Stupid question - bloating?

C

chestnut cob

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Sorry, stupid question but I have to ask...can horses get bloated, in the way that we feel bloated? I only ask because horse has had a few days off and ended up having to be box rested during that time because of a bug. For the first two days he ate almost nothing as he couldn't swallow and has really only been eating properly for about 3 days. He usually eats whatever you put in front of him but still can't finish his haylage net at night now - he's probably eating about two thirds of the amount of haylage he would normally eat.

Took his rugs off tonight and his belly looks more like a pregnant mare, however I can just feel ribs so he's not fat (I struggled to feel ribs before his bug so in that sense he has lost some weight). He just now has this big tummy that looks bloated to me. He's on ABs and bute, been on it for about 6 days and got a few more days to go - could this cause it? Or is it more likely to be because he had a couple of days of not eating?

I guess it looks a bit like a grassy belly, you know when you put something out on good grass for the first time? Today was the first day he's been turned out for a week so I wondered if that had something to do with it. Everything else is normal - poo, etc, just this big belly.

Any ideas?
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I'd keep a close eye on him cc just in case he's got a build up of gas in his gut that is making him uncomfortable and so off his food and bloated-looking. Gassy colic is nasty. He may benefit from Coligone or Buscopan from the vet.
 
I would wonder if he wasn't a bit gassy; the way to tell is if he's 'swelling' out to the sides behind his last rib and his hindquarters... if that makes sense. That's what the vet told me when PF lay flat on the ground last week groaning
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the tart gave me the shock of my life!
 
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I'd keep a close eye on him cc just in case he's got a build up of gas in his gut that is making him uncomfortable and so off his food and bloated-looking. Gassy colic is nasty. He may benefit from Coligone or Buscopan from the vet.

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Thanks. It's not colic, the vet has seen him twice and he is eating normally now. His glands are still up a bit but he's a lot better. It was just a nasty virus/bug which the ABs seem to have cleared up. Everything else is normal, the not-eating was because his soft palate was covered in ulcers because of the bug. I mucked him out yesterday so I know everything else is normal.
 
I think it's fairly common, but it might be making him a bit uncomfortable. If he is, then perhaps you can get something off your vet to help release the gasses? There's a product here called Gasint that we use quite a lot a precautionary measure. Unless I'm mistaken it contains sorbitol.Helps them trump
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ETS: If he's not uncomfortable, and farting normally, I wouldn't worry too much, but do keep an eye on it
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I'll pop up at lunchtime and have a look at him. I can always chat to the vet about giving him something like Coligone I guess (having said that, I might prefer the vet to prescribe something as it's cost enough to be an insurance claim now).
 
My horse gets very bloated at times, then starts f**ting and burping. The vets told me to give him 3 bute and put him on the walker for 20 mins. If he's not better after that call them out. I'm at a loss to why my horse gets gassy smasmodic colic. I used to think it was due to the grass but then he's had it whilst on box rest too. He is on pink powder and has been for two years now.
 
I spoke to the vet earlier who came out on NYE and she said not to worry. She said the ABs shouldn't be causing it and she thinks it's just that he had a couple of days with no food at all, then a couple more days with only a little bit so now he's eating nearly-normally again, he looks bloated because his large intestine is filling up. She said only to worry if he stops pooing and call her again if he does.
 
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