Nylon thread from haylage netting, ingested?

[MochaDun]

Discovered this evening, whilst grooming under pony's tail what I took to be a strand of his tail coming out of his bottom (you know when those shorter bits round the top of the tail underneath get sucked in slightly?!).

Anyway, went to pull it and realised it wasn't hair but very fine nylon thread and as pony tensed slightly I assumed it was uncomfortable so didn't keep pulling. I'm thinking/assuming as it looks like it that it's a fine single strand of the netting that goes round the haylage bales which appears (everything crossed) to have progressed (thankfully) through his gut...

However, I don't know how long it's been like that (last detailed bottom groom was probably Thurs) and while he's pooing fine (I waited and checked), it's still not come out with droppings so I'm concerned it may be slightly caught somewhere in that bowel area or is longer than I'm thinking and goes back up through the gut some distance... Horse in himself is fine, been ridden this weekend, eating and drinking as normal.

I'm going to phone the vet for advice/appointment first thing in the morning if it hasn't passed out overnight and is still hanging out and see what they can do with some lubrication and handiwork maybe. I can't believe this isn't a problem that doesn't happen often? Does anyone else get problems with the netting breaking off sometimes when the bales are unwrapped as I'm assuming that's what's happened and it's sadly ended up in my haynet. Has anyone else had their horse ingest something like this and pass it out?

I am feeling quite anxious about it even though it's travelled through him but obviously don't want any complications to arise if it doesn't shift naturally or if it's a longer strand than I may realise.

 

[Nickijem]

Sorry I can't offer any advice but it is something I dread and often wonder about the consequences as I have also found that I have sometimes left pink nylon threads in the haylage!

I too would be interested in any replies, and I hope it all turns out ok for your horse.

 

[hellybelly6]

Dont pull it and call the vet out if horse hasnt passed it naturally. You are doing exactly the right thing.

In the past, I have found a square of plastic about a metre squared in my horses poops and I saw him eat an empty crisp packet before I could stop him and fished around in his mouth and this appeared to pass through too.

Occasionally, there has been similar in my horse's haylage, but luckily he has chewed and then spat it out.

I hope he passes it in the night.

 

[supagran]

PLEASE PHONE THE VET FIRST THING IN THE MORNING! We lost a mare a few years ago after eating some of the wrapping from a bigbale. Got mild colic, but didn't think much about it, seemed to recover overnight. About 6 weeks later got horrific colic and was operated on, vet removed a huge amount of the stuff (about a double handful), it was absolutely solid. She seemed to pick up, but after 36 hours went down hill and was operated on again, but 24 hours later she was PTS. On reflection the mare had been a bit lack lustre between the first and last bout of colic, but didn't really pick up on it at the time. I am absolutely paranoid now about not letting any of that netting near my horses!

 

[MochaDun]

Thanks for your advice, so sorry SG to hear about your mare. It is nasty stuff netting. My horse has passed the thread it appears but as a precaution just waiting call back from vet. Meanwhile keeping a very close eye on him though hopefully all gone through OK. Other thought I had was if it was long mane or tail hair that he has taken in with haylage off the floor, he has extremely thick coarse hair and guess that happens a lot too and just travels through.