Spike the spare is sick!

Alf will be fine - he's still the king of the herd! I'm seriously thinking about separating them for a while, so that Spike can recover in peace. He's quite happy to be on his own, so might be ok in the banned paddock, but if not, I'll try T with him - she's a squealy old bag, and a bit violent at feed time, but I've caught them sharing hay and grazing together very peacefully a few times. Then Alf can have Lola (his favourite girl ever) to himself for a bit!
 
Just had my morning update, and he's still doing really well - so, transport permitting, he can come home tomorrow! We had a long chat about potential causes, and came to the conclusion that there wasn't really an explanation for it. Only thing he did say was that they always expected a little rush of colics when the weather was really horrible.
So - i've got a lovely big new straw bed to remove and replace with something he won't joyfully trough his way through, and Alf is going to have to deal with a bit more stable buddy time!
 
Wonderful news he is coming home - hurrah !!! :)

He will of course expect the same level of luxury once back, and I can't help thinking you will not begrudge him it....I am looking forward to a pic of Spike the No-Longer-Spare in his palace....
 
Po Knee said:
Wonderful news he is coming home - hurrah !!! :)

He will of course expect the same level of luxury once back, and I can't help thinking you will not begrudge him it....I am looking forward to a pic of Spike the No-Longer-Spare in his palace....
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He's going to be sadly disappointed! I've pulled the mats out and hosed the crud off them - and they're going back in a different stable because I can't be bothered to empty the clean straw out of his! He'll have to re-learn how to slum it! I considered putting him in Alfs stable, but then thought about the cost of a new bed in a 24x12 stable! Not a chance!
 
So glad that Spike is better. Good job you were on the ball, just been reading (and frightening myself) about caecal impaction colic. It is much more prone to rupture than other types.
 
My ultra picky, difficult to feed, too precious for his own good horse, goes off all bagged feeds half way through the bag, would sooner scoff acres of wheat straw bedding than eat his two varieties of hay on offer or some exquisite haylage that are both available 24/7.

He also refuses to paddle through the deep mud to the trough and has to have fresh bucketed water in his field shelter.

I doubt Spike is a mud wimp but it did cross my mind that he might not be drinking enough given the type of problem he had. No one will ever know and the day the vets have an answer for colic will be a day to rejoice.
 
Auslander said:
He's going to be sadly disappointed! I've pulled the mats out and hosed the crud off them - and they're going back in a different stable because I can't be bothered to empty the clean straw out of his! He'll have to re-learn how to slum it! I considered putting him in Alfs stable, but then thought about the cost of a new bed in a 24x12 stable! Not a chance!
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Ha Ha- don't blame you!!

He will remember his stay at Liphook as a fine hotel, but there's no place like home :)
 
AdorableAlice said:
My ultra picky, difficult to feed, too precious for his own good horse, goes off all bagged feeds half way through the bag, would sooner scoff acres of wheat straw bedding than eat his two varieties of hay on offer or some exquisite haylage that are both available 24/7.

He also refuses to paddle through the deep mud to the trough and has to have fresh bucketed water in his field shelter.

I doubt Spike is a mud wimp but it did cross my mind that he might not be drinking enough given the type of problem he had. No one will ever know and the day the vets have an answer for colic will be a day to rejoice.
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Thats the ONLY thing that I can think of that might have been a contributing factor. They have a big, clean plastic trough in the field, but hardly touch it. I know the ground is completely waterlogged and they are probably keeping themselves well hydrated just grazing, but I am quite interested in finding out how much he drinks. Sloppy feeds for all at the moment!
 
doriangrey said:
So glad that Spike is better. Good job you were on the ball, just been reading (and frightening myself) about caecal impaction colic. It is much more prone to rupture than other types.
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Sure is! I lost my lovely Aussie to a rupture (not caecum) so I'm really nervous about such things
 
Just wondering. If your land is waterlogged (like everyone else's is at the mo) are the horses drinking from the lying water? Mine are doing just that currently, and I'm getting antsy about them getting sand colic. But sand wouldn't cause a caecal impaction, though, would it?
 
Tiddlypom said:
Just wondering. If your land is waterlogged (like everyone else's is at the mo) are the horses drinking from the lying water? Mine are doing just that currently, and I'm getting antsy about them getting sand colic. But sand wouldn't cause a caecal impaction, though, would it?
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I know they are - catch them at it quite regularly! Sand can cause impactions, but would think it was unlikely as it isn't sandy soil, and Liphook didn't mention finding anything odd in his droppings
 
Tiddlypom said:
Spike the Unspare, I love it!!

How's the magazine editing going, will you make the deadline?
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Just about. In a way, it would be better if I can't find transport for tomorrow, so I can finish the mag off. However, it costs 150 quid a day for him to be at Liphook, AND I want him home!
 
AdorableAlice said:
Hope he comes home today.
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He is - a lovely HHO'er has just offered to pick him up, and I'm waiting for the duty vet to call me back just to confirm it's still ok. Now waiting for the feed merchants to open so I can whizz up and get some bedding - all my boxes are straw, and that's not ideal!
 
Am in Milan at the mo so haven't been on here much for the last few days, just popped on here to see how spike is. I'm so very glad he has been diagnosed and responded so well to treatment! Fantastic news that he can come home today x
 
Guess who's home?

The LOVELY AML on here messaged me earlier and offered to transport him - for which I owe her a truly massive favour! Did a turbo straw out, mats back down job on the spare stable, shot up to the feed shop and bought some bedding , then belted over to Liphook (via the A3 in the wrong direction when my sat nav pursed its lips and refused to co-operate, because I called it a rude name!)
He looks fab - not too tucked up, and considerably cleaner than when he arrived there - they apologised for mot biding able to get all the mud out of the inside of his ears, bless them! I didn't tell them it had probably been there for weeks!
He travelled very well, and came off the box very bright - then proceeded to charge round his new stable, kicking miscanthus in the air, and rolling joyfully (happy at new bed rolling - although I did gulp a bit when he chucked himself on the floor!)
He's VERY perky indeed - the nurses at lip hook said he was like a different horse this morning, a if he knew he was going home!

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Looking pretty good - considering!

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