Do you think this is start of colic or am I a worrywart?

D

davisn

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 September 2007
Messages
251
Location
Between the sea & Snowdon
Visit site
Hi. Can I please pick your brains again.

Just brought my horses in (they live at home) & my mare doesn't seem quite right. Can't explain it, just not quite herself. She was fine walking to her stable but looked a bit uncomfortable after eating her tea (just half a days ration of blue chip lami light).

She pulled a few faces, walked away when I went to change her rug & then led down & got back up straight away. I watched her for 15 minutes & she stood still with her head down for a couple of minutes & then went & ate her haylage as normal. She isn't looking at her sides or trying to kick her belly or anything like that. I will check her again in a few minutes.

Obviously if she doesn't seem normal then, I'll take her for a walk in hand & call the vets.

What do you think?
 
As you said, I would just keep an eye on her :). Has she got a chill? If its colic have you tried pressing on her abdomen and flanks and seeing if you get a reaction? Hope all is ok though!
 
no your not a worrywart! keep an eye on. My old boy gets the weirdest colic - all the symptoms, no rolling but will gladly wolf a haynet! Vets are confused.
If your not happy get the vet or youll find yourself up all night panicing. She might just have a small blockage that is uncomfortable and will pass, dont take risks with colic. Hope she's OK
 
She might just be having an off day although I think you are right to keep an eye on her. At least she's at home so you can keep popping out. As she passed any dung since she came in?

Let us know how she is later/tomorrow.

:)
 
Thanks guys, Just grabbing a sandwich to take out to the stables for horse watch, in case it's a long night & I skipped lunch!

Forgot to mention she had a normal poo as soon as she came into her stable (that's usual for her, she always has to have one straight away). Thought that might be relevant.
 
I have been know to phone my vets just because he wasnt right, no actual symptoms, vets couldnt believe that I had spotted it before any clinical signs, but at the end of the day you know your horse best! hope all is well when you go out to check! but if in doubt I would get the vet out, better to be safe, (and before they go home for the night).
 
Ok. Just been out & checked her again.

She is looking bright & alert again, eaten half her haylege. Her bedding hasn't been disturbed very much, so doesn't look like she has been walking around or anything. She wanted a cuddle, bless her. However she kept moving away when I tried to feel her flanks & belly.

I will go out again in 15 minutes or so & if she still looks ok I'll give her a groom to try & check her belly in a more relaxed/normal way rather than her thinking I want her to move over.

Fingers crossed it's all in my head.
 
My mare was similar last week, looked fed up, nose on the floor, not interested in her feed (most unlike her) and was trying to get down to roll. I did get the vet out as I have a pony who has had 2 colic surgerys in the past month so am beyond paranoid and the vet said it wasn't colic as she had normal gut sounds but most likely a bug of some sort he gave her a antibiotic and anti-inflammatory injection and took bloods which he tested and came back normal. He did say she had a high temperature though so I would check your horses temp if I were you.

She was right as rain the next day and her temperature was back to normal so I guess it was a 24 hour bug like the vet said, I felt better having had the blood tests done and knowing it wasn't colic (until the bill arrived this morning..)
 
OK, it's official. I am the world's greatest worrier!

Just been out with Storm again. She is still bright & alert & eating. Obliged by having another normal poo while I was with her. Still being a bit silly when I feel her flanks (although she can be a bit like that sometimes), so I will still check her every 30 minutes for the rest of the evening, until I feel comfortable enough to go to bed.

Thanks everyone
 
I'd rather be a worrywort, sounds like she may have a bit of a chill and this weather isn't helping. If she doesn't look bright tomorrow give your vet a ring, best be safe than sorry.
 
Stick your ear up to her flanks. Normal gut behaviour is noisy and gurgly.

If it's not noisy and gurgly, there's a problem.

But be warned - I once did this and literally got the arse ripped out of my jeans! I brought him in, he didn't look quite right - as you say, looked a bit miserable and out of sorts, but not kicking or rolling or anything. And he wasn't eating, which is not normal.

I put my ear to one flank and couldn't hear anything. I put my ear to the other flank and, before I tell if I could hear anything, he whipped round and tore the bum out of my jeans! My hair had tickled him. Good job he didn't get my bum or I would've had a chunk missing. I was so shocked I just stood there with my mouth open and laughed my head off. (Yes, I know he should have had a good smack but it was very funny - pocket hanging down my leg and my pants on show).

And then he went and attacked his net. Bloody swine.

But you are quite right to want to investigate. No-one knows your horse as well as you do.
 
My lad had colic 2 nights running last week :( in January he had perotinitis & nearly died so I am paranoid.

He too came in & tucked into his haynet (didn't want to know food when he had perotinitis), he had also done 1 pile of droppings. I was a little concerned as he seemed quiet (not his normal bolshy opinionated self:)) anyhow he lay down right at my feet, I then knew he wasn't right.

He got up immediately, no rolling or looking at flanks etc. The only other thing he did was curl his top lip up (I only found out this was a sign that they were in pain when he was ill before)

His guts sounded absolutely fine, plenty of gurgling etc. I was not happy so got the vet & sadly he had gassy colic :(

No gut sounds are serious but the vet told me they can still have colic yet have gut sounds (how confusing)

Sounds like you too know your horse really well (when my lad 1st became ill in January, everyone thought I was being over cautious but I know him so well I recognised it at the start)

Having seen your updates, I am really pleased for you that she is ok. :) Don't ever feel silly for being a worrywort, better to be worried than blase.

Hugs to you xx
 
neddynesbitt said:
He too came in & tucked into his haynet (didn't want to know food when he had perotinitis), he had also done 1 pile of droppings. I was a little concerned as he seemed quiet (not his normal bolshy opinionated self:)) anyhow he lay down right at my feet, I then knew he wasn't right.

He got up immediately, no rolling or looking at flanks etc. The only other thing he did was curl his top lip up (I only found out this was a sign that they were in pain when he was ill before)
Click to expand...

Gosh Neddynesbitt, that's exactly how Storm was last night, even down to the curled top lip.

I kept checking on her last night & everything seemed back to normal. I finally felt happy enough to go to bed & checked her again first thing this morning & still OK. She's done her normal amount of poo, eaten her normal amount of haylege & water & not messed up her bed. She banged the door once & flattened her ears (her usual polite way of asking for breakfast), so I think she is OK.

However I will be extra vigilant for the next few days. She may have caught a bit of a chill I guess. She is still only in a 100 gram T/O & a fleece in the evenings in her stable (internal stable). She has a large apron clip as she was sweating too much & is still carrying a bit too much condition. She hasn't felt cold at all. I've put her out this morning in the field right by the house so that I can see her no matter where I am.

Thanks for all your advice, colic is something I haven't dealt with first hand before. I love having the horses at home, but it does mean that I don't have anyone to bounce ideas off.
 
Hi, I'm so glad to hear all is well :) until my lad had perotinitis I hadn't experienced colic with any of my other horses.

When he had colic 2 weeks ago now, he did go off his food & wasn't drinking much also once it kicked in so it's great to know your girl kept munching & is ok :)
 
keep keeping an eye on her just incase. Best to catch it early just incase. (I've been there, ops the lot - its not nice!)
My boy does this when he bites his tongue though...but he does dribble abit when he does it too!
Horses eh?!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top