I'm at my wit's end

Visited my girl today and discovered her flat out and fast asleep:) The op has finally caught up with her. She was very subdued today but ate every carrot she was offered. :) Think she is just worn out.
Was allowed to take her for a small walk around the clinic so took the opportunity to walk her onto the weighbridge. She weighed 635kgs when we took her in 5 weeks ago. She now weighs 538 kgs.:eek: I am so pleased she had a bit weight on otherwise she'd be skin and bone now. We knew she needed to lose a bit weight before all this started but she's now lost that and a lot of muscle mass. She can't afford to lose any more. Luckily she is almost back on full rations.
Just hope that the medication is helping with the infection. Today was day 4 after op and although she was a little uncomfortable there have been no colic problems. I think the uncomfortable feeling is from the stitches starting to pull a bit as they are healing as she kept trying to turn and scratch but luckily she can't get near them. She was dozing most of the time we were there and I could quite happily have curled up with her and joined her. She seemed very content to have some company.
Daren't even think about her coming home yet. If she can get through a few more days without colic then I think we are winning. We still just taking 1 day at a time.
 
Iv been so busy iv not had a chance to come and check on ruby, but sounds like her progress to still going in the right direction :)
It's a nerve racking time coming off the meds isn't it!? Hopefully next time she will react positive.
Loved the post about her being asleep, I remember seeing Zeus on that day he's was so tired. He had ups and downs during coming off the meds I'm sure its expected after all they have been through. Zeus was put back on his meds after being taken off too, so try not to worry too much, its good she's making it quite clear she needs them :)
 
Been to see her this afternoon and she was much brighter than yesterday. I'm hoping we've turned a corner but daren't get my hopes up yet. Took her for a little walk and she was interested in everything and smelling everything. She hasn't been like that for a while. It was like the old Ruby was back. :)
On a more serious note some idiot stable carer had written her up for haylage instead of hay. Luckily she hadn't eaten much of it. Played merry hell with them and removed it all and replaced it with hay. Also took out the food that was still in her food bowl as she obviously didn't like it and Ruby loves her food. She prefers the new muesli they have just started her on.
Hoping to see some improvement this week from the medication. If not then they will be told to try the natural herbal route. Off to do some serious research on what herbs will possibly help.
 
I knew I shouldn't have raised my hopes yesterday. The vet in charge of her case is not happy with how things are progressing. She is not making the progress she should be and because of this they are not even going to attempt reducing the meds. Ruby is having very uncomfortable days and I have a feeling the only reaon she is not having full blown colic attacks is because of all the painkillers she's on.
She needs to pick up this week. She has till next Monday/Tuesday to start and show some improvement. We can't keep her on the medication indefinitely. It's not fair on her. Have I delayed the inevitable? I only want to give her a chance.
I' m trying to stay positive but we may lose her after all. Should I try the herbal approach, will it make a difference or will it prolong her pain? Don't know what to do anymore.:(:(:(
 
Poor ruby she has been through so much !!, maybe do know harm
In the herbal approach but not had any experience of this , really feeling for u !!, could u post any pics ? X x
 
I am sorry it is not better news, keep checking for your updates.
You said she is on muesli feed, that sounds like a cereal based diet which seems rather unusual for an ulcer prone horse, surely a fibre based diet would be more suitable, alfalfa with linseed or some speedibeet, I have my tricky horse on just fast fibre and speedibeet with supplements and he has just started on alfalfa.

I would look at asking a nutritionist for advice, vets are not always the best informed in dietary needs.
 
Hi so sorry to hear about Ruby I am still thinking of you . Has Ruby finished her antibiotics now ? Is there a name for what Ruby has? Would your vets be able to ask experts else where . May be they could ask the horse hospital in Newmarket I am only thinking some one must have had this problem before and hopefully have an answer that can help Ruby .
 
micramadam said:
I knew I shouldn't have raised my hopes yesterday. The vet in charge of her case is not happy with how things are progressing. She is not making the progress she should be and because of this they are not even going to attempt reducing the meds. Ruby is having very uncomfortable days and I have a feeling the only reaon she is not having full blown colic attacks is because of all the painkillers she's on.
She needs to pick up this week. She has till next Monday/Tuesday to start and show some improvement. We can't keep her on the medication indefinitely. It's not fair on her. Have I delayed the inevitable? I only want to give her a chance.
I' m trying to stay positive but we may lose her after all. Should I try the herbal approach, will it make a difference or will it prolong her pain? Don't know what to do anymore.:(:(:(
Click to expand...

What antibiotics is she on for the infection?
 
I need to go up and speak to the vets face to face. Don't see them on an evening. I have a feeling they're mucking about with her food too much:(
Queenbee there is a whole list of medication. I'll make a note of them all tomorrow but I do know she is on gastrogard, metacam, calcium (something or other) and about 5 other things.
She has enteritis and from what I have read the prognosis is not good.:(
 
micramadam said:
I need to go up and speak to the vets face to face. Don't see them on an evening. I have a feeling they're mucking about with her food too much:(
Queenbee there is a whole list of medication. I'll make a note of them all tomorrow but I do know she is on gastrogard, metacam, calcium (something or other) and about 5 other things.
She has enteritis and from what I have read the prognosis is not good.:(
Click to expand...

Metacam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication and completely counter-indicated in ulcers as it can cause them, it's pretty damaging to the gut - I would definately be quering that because while it's good for the anti-inflammatory I would be worried about it from a gut point of view and (certainly within human medicine) there are much more effective gut anti-inflammatories that do not have the same side-effects.
Also for a colic horse changing her food sounds like a bad idea - surely you want it kept as consistent as possible.

Enteritis just refers to inflammation of the small intestines so getting the right anti-inflammatory meds should help. Also be aware some anti-biotics can cause inflammation of the gut (if taken orally).

Please note most of my gut knowledge comes from humans (my mom has crohns - an inflammatory bowel disease) so I'm not sure what drugs are availble for equines but I know that non-steriodals are a big no-no as they cause damage to the gut.

I really hope you get better news tomorrow when you talk to the vets
 
Re the metacam my vet told me today that it's one of the safest NSAIDs for a horse with a history of ulcers. Admittedly none of them are ideal, but sometimes needs must & ongoing pain can also cause ulcers - sometimes it's a fine line to tread.

I hope things start looking up again x
 
Nari said:
Re the metacam my vet told me today that it's one of the safest NSAIDs for a horse with a history of ulcers. Admittedly none of them are ideal, but sometimes needs must & ongoing pain can also cause ulcers - sometimes it's a fine line to tread.

I hope things start looking up again x
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I do understand needs must and I don't know whats available for horses but certainly within humans there are anti-inflammatories that are not NSAIDs and are aimed specifically at the gut so they don't have the ulcer risk and are much more effective - it's something to discuss with the vets
 
micramadam said:
I need to go up and speak to the vets face to face. Don't see them on an evening. I have a feeling they're mucking about with her food too much:(
Queenbee there is a whole list of medication. I'll make a note of them all tomorrow but I do know she is on gastrogard, metacam, calcium (something or other) and about 5 other things.
She has enteritis and from what I have read the prognosis is not good.:(
Click to expand...

Enteritis is not good, we had a show pony at the yard that had it, they think it was caused by a red worm migrating "wrong" he was in Bristol vet hospital for a fortnight, but they said he was depressed not eating etc and showing low grade pain all the time, grinding teeth etc. They couldn't do any more for him there, so gave us all the drugs ( though this was in the 80's when gastroguard etc weren't around!)

We brought him home (on their advice) for a week (if he didn't improve he would be PTS) and he was turned out into a field ( was summer) , the difference in a few days at just nibbling grass 24/7 and being back with his friends was amazing. Do you think Ruby is worse since being at hospital? If there is nothing more they can do, could you turn her out for a bit (still on meds) see if she improves.

Hope she gets better soon. Bristol was amazed at our little pony, they said 99% of horses didn't recover, but please remember this was in the 80's and vet medicine is much better now
 
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We need a miracle:(:(:(
I feel that my girl is on death row and there is sod all I can do to stop it.
Went up today to see her and speak to vet. Got there and she wasn't in the stable. The vet was treating her as she wasn't well at all.:(:(:(
Spoke to the vet at length today and he went through everything that they done and what the options are. Basically the infection is so bad that the normal peristalsis (movement) of the bowel is not working. The wall is so thickened by the infection that the nerves are unable to work properly. She is fine when her system is empty but after 4 days there is enough food in her system to cause everything to block up and she ends up with impaction and gas colic again.
The vet is really disappointed at how things have turned out. He expected some improvement once the results of the biopsies were know and they could target it with specific medicine.
She has chronic active eosinophile colitis/typhlitis. Apart from gastrogard for her stomach ulcers, she is on metacam,rapidexon, gentamycine, bedozane, procapen, fragmin, carbasalaat calcium and equivitamin E.
They were going to administer a parafin treatment to empty her out tonight and hope that in next 7 days the medicine kicks in and the infection starts to subside so that the bowel can start working properly again.
The vet has agreed to ring Rossdales but who is the best person to speak to there. He is more than willing to try everything to help her and perhaps Rossdales can offer other options. Who can he speak to?
I'm in a neverending nightmare :eek: I've cried all the way home and have driven in a daze most of the way.
What more can I do to help her? She is now losing weight rapidly and I know that if the situation doesn't improve over the next 7 days, then the best thing I can do for her is to let her go. :(:(:(:(
 
Hi I had this problem last winter and I have been very careful to watch my mares intake of fluids. Yes warm water so they are tempted to drink more, and also add 100% apple juice to her water. 1tsp of salt to her feed is a good idea also you could try what everyone else has suggested hot sloppy bran mashes added to her normal feed. Is she on hay or hayledge. I feed ad lib hayledge as I don;t have any grazing in winter, however they are out and at least moving around. Hope some of this helps.
And worst of all is our insurance has excluded this problem for cover so we are on our own as far as this is concerned.
Good Luck
Whatafaff
 
Did ur vets speak to rossendales I would imigine they would need to speak to the medicine specialist who deals with the colic , they should be able to guide you when you ring up , really feel for u and ruby !! X x
 
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