"Spasmodic Colic"?? Advice please? (a teensy bit long :P)

nitro_nimph

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I've been stalking the forum for quite some time although rarely post since when I do it tends to be more dramatic than intended!! lol :P
Anyhoo, i got a new horse about 6 weeks ago (*squees*) and bar a few issues involving trailer related incidents (give me strength) she has been perfect. However on the first night she was with us, wouldn't you know it, she comes in from the field very very stiff. Not one scratch on her even though she'd been quite active in the field all day. She didn't do anything dangerous, just checking things out. Seemed to have a perfectly healthy apetite when she came in but as the night went on just got worse, hunched over her back and very very reluctant to move. Eventually gave her three sachets of bute and she was absolutely fine afterwards! Thankfully have had no problems since and she was second in her first intro yesterday. (can you tell I'm chuffed? lol) The vet came the next morning by which point she was in perfect form and said he guessed it was spasmodic colic? I know what colic is, but not spasmodic? Either way I was wondering if this was what it seemed like to you and if it could be a recurring problem?
If you read all of that and can be bothered replying you win a cookie!! lol
 
It could be spasmodic colic...but it doesn't sound typical, as horses tend to move quite a lot, roll etc, when the spasms hit.
I'd suggest it could be azoturia (also known as azoturea, equine rhabdomyelitis, tying up syndrome etc) or some variant.
Without blood tests, you'll never know. If it happens again, call your vet during rather than after the event, and s/he'll be able to give you a more certain diagnosis, prognosis and appropriate medication.
S
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We were on the phone to the vet the second she came in, we nearly had a heart attack, lmao! I did wonder about tying up, but the vet reckoned it was internal? i'm lost tbh!
She had a great sense of timing in the issue though! lol
btw - have a cookie for your trouble! :P
 
Sometimes with azoturia, feed can be a trigger as well as strenuous exercise. Was she on different feed with her old owner?
 
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