So clear scope, what next?

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

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My mare had a bout of spasmodic colic end of March. Then 6 days later was unwell again, lethargic, raised temperature and off food. Vet called on both occasions. Fluids given, bloods run and wec performed. Bloods showed low in protein and albumen. Also wormed as moderate wec. Bloods run again a week or so later showing both levels back up. Vet suspected worms were the problem. I wasn't totally convinced but went with the professional opinion. WEC then came back as 0.

She's had another 2 episodes where she is off her food, mopes about for a hour or two then is fine. Spoke to vet again who said to monitor and call if she got any worse.

Mare has had these funny episodes before, normally spring and late autumn/winter time. I have started to keep a diary to see if they co-incide with her seasons. She is a laid back character with a lovely temperament which doesn't alter. She is quite evident when in season though as a squirty tart.

When I spoke to the vet about her at length she suggested scoping as something to either eliminate or investigate. I was offered a great deal yesterday on a scope today which I took. Scope was clear so now I am still wondering what could be the cause.

I'vd had her tested for PSSM which was clear. Had lots of physio and nerve block last year as she wasn't right behind.

Vet said to keep monitoring her and let her know if a pattern starts emerging with off food episodes and seasons.

Am now wondering what else I can do. Anyone else had similar and got any thoughts please?

For other info, she is a 9yo NF mare. Out 24/7 fed on unmolassed chaff, handful of grass nuts, micronised linseed, with vit E and brewers yeast.
 
1. I have to apologize for lack of scoping knowledge as I have luckily, never had to have a horse scoped.

Which means -- can scoping also see the hind gut? That is where I would look next.

2. It's been a bazillion years since I have owned mares, so my knowledge of mare-driven issues is also pretty low. I might consider investigating her reproductive organs, even though she is a very quiet gal.

Sometimes quiet horses become even more quiet when they aren't well. I currently have a gelding who is like that. For lack of a better description, he will sort of retract inside himself when he is not well.

3. I did have a gelding who have never colicked, then suddenly could not stop colicking. He was diagnosed with strangulating lipomas. Lipomas are more common in geldings & stallions than they are in mares, but I might wonder if she is dealing with some type of tumor(s) that might occasionally move around thus causing her to become lethargic.

4. If at all possible, I would give thought to carrying her to a university or a university extension for a thorough (and probably expensive:( exam.
 
Nope, hind gut issues can be tricky to diagnose. GS, yes she has but I am burnt out money wise at the moment after recent costly vet bills and another on the way! She's not insured.

I have full service history on this mare as I bred her! 😊
 
At this stage, I would suspect hindgut ulcers, although I have no direct experience of them. Is it Equishure which is the recommended supplement? I'd be tempted to try a course, as i believe the test isn't particularly reliable.
 
WEC does not show tape. Has she been tested for tape, as that's the one most often associated with colic?
 
Well I would give it a go when you can .
The other thing is to test for blood in the droppings and diagnostic ultrasound of the abdomen but both are a bit variable in effectiveness.
As blood won’t always be present and the scans are bit iffy and the costs mount up if they do them again and again .
My horse cheeky was showing signs of abdominal pain ,colic that was not quite like colic epic long story but we used diagnostic ultra sound first scan spotted what looked like two masses two weeks later they repeated saw nothing decided first scan just showed a lump of food sitting in the bowel .
Horse still Ill vet out every five minutes, bill well all I would say I spent more than we did on our first cottage he was sick of it I was ill because I was exhausted.
I got the huntsman to shoot him he had two tumours on his bowel .
Sometimes there’s no way to win .
And no easy answer to give to help someone .
But I would try regumate when you can before you give up .
 
Yep, tested for tape too and clear. There's no chance of giving up on this mare. She's precious and having only just lost her dam last year I am gutted that she's not been well. I think I'll be visiting my bank very shortly.
 
Hi its awful when they are ill mine was diagnoases with possibly irritable bowel had rectal biopsy and was started on steroids was expensive but responed very quickly so was weaned off them within a month xxx never had any problems for over a year and on no medication xx
 
Thanks. The vet had previously suggested steroids but when I spoke to them again when she had another episode a week or so ago she seemed to think that they wouldn't help.

It is so frustrating she's fine the majority of the time, just these odd days.

Those who have had ultrasound scans done, was it a tricky procedure or just similar to a pregnancy scan?
 
Equishure is worth a shot before you rob a bank. Plus supplementing with l-glutamine.

I often suggest trying to find poplar branches too. I know it sounds bonkers but my mare self medicated on poplar when she moved to a field bordered by it and she'd had no end of stomach problems. Within 2 weeks she was a different horse and I now can't tell her poo from my other horse.

I did find it in an old guide as a suggestion for IBS in horses so she knew what she needed.

And much cheaper than a vet....
 
No uktrasound was reallt atriaght forward but the main fiagmosis was the rectal bipspoes onv risky bit needed to be done in order to get an andeer
 
What has the weather been like leading up to these episodes?
Could they possibly be related to growth spurts/sugar spikes in the grazing?
Could be worth making a note of the weather if your going to keep a diary of episodes.

If it's possible it could be related to grass/grazing activated charcoal can be useful in these situations we used the equmins stuff.

Hope you get to the bottom of it soon
 
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