I'm drained...and skint

[Ferdinase514]

Finn's had colic again, this afternoon.

As usual I was over 100 miles away and stuck in traffic on M25.

Luckily BB's found him laying down, before it was too bad. In the past some Bute paste will sort him out, but again this time it didn't work - he got worse and worse. When I arrived, I did have an emotional moment, thinking he might pop his clogs.

Vet came and sedated him and thankfully he is back to his vicious self, i left him snacking on his bed

I am at a loss. I thought I'd gotten the hang of managing this. There's no grass to speak off, it must be growning though. It's so hard when I feel I cant manage this myself. Vet says we have to carry on treating the symptoms.

He's in a thoroughly grazed field of about 1 1/2 acres. Am going to muzzle him from tomorrow, for the foreseeable future.

So, that's the 3rd emergency call out in the last month, my bank balance is depressing

.

Sorry to be so glum.

 

[madhector]

Aww hun, can see why you are feeling glum, I am pleased to hear he is feeling better, hope muzzling works xx

 

[carthorse]

We all posted healing vibes on NL ,glad he is on the mend but it is a worry if it is reoccuring, has you had a worm count? Just we had one that had always been wormed and it started getting colic and it had worms!

 

[Ferdinase514]

Thank you. I haven't seen the post, will go and look.

Think I will worm count just in case, although doubt is as simple as that

Vet thinks he may have had damage from worms as a foal and poss been left with sensitivity.

 

[TayloredEq]

what do they think is the cause?

 

[Eccles]

don't know what to say

vibes for you both though

 

[mat]

*hug*

 

[Bananaman]

Poor you and FMC but glad to hear he's perked up again.

Just a thought.....are you on light land?

We are here and at this time of year, when there's very little grass I'm always worried about the possibility of sand colic.

 

[Ferdinase514]

No idea. He's had it on and off for years. Has been quite controlled until now.

Usually set off by spring and autumn grass. Looks like spring is here

 

[Sags_Deer]

sorry to hear your news. what may i ask is the reason for not letting him eat the? i just thought horses need to have good supply of food to keep gut going etc to help with colic and what bedding have you got if he is eating it??

 

[_jetset_]

have you tried him on Coligone?

I am glad he is back to himself now...

 

[kerilli]

crikey, what a nightmare. are you feeding him bran in every feed? i think i would - you can give him alfa too to counteract the calcium imbalance etc, and it might keep his gut happier maybe? can't really suggest anything else. *hugs*

 

[monica987]

*hugs* Things come in threes - no more emergencies for a while

I hope things get better!!! x

 

[sillygillyhorse]

I am not suprised you are drain, know exactly how you feel as one of my horses was exactly the same as Finn with his tummy. I know you say he is on a bald paddock but what type of hard feed is he getting? Just curious as my horses problem was attributed to a sugar intolerance.

 

[dieseldog]

Poor Finn and poor you. Fingers crossed that you can get to the bottom of it.

 

[Jo C]

Oh I'm so glad he is feeling better, I remember what it was like with my old horse, he used to get colic frequently.

Have a huge hug from me and go and get some rest.

 

[gerrygiraffe]

Snap, my horse has had 3 call outs this month- can I join your skint club!
I hope that your boy gets better soon, colic is a majour pain in the ass...

 

[H-J]

What a shame its happened again

Hope he feels better soon

(((((((HUGS)))))))

xxx

 

[lizzieuk1]

poor lad, ditto trying coligone, or perhaps try some probiotics-natural yogurt or an equine one might help the whole digestion.

 

[Bounty]

My only suggestion is CalMag (CalMag is the brand name, it is actually Calcined Magnesite)... I give two teaspoons a day in spring and autumn to my mare who gets ryegrass staggers and colic, and she is able to be turned out for 10-12 hours easily on this, whereas without it she manages 2hours tops.

It's amazingly cheap and I got mine from Countrywide, but any large animal feed merchant should have it.
I think MagOx is supposed to be gentler for sensitive stomachs though, but a bit more expensive.

Hope things take a turn for the better for you soon

 

[Ferdinase514]

Thanks guys.

I am quite on top of it normally. He has a high fibre, low sugar diet. Fibre cubes and oil with a probiotic.

He isn't allowed the rich grass hence being muzzled, so he can still graze, but not gorge himself - trust me, Finn has a plentiful supply of fibre and never goes without something to munch.

He is on rubber mats with sprinkle of straw - he wouldn't normally touch it, but he went back in his stable with no hay, because of being sedated.

YO just called to say he's fine, so she's given him some soaked hay for the night

 

[Fiona]

Poor you (and poor Finn too obviously). Lucky BBs was on hand (are you guys on the same yard now - must have missed that bit).

OH's old ex racehorse was a dreadful crib-biter, and we were resigned to one bout of colic a year with him, but three in a month is horrendous. I really feel for you.

When we brought the horses home to live with us he didn't have any attacks for the last year or so of his life, was it good management on our part or was it just luck (and the fact that he had stopped crib-biting because he didn't have enough teeth left). We don't really know!!

FIona

 

[Law]

Poor Finn and poor you ((hugs to both))
I've had three emergency call outs in 36 hours so know exactly how you feel and Mr D will empathise with Finn being sedated and not allowed to eat.
Fingers crossed that he's back on track and won't re-colic

 

[Angua2]

big hugs.

have a chat with Ovidious as her TB has done exactly the same sort of thing.

 

[icestationzebra]

Oh no! Hugs to both you and Finn

 

[Fiona_C]

(((((hugs))))) coming your way

 

[Shipley]

Lots of hugs no advice really but fingers crossed

 

[seabiscuit]

Oh this is so upsetting and scary

Poor Finn, it is horrible to watch and so worrying when you have little or no control over it. Having been through exactly the same thing with Forrest a few years back,who seemed to react to starch like Finn, all I can advise is absolutely no grass- even the tiniest amounts can set them off. Also could you try feeding him on just the alfalfa and oil, and cut out the fibre cubes? the only things Forrest was allowed to eat was the blandest type of hay, alafalfa, oil, and a vit min supplement. Even the vit/min supplement had to be specialist to ensure that there was absolutely no molasses/starch in it.
What sort of probiotic is he on? Forrest was on a mega high dose of Pro Balance, which is highly specialist.
Have you had his droppings analysed for gut bacteria distribution? F's droppings were sent off to this specialised scientist, and his gut bacteria were shown to have shockingly low numbers of certain types and other types were present in far too high numbers, he was then prescribed the right type of probiotic in accordance to what particular types of gut bacteria needed topping up.
If you want me to ask my vet who she sent the droppings off to for the analysis,please feel free to PM me.
I know this is so soul destroying, please do not loose hope for him!

 

[Worried1]

Sending you richness and healing vibes ~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope your both OK

x

 

[KatieOakeley]

HI FMC,

I hope you are feeling a bit better this morning. It is such a worry when you have an ongoing problem with a horse. Always leaves you on tender hooks. Here's hoping you can find something to stop it.