeping an eye on him at the mo and i will see how he is this afternoon. He is eating and passing droppings ok, just a bit subdued and quiet.
 
phone the vet for advice, lot of horses collicking at the mo. mine colicked on monday, as you vet told me to go back to normal routine so out on tuesday and she collicked againnon tuesday late at night. thank goodness i know something wasnt right and hung about. we kept her in then until the weekend but it did take about 3 days until she was back to normal. also can you get your hands on bran and feed a mash?
 
Thanks for all your replys.
I have just phoned the vet for some advice and managed to speak to the one who came out to me on Sunday. She did say that after what he went through on Sunday she would expect him to be a bit sore and tired and to take a few days to fully recover. She said that as long as he is eating and going to the loo and not showing any pain symptoms she is happy.
I will continue to monitor him closely obviously but hopefully he is on the mend.
 
Bay TB said:
He hasn't been wormed for a while on vets advice as last two times he's had a zero worm count. The YO is keeping an eye on him at the mo and i will see how he is this afternoon. He is eating and passing droppings ok, just a bit subdued and quiet.
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Tapeworms and encysted red worm don't show up on worm counts - has he been wormed for tapeworm this spring and autumn? He may have a high tapeworm burden which can cause colic before and after worming. I would be speaking to the vet again.
 
Rueysmum said:
Tapeworms and encysted red worm don't show up on worm counts - has he been wormed for tapeworm this spring and autumn? He may have a high tapeworm burden which can cause colic before and after worming. I would be speaking to the vet again.
Click to expand...

He was wormed with Equest Pramox in early spring and vet advised after last worm count (about 6 weeks ago) to do the same in a couple of months so shortly. I will speak to them about whether to do this now or wait a bit. The vet did ask about his worming on Sunday but didn't mention it any further.
 
My poor boy was miserable for about 2 weeks after a spasmodic colic episode. Vet said after all the tummy ache, spasms, gas, not eating, hard poos, rectal exams etc he's got more than enough reason to be miserable!


You know your horse so if you think he's colicing again (even mildly) please call the vet out as they are prone immediatly after an attack :( good luck xxxx
 
Thanks all, he's much brighter tonight, munched all his tea and settled into his haynet and seemed much more like himself so i'm hoping he's on the mend :-(
 
This thread is timely. Had my first colic in years last night. We were up with her round the clock. I had a quick couple hours sleep and getting ready for the morning chores. She seems to be heading the right way thankfully. But time will tell. Poor little Heidi.

OP, hope your horse is doing better.

Terri
 
My vet said the same. This saturated ground that did very little drying during the year can't be helping. I so wish I had woodchip pens. May think of doing some despite renting. I'd just feel much better about them doing their work and hanging out with a round bale in a pen. The ground scares me with the year we've had.

Anyway, all good for now. Thank you.

Terri
 
:( My poor boy is still not right unfortunately. He hasn't colicked again but he's still been very lethargic and not himself. He is drinking, and going to the loo fine and is eating a bit but just picking at it (he's usually quite a piglet!).
Called the vet again this morning and she is coming out this afternoon to take some blood for tests to see if there is an underlying problem as he should have picked up by now!! Wish us both luck
 
It may just be that it's taking him a while to get over it. I know how you feel though, as it's a bit of a worry.

One of mine has spasmodic colic quite often, unfortunately. He is very susceptible to tape wormers, getting wet and cold (although an IDX and rugged), and wet, green grass (although very restricted)! I have had a lot of vet bills for an out of hours visit and a shot of Bute and Buscopan!

His colic episodes tend to make him the same as your chap - a bit listless and moochy for quite a few days and he stands and yawns a lot which is a sure sign he's not feeling 100%. He's usually OK after about a week.

Good luck, fingers crossed your boy will be fine.

Just remembered that back in about 2004 he had colic 3 times within the space of two weeks and was blood tested for tape worm as a result. It turned out he had very high tapeworm antibodies which indicated a high burden and was tape wormed about 4 times during the following 12 months as a result. He's now tape wormed twice each year but usually feels dicky for a while afterwards.
 
My tb had a case of spasmodic colic a few months ago when she was put in a new field. I had to contact the vet after 4 days as she still wasnt right. Not colic signs but very quiet and not like herself. Was told as long as she not showing any colic signs she just taking a long time to recover from it. Think she was not right for 8 days before she returned to normal.
 
I feel lucky as Heidi returned to normal fairly quickly after her first ever colic. She's a pretty easy mare I must admit. Nothing really gets her down for too long.

OP, hops your horse is back to normal fairly quickly.

Terri
 
Thanks guys, the vet has been and his temp is quite high so suspects an infection! Started on antibiotics and prebiotics for his gut whilst we wait on the blood results.
 
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