Sand Colic - Horse touch and go atm.

Thanks for all the support and kind words! :)

Horse is being tubed and intermittently lunged for next 12 hrs in the hope the guts will reorganise themselves. If not surgery is required tomorrow.

Problem is, insurance will not be enough to cover the full cost of surgery nor any post-op complications over the estimated 6 month recovery period.

Sadly, unless this problem rectifies itself (what vet is hoping) by tomorrow lunchtime it is very likely that the horse will be PTS as owner does not have a spare several grand lying about to pay for it.

So devastatingly sad. :(
 
Have kept mine on sand for 25 yrs and have to feed physillium at least once per week plus plenty of fibre. I have also found that bread either white or brown moves through intestines like a solid plug, which helps to move sand. I have discovered this inadvertently when giving disguised bute or cimetidine sandwiches. If horse is still with us give it a go, marmite as a filling is quite appealing. Keeping my fingers crossed. I lost one years ago pre physillium and know how awful this condition is.
 
I just feel awful. Owner asked what if do and I said PTS if surgery needed as I know they can't afford it. Took owner straight from vets to nearest pub for a stiff drink. I'm very fond of this horse and hope it rights itself.

I'm not a very emotional person and owner is distraught. I don't know if this is helping them but I don't feel I can say anything to make the possible brutal reality of this situation easier to swallow.

Just don't know what to say or do to offer them any comfort. :(
 
Illusion 100, I think you are doing all you can. The reality is what it is and can't be chnged :( All anyone can do is the practical stuff and give an ear.
 
How sad. Hoping that things manage to rectify themselves without surgery. Fingers crossed. Been in a situation recently where pony wasn't insured and needed treatment.
 
Illusion100 said:
I just feel awful. Owner asked what if do and I said PTS if surgery needed as I know they can't afford it. Took owner straight from vets to nearest pub for a stiff drink. I'm very fond of this horse and hope it rights itself.

I'm not a very emotional person and owner is distraught. I don't know if this is helping them but I don't feel I can say anything to make the possible brutal reality of this situation easier to swallow.

Just don't know what to say or do to offer them any comfort. :(
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Don't think there is any platitudes that you can say to offer comfort but I am sure that just doing what you have been doing will be a great source of comfort and help to them at this time. Will be hard for you as well. hugs x
 
Sending loads of vibes to you, your friend and the horse. Friend is so very lucky to have you there to support. Did the first vet tube (drench) the horse? I believe that helped my boy as our vet went ahead with that quite early on. (see my sand colic post). I know the costs we were quoted if surgery had been needed and my insurance would have fallen short, so can truly empathise. Awful situation and another sleepless night, but hope the treatment will get things going the right way soon.
I'm wondering where in the UK you are and if there has been a dramatic increase in cases of possible/probable sand colic in recent times? Certainly our yard has had several colic cases though I couldn't say if earlier ones were attributed to sand or not, but it was for the mare hospitalised a week before my boy. YO has put all of them on psyllium husks now and I will continue with one week in four once our high dose is completed. slightly better paddock we are now using is bordered by sycamores so I now also fear AM if/when that grazing gets poorer. We are considering other options but all would be more expensive :(
 
Any news?

Illusion100 you are being the sort of friend that we all hope for and hope that we would be ourselves in such a situation. I feel for both you and the owner. Vibes once again to both of you and the poor horse - vets too, they must be feeling bad as well.
 
3OldPonies said:
Any news?

Illusion100 you are being the sort of friend that we all hope for and hope that we would be ourselves in such a situation. I feel for both you and the owner. Vibes once again to both of you and the poor horse - vets too, they must be feeling bad as well.
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This^^^

Thinking of you all and hoping that the horse can pull through xxx
 
Thanks, just felt awful saying to have horse PTS if surgery needed.

Horse seems to be doing better. Not sure if guts have moved back into position but eating small bits of grass, pooing and much brighter and happier. Horse to be re-examined in about 20 mins so will hopefully get more good news shortly.

Just got a text to say apparently guts have righted themselves and horse should be able to come home tomorrow! :) Will still be getting another update after exam shortly. Hope it confirms things still fine and where they should be!
 
Yay, result!

That is excellent news, really hope that the horse carries on getting better. Well done you and everyone else associated with getting him on the road to recovery.
 
So relieved to come here and get good news! It makes you truly appreciate the advances in veterinary medicine and the expertise of those who make the call re. surgery or more conservative management. Hope he is continuing to do well and gets home as planned, where he will naturally feel less stressed too. :)xx
 
Can you not put round bales of hay in the paddocks so they have more Fibre moving through their systems ?
I am glad it better news but it must be a horrible situation for all you liveries.
 
We Graze on sandy soil.

We all psyllium husk one week of the month. (I do first Saturday to Saturday) And get a sand count done yearly. I had a high sand count last year and This year non existent.

YO said she has always stressed we psyllium on the yard and only once horse colicked on yard in 20years. Quite a few refuse psyllium in feeds, we just feed in either proper old fashioned sugar beet or some in marmite sandwiches.
 
Latest news is that horse much, much better and still scheduled to come home tomorrow.

Is being kept in overnight to ensure no further problems and everything remains settled and normal regarding eating/pooing etc.

What a relief! :)
 
Illusion100 said:
Latest news is that horse much, much better and still scheduled to come home tomorrow.

Is being kept in overnight to ensure no further problems and everything remains settled and normal regarding eating/pooing etc.

What a relief! :)
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Bet you could do with a stiff drink and on behalf of all horse owners, can I just please thank you for being such a wonderful support to your friend. The world needs more people like you xxx
 
I'm glad it's good news again & hope there aren't any more setbacks.

Illusion100 your friend is very lucky to have you, and the sort of help & support you're giving is far more useful than people who try to persuade you everything will be ok when you know there's a good chance it won't be. Keep it up, and I hope you're appreciated!
 
Aww shucks guys, thanks for the compliments! :)

Plan is to pick horse up late tomorrow aft and pop in sectioned off bit of my field where poor horse will be next to my nutty lad for a while.

I will also be checking my lads poo for sand content.

Will let you all know how horse gets on and what discharge instructions are.

And a big thanks to all of you for offering all your support, experiences and advice during a stressful time. :) :) :)
 
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