hho good vibes please work for my boy :'(

I'd guess all 3 x

70% odds of survival are good, so try to be reassured by that x

Now try to go & get some sleep, you're going to need it for the next few days because you'll be a bag of nerves with emotions all over the place. If you can't sleep then get a pillow & blanket, turn off the lights & lay on the sofa watching a film you like & know well - maybe you'll nod off but if you don't at least you'll get some rest. Look after yourself so you can be strong when you go & see him tomorrow, he'll need you at your best. In the meantime I'm sure I won't be the only one sending him more get well vibes.

Night night Serena x
 
Have just read through this thread and feel emotionally drained with you, OP. I don't blame you for ringing them and glad he's come through the surgery. Fingers x'd for a good recovery over the next hours and days and big hugs to you both.
 
Best wishes to you and your horse, Serena.

I've never had a horse go through colic surgery but I know quite a few people who have elected for their horse to go down this route. Whatever decision you made would always have been the right one; in situations like this I genuinely believe that. Your horse would not survive without the surgery and if you are prepared to put him through the surgery and deal with the aftercare, in the knowledge that he may or may not eventually return to his former glory, then either decision is the right one. You have given him a chance that many others (myself included) would never offer, so my decision would be right for me. Both decisions are polar opposites but neither are wrong.

Hope you enjoy seeing your boy tomorrow. xx
 
If, at a later date, you want to read about my lad & his recovery then look on my profile at threads started - I don't start many normally so they'll be easy to find. Not tonight though, tonight you need rest. Argh, I sound like your mummy!!!!!
 
Glad the op went well- it must have if they are now saying 70 and it was 50-70 before. Try and get some sleep somehow. Good vibrato him for tonight, hopefully you've got a little fighter there! X
 
70% is good odds & at least the cause of the colic was found, good news but everything crossed here still that his recovery goes well. As others have said, try to get some rest as you need to stay well for him. Hugs to you xxx
 
Have only just seen this (via the insensitive old horse thread) so sorry I'm a bit slow offering my support. My HoL has had colic surgery twice. First time aged 19, pendunculated lipoma, 3 metres small intestine and ileum removed. Totally uphased by it - even put on 16 kg in hospital. No belly bands back then, just 35 staples in the incision. Recovery time consuming but uneventful. Had a few months stabled, but was going on walker or walking in hand 3x daily for 30mins/time. Then built up fitness with daily lunging, gradually increasing trot and canter work. Riding again after 6 months and returned to full competition (Aff showjumping).
Never had a sign of colic since, until end of 2012 (he'd never had colic before op time either) when it happened again. Vet did not see his age at 25 being an issue and thought we should give him every chance. Bing was dragging us to lorry as if he knew where to go!
So off we went to horspital again (Bell this time as had moved too far from Arundel). When they opened him up the penduncular lipoma had returned - luckily his intestine sprang back into life when lipoma removed so didn't need a resection this time.
Was ready to come home after just 4 days when he got a bizarre massive hock joint infection. This was more life threatening than the colic surgery - he had 2 further full anaesthetics in a few days, arthroscopy, hock flushed + about 6 standing hock flushes. Luckily he is very sensible about the
anaesthetics and stays laying down for 2-3 hours until ready to get up. He's home and recuperating now. This time had a belly band which was like a giant corset with massive levering straps. Because of the hock infection he needed to be kept moving so was acually being turned out into a small paddock at the horspital just a couple of weeks after the colic surgery - and he continued this at home, so no real box rest this time.
The waiting is the worst thing. The first time I just sat staring at the clock for hours - because mine lay down for so long in the recovery room they didn't call when I was expecting, but they have to wait until they're up and back in their box in case something dreadful happens when they're coming round.

IMO every case is different and only the individual horse's owner and vet can decide what is best for that horse. Sadly there is also a financial consideration as often the older horses won't be covered by insurance. Mine was £6k the first time and would have only been about £2.5k the second time, but the hock infection pushed it to £10k.
As long as you believe you are doing what you feel is right for your horse that's what matters - you'll know your horse far better than someone merely commenting on a forum.
Hoping for the best outcome for you.
 
Zerotolerance- wow thank you, that's so great to read, its so reassuring to know your boy has been fine afterwards!

Haven't heard any more news since last night, which is good, just waiting for 10am when I can go to see him.
 
I'm sure it will cheer him up to see you this morning.Spend as much time as you can with him. I was thinking of him all night and hoping for the best outcome. If I had to make the decision again it would be the same one,you are the only person who knows what is the right thing for your horse. X
 
A quick update:
he's had a rough night, His heart rate is still really high and there are signs of toxins in his blood. Vet said he's looking bright this morning, the next 72 hours are going to be a major fight for him.

Keep those fingers, hooves and paws crossed for him xxx
 
I also think the big fella will cheer up when he sees you. Still sending lots of vibes for the lad xxxx
 
Hope he pulls through but it's always a worrying time. Last September, my 4 month old foal had colic surgery. The vets only gave her a 30% chance of recovery and she sailed through without a setback. They had to remove 19 feet of small intestine. As soon as she was on her feet, post surgery, she made straight for her mum and the milk bar. They had to muzzle her but she still managed to hoover up strands of hay through the slits until the vet taped over them with duct tape.

Visits do help so stay strong and good luck.
 
Looking bright is good news, he's obviously not giving up. I'm sure a visit will cheer you both up, though you already sound a bit better this morning.

Take care, & please let us know how he is when you get back home. I'll be sending more get well vibes through the day x
 
I think those are quite good odds 50-70% .
I hope he pulls through well for you, visit and spend as much time as you can a familiar face is good for everyone, people, horses, dogs you get the gist :)
Having dealt with colic a few days ago at home, tubing did the trick, and same horse 2 yrs ago vet hospital and flooded with iv fluids for 4 days, i bl00dy hate the condition.
 
I know its awful, but I said good bye last night not expecting to see him. So the fact he's still with us is the main thing. I didn't want him dieing during the op. If its not ment to be I can still say good bye again and be with him, which is all iv ever wanted
 
best wishes & healing vibes from me & all my lot, paws,hooves & fingers crossed for you both. Always do what your gut tells you is right for YOUR horse..people on a forum do not have to live with the decision & equally don't know the horse/circumstances as you do. I put my 18month homebred filly thru a colic op for impaction & twist at Arundel due to a bad batch of horse feed that wiped out a Scottish stud of 17 mares & foals at the same time.she spent 10 days in intensive care having the tennis ball sized congealed mass burnt out chemically as they did everything they could in the op, but this bit was simply non accessible..the first two vets had thought nothing was wrong, I kept insisting till a lovely lady vet came out on day three..took one look at my face & told me to hitch the trailer up & get her to horspital, even before she'd got out of her car.She successfully survived it all. They will as others have said be far more advanced in their methods than they were in 2002 so deep breath & chin up..go give him a huge gentle hug and look after yourself xx
 
I really hope your boy continues his fight and pulls through. And remember, you gave him the best chance you could, regardless of the outcome. Don't beat yourself up, you love him and took a decision, with the vet, that could give him more wonderful years with you.

I'm rooting for you both.
 
Back from our visit :) he heard us walking through the yard and gave us a little whiny :)
All though he's doing well and looking bright, his heart rate is higher than yesterday and high toxin levels. Vet is still positive but telling us not to get our hopes up, he could still go either way.
He's on a lot of medication and pain killers there really is nothing more they can do
 
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