Sedation - do you let your horse eat?

[Halfstep]

I never let my horse eat for an hour or so before and for a few hours after sedation, after being warned by a vet years ago about the increased risk of compaction colic. I seem to be the only person on my yard who does this, or who worries about it at all. Am I totally nuts, or do other do this as well?

x

 

[djb]

I was told by my vet to not let the horse have anything to eat until the sedation has worn off completely as the sedative affects the digestive system. Also the horse my forget to swallow if still sedated so no I would also wait until the sedation has properly worn off.

 

[patchandloopy]

No your right, my vet recommended i waited untill the sedation had worn off-which was about 2 hours.

 

[Thistle]

No def no food until sedation completely worn off.

Obviously don't know how this applies to sedation for turnout?

 

[Oaksflight]

No, you're in the right! Vet has told me it's to prevent choke as well. Common sense though really isn't it.

 

[Halfstep]

That's what I thought too! Glad I'm not alone.

 

[Sarah_Jane]

It does depend oon the type of sedative. If injected i.e. to do teeth etc then they should not eat until fully recovered.

However if using a small quantity of acp (seditive) pills it is ok for them to eat. For example I used to give these to a horse prior to turnout after he had had 8 weeks box rest. They were prescribed by my vet for this purpose.

 

[Tempi]

im paranoid about it - Bloss has to have full sedation when shes clipped out and i stay with her afterwards for two hours to check shes ok. She dosent have anyfood or anything during these two hours - ive always been told thats a big no no because of colic risks.

 

[Dougie]

heavy sedation + food= guranteed choke!!!

 

[MDJO]

Hi - I have been having my shiverer sedated for many years for shoeing and found it best to stay with them for a couple of hours afterwards to allow them to come round properly. It is not advised to let them eat anything for a couple of hours as their muscles may not be functioning properly, hence the risk of choke and colics further down the digestive system.

 

[Louby]

I agree too, no food after sedation until it wears off. My boy seems to get the munchies when sedated and finds any piece of old haylage hidden in his shavings bed, so I end up trying to remove every strand I can find as he once started to choke. Wouldnt mind he wont eat any scraps left from the night before normally.

 

[GTs]

Stay there?? Haven't you guys heard of muzzles??

 

[Pidge]

Have to agree with you, every time Pidge has been sedated he has been left in his box for a couple of hours with no hay or water, he is on a shavings bed. This on the vets advice. Will do this later this month when he has got to have some work done on his teeth and will be sedated again.

 

[LEC]

My horse was sedated on Monday - I did not even think about his haynet till mum reminded me to remove it. Mother reckoned its because they can choke. After 4 hours he was turned out when he was fine.

 

[Salcey]

No food!!!!!!!!!!!