Post colic surgery management

[Shilasdair]

My horse has just had colic surgery, and the vets advise keeping her on box rest for a while.
I'd just like to know if anyone else has had colic surgery - and how they managed the horse afterwards, problems, or any tips on how to keep them sane (but without bursting wound!)

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[piebaldsparkle]

The pony at our yard who had a colic op. had to be box rested for several months, think he was led out to graze after 1st month (can't remember exactly), then was allowed to be turned out in a very small patch.

 

[Shilasdair]

Interestingly, my vet told me I could start working her soon....although I did point out that, at 2 and 1/2 she wasn't even broken yet.
They have been happy for me to take her for walks and in hand grazes from day 3 after surgery...but as she feels better, it's getting 'interesting' with much squeaking and bouncing!

 

[jules9671]

my 10yr gelding had colic surgery 7wks ago, and after the first month i had him in a small area of grass with electric fencing as he would not stay in stable alone, he is wanting to just kick his legs up and go and the other night as my husband was taking him in thats exactly what he did he just bolted and galloped around the field a couple of times, to which my husband later told me that if he was a bike he would be a harley davidson im not at home at the moment but he has shown no signs of illness or being in pain since he did that and his wound is still the same as it was before this happened which was scabby but not quite healed right, over, but i will be foning the hospital on monday to see what they think, and i know i can put him in a small paddock from 2 mths on and he will just go crazy,but its good that he feels that good, but i have ordered top spec calmer to see if that will calm him down as he is getting so frustrated at being in a little area.let me know how you get on

 

[Shilasdair]

Hi Jules
Fab - it's great to hear from someone a little bit further on in the post op thing than me....I very much want to put her in a tiny electric fenced paddock asap...one vet said 'throw her out after 4 weeks after the op', the other vet said 'keep her in for 6 weeks, then barned for 6 weeks (I don't have access to any barn turnout)...so I'm confused.
Can I ask what your boy had the op for? Mine was impaction of the small colon...due to poss blood clot.....apparently rare....she's 'special' (and expensive!).
S

 

[wendygood]

2 years ago when we in the same position i gave acp tablets first time horse went out to take the edge out of it defantly a good idea

 

[Sags_Deer]

when my old mare had the op 18 years ago she had to be on box rest for a long time, could not ride her for 6 months, got back on after 5 as she recovered well. Feeding was v careful, had walking, short period in the field, just stick to exactly what was said at the op hospital.

 

[jules9671]

my boy had spasmodic colic since last sept sometimes 4 times a week,so he had to be taken to hospital as everything else showed up negative, they found a part of his bowel had attached itself to his body,dont exactly know why but it became inflamed and just got worse, in the vet report it did say something about wire, my vet reckons somehow he was punctured with wire and luckily it never killed him at the time, so they cut off about 30cm of dead bowel,if i never went for the surgery he would have died with it anyway.i had to keep him out in a field with his mate but just fenced off from her,with loads of hay and some grass too and he has for the most part been content with that, if the weather plays up he does too,she will be happier if she is out and i would advise it putting her in an electric pen, his was possibly twice size of his stable.hope this helps.im working nights so replies will be slow

 

[Shilasdair]

Hi Jules
Mine can apparently eat her normal diet (I don't feed much hard feed anyway)...I am bravely walking her in hand for 10mins and then grazing her for 20 mins next to the paddocks..morning and night.
I think she would be ok in an electric fence paddock of the size you suggest...but will probably wait til the 4 week mark, and ask the vet first...
How is your boy doing?
S

 

[jules9671]

hi, he is doing really well,in a couple of weeks time im going to put him in a small field and see how we go from there, i will have to check with vet too about him wanting to canter etc, hope all goes well with your one, keep us updated