Domestic/traditional/old-fashion methods of treating colic

[stangs]

Another thread has me wondering: what are colic treatments you know/grew up with that are virtually obsolete today, or never used by vets?

I'm reading a book from the 19th century on horse training, and here's what the author advises for colic:

Give to the horse a pint of port or claret wine, with a small nutmeg grated fine, and half a spoonful of powdered ginger, all well mixed, and given rather hotter than lukewarm. The best method is to get ready some boiling hot water, then put the nutmeg and ginger, together with a little loaf sugar, into a vessel, and pour the hot water upon them, and cover it for three minutes; then add the wine, and give this dose to the horse pretty warm. It generally gives relief in a short time

 

[windand rain]

We had a small pony years ago that colic when brought in to wean her foal the vet gave her a gallon liquid parrafin and she survived both the colic and the treatment it was a kill or cure solution

 

[Snowfilly]

I remember seeing liquid paraffin used on horses as a kid, seemed to work for impactions.

I know someone who gives ginger cordial to horse who sometimes stress colics on the basis it settles human stomachs and can’t do much harm - the mare drinks it willingly from a bowl!

 

[rextherobber]

When I was a child, we always had a bottle labelled Colic Drench in the tack room. I have no idea what was in it ( I remember it as being green and the same sort of consistency as a thick calamine lotion) I don't remember it ever being used.

 

[meleeka]

I think they still use liquid paraffin for impctions. They certainly do with pigs. I’m a bit old fashioned and have saved many call-outs by hand walking round the field.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I remember liquid paraffin from Pony Club days (back in the 6o's/70's). We kids religiously made sure we all had the stuff in our tack-rooms back then.

Also it was drilled into us NEVER to let a horse with colic roll; however some 50-odd years later and encountering my first-ever colic with my mare, the vet DID say OK to let her roll!

 

[Cowpony]

When I was a child we were told warm beer was a good holding medication to give before the vet arrived with the colic drench

 

[Red-1]

When Rigs had impaction this month, the young vet didn't like liquid paraffin, said it was an outdated practice. However, her tubing with salts and water didn't shift anything, so I asked the (older) emergency vet for it next morning, when it was a kill or cure situation. She said yes, she has used it many times successfully!

 

[cauda equina]

There's a risk that liquid paraffin will end up in the lungs and cause pneumonia

 

[minesadouble]

I remember liquid paraffin from Pony Club days (back in the 6o's/70's). We kids religiously made sure we all had the stuff in our tack-rooms back then.

Also it was drilled into us NEVER to let a horse with colic roll; however some 50-odd years later and encountering my first-ever colic with my mare, the vet DID say OK to let her roll!

The rolling advice changed some years ago now.
The thought used to be that rolling caused a twisted gut whereas now violent rolling is more likely to be seen as an indicator of severe pain rather than a cause.

 

[SEL]

No one else seen a bottle of coke used? I spent some time in Australia where the nearest vet was 7 hours away so homemade remedies or a gun was the answer to colic

The coke worked thankfully

Same guy also syringed in vegetable oil for a bad case of choke.

 

[Vodkagirly]

No one else seen a bottle of coke used? I spent some time in Australia where the nearest vet was 7 hours away so homemade remedies or a gun was the answer to colic

The coke worked thankfully

Same guy also syringed in vegetable oil for a bad case of choke.

Yes I took a friend's horse to hospital and apparently they gave it 2 bottles of coke for impaction.
It pulled through

 

[scruffyponies]

Cannabis used to be the go-to medicine for colic. Documented since the early 1500s, and used widely until outlawed in the 1930s. WW1 vets all carried it in their kit.

 

[PurBee]

Has anyone heard of fennel seeds used for equine bloating or colic? Its used widely in human alternative remedies, and ive used it , as fennel tea, with success every time if ever im painfully bloated. I think there’s some oils in it which are anti-spasmodic/pain relieving. Ive never tried them on a horse but would think of it if colic and slow vet coincided.

I like the coke idea…carbonated acidic drinks fizzing through dried impactions…a bit like drain cleaner action!

 

[scruffyponies]

I would go with fennel/peppermint/ginger for human bloating. Never tried on a horse

 

[ycbm]

Put the horse in a horsebox and drive it fast around twisty bumpy roads is one of the old remedies. It does often work for impaction.

Traveller remedy is to stick the horse on the lunge and chase it as fast as you can make it move.
.

 

[Red-1]

There's a risk that liquid paraffin will end up in the lungs and cause pneumonia

Yes, we discussed that risk. However, with a 17yo, EMS, cushings, lami, COPD, etc etc horse, who wasn't going to have an operation, I said I would rather he died of that trying than not try hard enough. I thought it was a fair risk. The older vet agreed. It worked.

Of course, it may well have worked if the younger vet had continued with the Epsom Salt and water, but we will never know.

I think, as long as the treatment given is agreed with the attending vet as suitable, it does come down to what the owner is prepared to risk. I know that I could have lived with myself if he had died whilst we tried to make him better, using a method I have seen used a few times, successfully.

I felt I would not have lived with myself if we had held back from treatment for an 'in case' he got parrafin in the lungs and got pneumonia. I would have always kicked myself.

As it is he was fine. Large as life.

I think that both vets were correct, and very professional.

I do wonder if one was brought up and qualified in an era where people sue professionals at the drop of a hat, so would rather play it safe in that respect.

 

[teddypops]

Put the horse in a horsebox and drive it fast around twisty bumpy roads is one of the old remedies. It does often work for impaction.

Traveller remedy is to stick the horse on the lunge and chase it as fast as you can make it move.
.

The trailer ride to the vets sorted out one of my ponies with colic.

 

[cauda equina]

And the chasing on the lunge sorted mine, recommended by my vet after she'd given him all the drugs she could
She had injected him with full doses of everything and he improved so she left.
Then he started showing signs of pain again; vet said try lunging which I reluctantly did and within 10 mins he was his normal self, wanting a groom with his friend

 

[Northern Hare]

Just getting the travelling boots out was enough to get the insides moving again for a Colic prone horse on one yard we were at!

If only it was always so easy. ??

 

[rabatsa]

An old veterinary dictionary I have gives this recipe

Spirits of turpentine 2 tablespoon
Whisky 1 teacup
Ground ginger 1 teaspoon
Linseed oil 1 pint.

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

Put the horse in a horsebox and drive it fast around twisty bumpy roads is one of the old remedies. It does often work for impaction .
.

Also recommended for bringing on labour if you go past your pregnancy due date !

 

[eggs]

Many years ago I always had a couple of bottles of colic drench in the tack room. It was a blue/green liquid but fortunately I never had any need to use it.

 

[Goldenstar]

Sometimes starting the lorry is enough to get them moving .

 

[ycbm]

Also recommended for bringing on labour if you go past your pregnancy due date !

I'll bear that in mind ?

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Liquid paraffin….the green colic drench which I think was like the kaolin and morphine (sp) people used to have..and the ancient man who was a bit of a mentor when I was a teenager used to say chase em round and /or put a hot boiled spud in the rectum!! ( not the words he used mind).

 

[SEL]

Has anyone heard of fennel seeds used for equine bloating or colic?

Fennel seeds for gut problems in horses I've definitely heard of - but I follow a lot of the equibiome stuff so have quite the herb cabinet in my feed room!

 

[exracehorse]

Last time mine had colic. My Australian vet tubbed. Then said go to supermarket. Get bran etc. mix with molasses or black treacle and make it sloppy. And get that down him.

 

[Equi]

I’ve heard of the Coke. I had a sore belly once and was told by a nurse to drink Coke ?

 

[silv]

Have seen ginger beer used a couple of times by farmers out in middle of nowhere, it was successful both times. It really depends though what the cause of the colic is.