Post colic care

[pistolpete]

My pony colicked yesterday. He seems fine now but vet has said to starve overnight for a second night. Seems very harsh. He’s had some bran and little and often soaked hay today so is eating. I’d appreciate thoughts and reason why? When I asked vet just said to prevent relapse. I will follow advice but can’t wait to let him out for a few hours tomorrow to relax and eat a bit. I have very little grazing. He’s overweight so usually has hay overnight.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I am glad that he is improving.

I have had impaction colics which after resolution, I have been advised not to feed hay but allow access to grass, if he's had soaked hay today and been ok, I'm not sure why the vet has suggested that you starve him overnight. I would be tempted to continue with the little and often regime, overnight - sorry that probably means a sleepless night for you.
I can't say that I think much to your vet's advice overall.

 

[Nudibranch]

My vet always advises as much fluid as possible, so grass rather than hay, and wet grass even better. I've made up molasses water for reluctant drinkers (again on vet advice but obviously not for laminitics, etc!). Movement is also good. Basically we turn out asap and leave them to it, just with frequent checks.

 

[pistolpete]

He’s in because of his hoof abscess. Huge hole in his foot now. So muddy by my stables darent leave out.

 

[pistolpete]

He’s hungry and seems bright again this morning. Going to soak hay for a bit but get back to normal feeding. Poor lad insult to injury.

 

[twofatladies88]

Hope he's ok - colic is horrible.

 

[Goldenstar]

I had a horse who got repeated colic we starved after the serious early bouts .
Then started on sloppy food little and often .
We soon discovered my horse could not be given hay in any form but got on well with lots of bran Epsom salts and haylege .
Eventually we discovered why he got colic he had tumours growing on his bowel.
I think withholding food is the advice they give after a serious bout managed at home .

 

[southerncomfort]

As GS says, my vet advised small sloppy meals made up with warm water. Little and often.

Mine recovered really quickly.

Hope your lad continues to improve. You've had a really rough time of it recently!

 

[OldNag]

No advice to offer, but I hope he recovers quickly. You must be tearing your hair out.
How is the abcess doing?

 

[Red-1]

I would give some Equid-Gel or Lami Gel. Make into green soup. Soothing on the guts.

 

[twofatladies88]

How is pony tonight pp?

 

[[118739]]

I reflect above small sloppy meals with plenty of water. We added a v small amount of salt to feed as he was reluctant to drink after colic. Pony was very prone to laminitis so not allowed back onto grass. I’m sorry to say that it’s a bit of a balancing act but one thing I’d say is keep a very close eye on poops and act accordingly happy poops = happy pony in most cases. Good luck ! Colic is really scary but you should be over the worst if he’s looking bright now 😊
My first pony coliced very badly twice - vet said deaths door almost certainly the second time we gave him half an hour to improve before we’d pts & is still with us and going strong at 25! Hope that’s a comfort & he’s looking much better 24 hrs later.

 

[pistolpete]

He’s bored of being in but happily tucking in to some soaked hay. Not drinking much pooing ok. Crosses fingers.

 

[hopscotch bandit]

I've had many prior episodes of gassy colic with my horse and two left splenic entrapment (left dorsal displacements, the second of which was the one I thought I'd lose her with as she was in so much pain.) The vet felt her colon sits a little higher than most horses so the slightest bit of gas from the grass elevates in and then it gets stuck between the gut wall and the spleen. All the other colics have been gassy colics. I strip graze religiously and am very careful about allowing much grass in other situations, at shows/fun rides/out hacking.

Since reading last year that water that is not changed frequently in the paddock can be a contributing factor of colic I have been scrubbing out and changing my horses water bucket every other day throughout spring and summer and do it around twice a week since the weather had changed and not had one colic this year where usually I might have had two or three small gassy colics (that's tempting fate for sure!) Usually with the gassy spasmodic colics I have just put on the walker for 20 mins quite fast and the horse has recovered within that time but since the second entrapment I've been more worried than usual and not quite as blase.

So on the occasions I have had the vet out they have all told me to withhold hay and feed until the next day (always been out in the evenings). It's not going to hurt the horse to withhold food for such a short period of time but then I've always been the type to go by the letter in respect of any treatment and rehab my vet has suggested!

I believe it allows the digestive system time to recover.