Strange spasm/colic?

[GrecianDawn]

My 15 year old OTTB has always been colicky, but since I started him on supplement called gastri aid we no longer had to make the scary vet calls. But during the past few months, as I was watching him on surveillance camera, I saw him lying flat out, swishing tail, getting up and down. By the time we reached the barn he was back to his usual self, eating, drinking, pooping. It happened 3 times during the night (that I know of), and once when he was out grazing. He just stopped grazing, started to roll and breathe a bit faster, and within 15 minutes it was like nothing ever happened. I’m happy that he solves that on his own and that it is short lived, but it is still worrying me. He gets to graze daily, has ad lib hay, turned out every day, but stabled during the night as full time turn out is not an option. He is also a cribber. Had teeth done a month ago and gets them done regularly. Any ideas, suggestions, help?

 

[be positive]

Has he been scoped for ulcers? if not I would suspect he has them, the supplement may be helping reduce the issue and the cribbing may also be a sign, at 15 he could well have an underlying problem causing discomfort that needs to be found and addressed along with looking at whether he has ulcers, my instinct would be he has arthritic changes somewhere that are niggling away and that is in turn giving him an acidic tummy but finding to root cause may not be easy if he appears sound and happy in his work.

 

[ycbm]

Is he up to date with tapeworm worming or testing? .

 

[GrecianDawn]

Is he up to date with tapeworm worming or testing? .

Yeah, and he recently got Pyrantel paste. And by testing do you mean fecal egg count?

 

[GrecianDawn]

Has he been scoped for ulcers? if not I would suspect he has them, the supplement may be helping reduce the issue and the cribbing may also be a sign, at 15 he could well have an underlying problem causing discomfort that needs to be found and addressed along with looking at whether he has ulcers, my instinct would be he has arthritic changes somewhere that are niggling away and that is in turn giving him an acidic tummy but finding to root cause may not be easy if he appears sound and happy in his work.

Maybe, but I think something has happened as he never did this before and now in 7 days it has happened 3 times. But no change in food. We only had major weather changes, so not sure about that. One strange thing I noticed today when I watched him over camera is that he was eating his poo! And he never does that! Calling my vet tomorrow to inform him. :/

 

[ycbm]

by testing do you mean fecal egg count?

No, you need a saliva test for tapeworm.

 

[ycbm]

Yeah, and he recently got Pyrantel paste. And by testing do you mean fecal egg count?

Did you double dose the pyrantel? It won't do tapeworm unless you do.

 

[jenniehodges2001]

My 15 year old OTTB has always been colicky, but since I started him on supplement called gastri aid we no longer had to make the scary vet calls. But during the past few months, as I was watching him on surveillance camera, I saw him lying flat out, swishing tail, getting up and down. By the time we reached the barn he was back to his usual self, eating, drinking, pooping. It happened 3 times during the night (that I know of), and once when he was out grazing. He just stopped grazing, started to roll and breathe a bit faster, and within 15 minutes it was like nothing ever happened. I’m happy that he solves that on his own and that it is short lived, but it is still worrying me. He gets to graze daily, has ad lib hay, turned out every day, but stabled during the night as full time turn out is not an option. He is also a cribber. Had teeth done a month ago and gets them done regularly. Any ideas, suggestions, help?

It sounds like it could be spasmodic colic which comes and goes can be caused by build up of gas from the grass as it ferments in the intestinal tract. It's similar in as much as we get trapped wind and its intermittent at times. Some horses are more prone than others. If your grazing is particuarly lush or well fertilised you can find it happens more often. Sometimes a quick lunge/ walk on the horse walker will relieve the problem. Obviously if the horse is throwing itself around with colic (which yours isn't) it would be advisable to put it on the walker. If it does a big f**t you might find it rights itself, and lunging can certainly help with that!