EEEEEKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!! Vets bill!

G

Gemsie

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Hi All,

Some of you may have seen my posts in here and in vets re my retired 28 year old gelding - who is recovering from a rather nasty fornight of on off spasmodic colic, with the suspected cause to be ulceration of some sort - as all other tests came back normal.

I am pleased to report that he is now on week 2 of Gastroguard, supported by the fantastic product that is liquid coligone, the change in him is phenominal.

He looks so much brighter, colic symptoms are gone and his naughty character is back to its 100% best!

The bad news is my vet bill........ currently £937 OUCH!!!!!!! (thats not including another week on gastroguard at £40 odd quid a day)

Its so annoying that insurance wont touch it because of his age - 20 years i have paid premiums for him and never once made a claim.

So, its beans and toast for me until at least xmas - but on a more serious note - its worth it. I love him dearly and am just thrilled that he seems to be back on good form.

I cant imagine the yard without him, he is such a character!

Thanks to all who have helped me out over the last few weeks with advice and support, if anyone wins the lottery this weekend and wishes to assist with the bill you will have a friend for life! LOL

Gem
 
well the main news in that he's getting better thats great news for you both!
Vet bills are always nasty...I am still having pay for mine..£1900 almost and I think on top of this I have to pay the extra to get him back in casket...I'm on a very poor wage but I will pay it somehow?

I am really really thrilled that he is on the mend....

xxx
 
Ahhh Kezz,

That post brought a tear to my eye. Im sorry if my post upset you at all - I was just trying to bring a bit of light humour to my situation.

You and I will have to form the 'we will survive on beans and toast' clique.

Im truely sorry for your loss,

Gem
 
What a lovely post, I'm so glad your boy is better and so obviously loved. I've just paid a big bill cos my boy had an eye ulcer so I feel your pain.
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oh no not at all my sweet, yes we will defo have to form it....rice and beans too LOL!!

I'm really really pleased that he's getting better I know these older horses are such a worry, my other mare is 23 and is OK apart from her injury but is on the mend so hoping to start more excerises with her soon stick her on walker and see how she goes...
Insurance is a waste of time with older horses, my boy wasnt insured at the age of 21 they wouldn't pay out anyway, so really what is the point I totally agree.
 
Gemsie, it might help your bank balance a bit to know that feeding any antacid product with gastrogard is completely unnecessary and a waste of money - the GG is already doing all that for you as it is a proton pump inhibitor which stops gastric acid production!!

You may as well save the coligone and start it again once you are no longer using gg.

PS. My horse with diagnosed ulcers has just hit the grand total of £5K on his vets bill.....
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Good luck Gemsie, maybe you should hold an auction of promises, sell mowing a lawn to the highest bidder lol hope the improvement continues.
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Thanks all,

SpottedCat - I did stop the coligone when he first went onto GG - but after 3 days was showing mild colic symptoms again - tucked up, cow kicking, and the odd stomach cramp and stretching - so I popped a syringe of coligone into him and 30 mins later he was totally fine
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I am concerned about the cost - but the coligone is so cheap in comparison with the GG I feel for my own peace of mind (whilst at work) id rather he have it and not really need it - than not have it and then go home to a cow kicking crampy boy..

5k - holy moly!!!! I hope that your insurance is paying for that (or at least some of it)! makes my bill fade into insignificance,...

I guess I will just have to find other ways to try and cut back so I can pay the bill - I reckon I might have a clear out and get a few bits on ebay - I do have a couple of saddles that are no longer in use that I can list... perhaps I will crack on with that this weekend,

Thanks all,

Gem
 
I suppose the important thing is that you are happy and think everything is working and that your horse is getting better, but I have to point this out:

Coligone is an antacid. The only thing it does is buffer acid levels in the stomach. Gastrogard STOPS acid being produced in the stomach - this is how it works (lifted from their website):

GASTROGARD provides superior acid suppression because it effectively shuts down acid production in the stomach, giving the ulcer time to heal. The stomach cells contain several acid-stimulating receptors. When any of these receptors are activated, they send a message to acid pumps (enzyme systems) to secrete acid into the stomach. GASTROGARD works by disabling the acid pumps so when receptors send the message to produce acid, the acid pumps are unable to respond.

Therefore unless your horse is completely unique and his proton pumps in the stomach do not work in the same way as every other mammal's, or you are not giving the GG correctly, there is no possible way that giving him coligone was what solved the problem, because he wasn't producing acid in the first place for the coligone to buffer.

Don't get me wrong, I think coligone is a great product and use/keep it in myself, but do not be fooled into thinking it is doing something it isn't, because that could very well stop you from recognising what really is causing the problem/working, which when it comes down to it could be detrimental in ensuring your boy gets better. You won't do any harm feeding coligone, but it is utterly pointless whilst he is on gg (except, I suppose, that it gives you peace of mind, which you may feel is worth it).

There is not a clear cause and effect there as you suggest as there are too many other variables - you giving coligone and 30mins later him being fine tells you nothing other than he recovered after 30 mins - he might very well have recovered anyway after 30mins, you have no way of knowing that. If he wasn't on any other medication, I'd agree with you, but given he is on something to stop acid secretion, giving him an antacid can't have done anything.....
 
PPI's dont stop ALL gastric acid secretion (in humans anyway...so I could be wrong here, my pathophysiology and pharmacology is people-related, not horses
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)

...so in humans with severe symptoms it is not that unusual for people to be taking PPI's and also antacids and/or H2 receptor antagonists together....so possibly this poor boy may fall into that category....
 
Thanks Poppymoo,

I appreciate that everyone has an opinion, but I feel I am definately doing the right thing with my lad, and my vets agree.

The difference in him in a week is remarkable, I have discussed my horse at length with my vets and they confirmed that coligone will not do him any harm at all whilst he is on the GG, and I am happy that he is improving.

It is possible that he has some ulceration and irritation further down his bowels than in the stomach - so whilst the GG helps slow the production of acid (as poppymoo says it does not stop the production of acid - or the poor chap would not be able to digest his food) the coligone has a soothing effect in hus gut - which is why I feel that the combination is working so nicely for him.

Im sure there will be people who do not agree with what I am doing, however all I can do is my best - and thats exactly what I am doing.

I am very pleased with his progress, and hope that he has another few years in him enjoying his well earnt retirement.

Having known him for 20 years I can read his body language extrememly well, and I would not be proceeding with the treatment I am if it was causing him any distress.

Thanks again all for your wonderful HHO vibes - Its certainly made me feel much better to know I have so many of you thinking of me and my boy too.

Have a great weekend all,

Gem
 
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