Please keep your fingers crossed - colic surgery

That's fab news, come on george... You can do this. Can't wait to see pictures. ((hugs)) to George and you too splishsplash. Take care splishsplash
 
I must admit I'm nervous opening this post, just praying each time it's continued good news.

You must be totally drained, make sure you look after you too. Lots of get well vibes still heading their way to George, I know he's not out of the woods yet.

JDx
 
Sorry for being slow with the update. He still hasn't pooed and I am getting worried :(

On the plus side, he is now off all drugs and has stayed stable whilst being 'independent' :). He has been off his IV drip for a couple of days now and is managing to regulate his own fluids OK. He is eating small amounts and we are gradually increasing the amount and varieties of food he is given...he now has a small amount of soaked hay in his stable and he is getting a little mix in his bran mash. He is also being grazed in hand for increasing amounts of time. He has been off his pain relief since yesterday morning and has coped well and they have removed the catheters from his neck and the lami supports from his front feet. All good steps in the right direction, but we really need him to poo!

We did have a nice milestone yesterday. He has an infection in his incision (this is pretty much guaranteed when a horse has two abdominal surgeries so close together) and the vets scanned him yesterday to see how bad the infection was and then had to milk out all the gunk. George being the little star that he is, stood stock still whilst they squeezed the gunk out of his incision...apparently lots of horses try to kick the vet in the head as it is so sore. The vets said that he had been so good that he could have his first carrot. They've all had to work so hard on him (his vet team are amazing) that they wanted to see him eat it...so George got his first post-op carrot yesterday in front of an audience of 3 vets and a host of yard staff :D.

I did take some photos yesterday but can't work out how to put them on here?
 
What an amazing fighter. Everytime you don't post I fear the worst, so thank you for the update.

To put photo's on here - open a photobucket account, load the photos on there, and then copy the photo link to here.
 
Just try and concentrate on all the plus side of his recovery so far, easier said than done I am sure, but George really doesn't intend on going to the Rainbow Bridge any time soon does he?:) What a fighter and if any horse deserves to get through this he does. Still sending vibes and willing him to get better. I hope you are OK - you must feel absolutely exhausted with it all?:(
 
I keep logging on just to see if there are any updates on George and each time I have sit and blink back the tears - he is definitely a fighter and my fingers are firmly crossed for a poo !! :)
 
Hopefully this will work! Here he is having a quick graze in hand in the sun. I don't think he's looking too bad at all considering all of the horrid things that have happened to him in the last week and a half and that he wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything for a full week.

George_zps59b2a4f6.jpg
 
Oh gosh I haven't seen that on a horse before, how interesting is it as a dressing for his surgery scars? As you say he is looking good all things considered. :)

Here's hoping your next update is full of *****e! :D
 
Thanks for updates - he really does look well considering what he's been
through.

Hopefully now he's grazing (and showing interest) as well as moving around the mechanics will start churningl.

Come on George; show us a pile of s***e :p
 
Have just read the whole thread and I too am rooting for George! You have both done so well, he is such a fighter!

Am praying for poo!!
 
Naturally - it acts as a compression band and it goes over the top of his wound dressing (and holds the dressing in place). His incision is quite large, at least a foot long, probably a little bit more. Horses' abdominal muscles are very important so it's crucial that they knit back together properly. My understanding, based on the crash course in vet med that I've received recently, is that the belly band helps support the muscles as they knit back together and also stops the surgical site from swelling (so George is very swollen in front and behind the belly band, his sheath has swollen like a balloon poor boy, but the incision itself is not swollen at all despite being infected). Generally horses have to wear the belly band for six to eight weeks after they are sent home.

He's lost a lot of muscle and weight, particularly along his topline and all over his bum, as his body was using up his reserves whilst he wasn't allowed to eat. His coat has also gone really scurfy and dull as apparently when they are that sick their bodies focus on the important things like keeping their heart and lungs going and the body ignores things like their skin and coat. If it wasn't so terrifying seeing him so ill, it would be very interesting learning about all of this.
 
what a lovely lad and he looks so well considering, thank you for all the updates and pics I am checking back regularly as are alot of people in the hope for a report saying he has produced a nice pile of steaming poo !

Come on George !!!!!! xx
 
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