my mare has colic

Orchardbeck

Orchardbeck

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 December 2010
Messages
1,299
Visit site
Vet left just over an hour ago but my 23yo mare has spasmodic colic.

She is turned out on a sand corral because of the lami risk of frosted grass. I was just leaving the house and found her lying on the frozen ground.

She whinnied and got up right away, but was restless, pawing the ground and then eventually lying down. Then getting up and lying down.

I called the vet out and moved her back in to the paddock (her stable is down the road and I can't see her all the time because I have a toddler at home. At least in there I can watch her.

As soon as she got through the gate she flopped on the grass, flat out.

Vet checked her over, said she has an obvious heart murmur (sp?) and her lips and eyelids were pale. He said she looked poor. He injected her with painkillers and buscopan and within 10 mins she was nibbling the grass and standing.

He said it is possible, with her age, that these symptoms could be a sign of something bigger, like a blood clot, or a tumour or something. Does anyone have any experience of this?

We've got to get themback to see her at 6pm tonight, when the painkillers wear off. He briefly discussed surgery if needed but i'm not going down that route - if she needs it I will do the kindest thing i'm afraid, she's too old.

I'm crying as I type this, i've had her since she was 6 and can't bear to think of losing her - she's been there for me more than half my life, and through the important bits anyway.
 
I have nothing useful to add, I just wanted to wish your mare all the best, I really hope she recovers quickly. Please let us know how she does x x
 
She sounds like a grand old lady. I did know one horse that would get mild colic if they nibbled on the frozen grass but doesn't sound like yours was anywhere near it - maybe she pulled up something in the corral and took in some sand? Horrible day for you though and I hope the good old girl pulls through this episode OK.
 
Hoping for the best for you, our old mare was prone to colic and had several bouts, in the end she was off colour and we gave her a few days but when she did not repond at 28 we took the vets advice and said goodbye.

Colic can be very frightening and is such a worry, hope things are better this evening.
 
Thank you all so much for your kind posts. The vet has just left as she was starting to show signs of discomfort again, pawing at the ground and shaking her head.

She's had a second buscopan and painkiller, I expected there to be another miracle and for her to start eating her speedibeet straight away but not this time. I've just left her standing there, i'll be back out again shortly.

The good news is there are gut sounds and the colour has returned to her gums and eyelids.

I can't believe I posted this morning worrying about colic side effects of wormers, was just about to jump inthe car to buy one, and found her lying on the hard cold ground, with colic.
 
We had something similar with our then 25 yr old. We had to get the vet out 3 days running (every time, just into emergency callout time, of course). On the 3rd visit the vet said he thought we would have to make a decision of he had to come out the next day. She is still with us 6 yrs later. It took her months to recover her weight etc and we retired her but she is happy and healthy.
Fingers crossed for your horse's recovery.
 
The same happened to my 20yo this august, he coliced 3 times over 2 days, thankfully he made a full recovery and is fine now. Colic in older horses isn't the death sentence your brain tells you is :) I'm sure your mare will be fine xxxxxx
 
Thinking of you both, I hope that your lovely mare starts to feel better soon. It sounds like she is looking better so hopefully she will turn a corner soon.

Please keep us updated, Tash xx
 
Really hope that your mare is ok. I lost my previous horse to colic, it is so horrible. I admire your decision though not to put her through surgery. I couldn't put my horse through surgery but did beat myself up about it for a long time wondering whether I had done the right thing. I am now comfortable with that decision as I know it was the best thing for my horse. He didn't want to suffer anymore.
I hope that decision is a long way off for you. Fingers crossed for your mare.
 
Hope it is going well. We had this with our old lady. She had occasional.colic and we always said we would not have her operated on. Then one day she didnt respond to the vets medication. Vet stayed 30 mins and she was still down so we made decided she had enough and she was pts . It was so peaceful she just fell asleep in my daughters arms. They tell you when they have had enough
 
hope she is on the up. My mare (18 years old) had mild colic - I of course found her at 5pm on a sunday - called vet who came out - injections/internal etc etc etc. My gut instinct was that it was gassy colic but it was dark and getting late so thought it best to get vet out.

upshot - one very annoyed horse which recovered totally within a few hours and next day was 100% - oh! and one large vets bill (tbf it wasnt as bad as I thought considering out of hours callout, injections, examination etc)

Fingers crossed for you both.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top