Would you scope or see how they go?

[Stenners]

My connie x whis 8 years old got mild colic last January (due to the frost and not drinking they think) and then 3 weeks later got choke. However she choked on nothing, its was just fluid that came out and she was out at grass. She doesn't show the typical signs of colic or choke other than twisting her top lip and being very quiet.
The fluid only seems to come out her nose once they have sedated her and relaxed everything. This was January last year.
New Years Day this year - the same thing happened again. She got choke having been out at grass. We thought initially it was colic but all fine inside and once they sedated her fluid came pouring out her nose. Every time once sedation wears off she's right as rain again. The fact that's it happened at a similar time pretty much a year apart and at grass was a slight worry for the vet and they advised me to get her scoped to check for any odl injury in her throat or anything else going on.
I have absolutely no other concerns with her at all (apart from being an anxious mare when on her own but she's always been like that since I got her 2.5 years ago). At the moment money is tight and I could do without the expense so looking for advise - would you take her in for an overnight stay and get her scoped anyway to see if anything underlying? They have advise to take her into the practice as it's a safer and more sterile environment (and she would have her teeth done at the same time!). She's booked in for next week but also have no one to come with me, she's not a great loader anyway and my anxiety is already running high!

 

[SEL]

I would scope.

If there is an obstruction the earlier you find out the more likely it is they can do something to help.

 

[Stenners]

I would scope.

If there is an obstruction the earlier you find out the more likely it is they can do something to help.

They have put my under a bit of pressure to get it done this month saying that at the end of this month itll be a year since she first had it so if i don't get her in by the end of the month the insurance wont pay out or be valid!

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’d scope, too. Choke is potentially life threatening. I’ve never heard of it happening to a horse out at grass, only with horses which have been fed dry coarse mix. No wonder the vets are concerned.

Good luck. I hope that whatever is found is easily fixable.

 

[Stenners]

I’d scope, too. Choke is potentially life threatening. I’ve never heard of it happening to a horse out at grass, only with horses which have been fed dry coarse mix. No wonder the vets are concerned.

Good luck. I hope that whatever is found is easily fixable.

Its very strange as she doesn't even show typical signs of choke - to anyone that doesn't know her, no one would have picked up that she was struggling. Everyone at the yard said "we wouldn't have even noticed anything was wrong with her"

 

[Tiddlypom]

As she’s insured but the 12 months is nearly up, then all the more reason to crack on. If she needs an op, that could be spendy so get it done. Not sure whether any follow up procedures will be covered if they go beyond the 12 months?

 

[nagblagger]

Can you get anyone just to help load, even if they can't come with you.

 

[Stenners]

Can you get anyone just to help load, even if they can't come with you.

Possibly! My parter is away with work and a couple of other friends are working and unable to help but I'll see what I can sort - I think you have all reaffirmed I do need to get it done, I'll kick myself if I don't any thing is underlying

 

[Tiddlypom]

Get a pro to transport her? The ones round here often do vet visit runs.

 

[Goldenstar]

Get a pro in if travelling a issue .
Vets usually have a list of people .

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

How many and how big are her poos? My mare had a blocked stomach and it reduced the size and frequency of her…output..she also displayed mild colic symptoms. Scoping was the only way we found out.

 

[Stenners]

How many and how big are her poos? My mare had a blocked stomach and it reduced the size and frequency of her…output..she also displayed mild colic symptoms. Scoping was the only way we found out.

Her poos are absolutely normal and the vet isn't concerned about those at all.

 

[nutjob]

I had a horse with megaoesophagus which could choke on grass or any solid food really. When it first started the incidents were much more frequent than yours though, it was obvious that something was wrong. What you describe is not normal so it's best to know what's going on and how to manage or treat in future.

 

[Stenners]

I'm definately going to keep the appointment and get her scoped!

 

[SEL]

Get a pro in if travelling a issue .
Vets usually have a list of people .

This is good advice.

Sadly the pros near me closed down but they could load my challenging Appy without issue at both ends.

If you can't hire someone in then my advice is to load early. If you are early at the vets it is a lot less stressful than struggling at home knowing the clock is ticking.

 

[sportsmansB]

I had one who choked regularly but only on hay / haylage not hard feed or grass.
I got her scoped and she had a malformation which the hay gathered in and she couldn't swallow it.
Unfortunately we couldn't actually do anything about it, but she lived on happily not eating hay / haylage (expensive and inconvenient but do-able) and at least we knew what the cause was

I'd go for the scope if you can so you know what you are dealing with.

 

[Melody Grey]

In situations where you just need to get there, I’ve sedated for travel. I appreciate it’s not going to resolve the issue, but sometimes needs must, especially if the clock is ticking on your insurance.

ETA: you can then work on loading when there’s no pressure!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would definitely keep the appointment especially as it's happened twice and the insurance aspect really.

My Louis choked on loose hay twice in the field both times in the morning so I think he was rushing to eat it.

I totally understand not wanting to go to vets alone I hated it as well although I have done a few trips to Newmarket alone before now and once you get going it's really not that bad.

If I was near you I would come with you

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

My connie x whis 8 years old got mild colic last January (due to the frost and not drinking they think) and then 3 weeks later got choke. However she choked on nothing, its was just fluid that came out and she was out at grass. She doesn't show the typical signs of colic or choke other than twisting her top lip and being very quiet.
The fluid only seems to come out her nose once they have sedated her and relaxed everything. This was January last year.
New Years Day this year - the same thing happened again. She got choke having been out at grass. We thought initially it was colic but all fine inside and once they sedated her fluid came pouring out her nose. Every time once sedation wears off she's right as rain again. The fact that's it happened at a similar time pretty much a year apart and at grass was a slight worry for the vet and they advised me to get her scoped to check for any odl injury in her throat or anything else going on.
I have absolutely no other concerns with her at all (apart from being an anxious mare when on her own but she's always been like that since I got her 2.5 years ago). At the moment money is tight and I could do without the expense so looking for advise - would you take her in for an overnight stay and get her scoped anyway to see if anything underlying? They have advise to take her into the practice as it's a safer and more sterile environment (and she would have her teeth done at the same time!). She's booked in for next week but also have no one to come with me, she's not a great loader anyway and my anxiety is already running high!

hmmm - would think carefully if i were in your shoes, my boy went in for a scope and found his ulcer's. He then went for a second scope and it caused a really bad colic, so bad they phoned me on route to practice in horsebox and told me to turn round as he was coliking.

Two months late he colicked again ( prob results of second scope, really bad one = RVC = surgery and then was pts. Be wary if he has to have a second one to check up.l

 

[Bellalily]

I’d scope, too. Choke is potentially life threatening. I’ve never heard of it happening to a horse out at grass, only with horses which have been fed dry coarse mix. No wonder the vets are concerned.

Good luck. I hope that whatever is found is easily fixable.

Mine choked about 10 years ago bolting his tea of chaff down in the field so his mate wouldn’t pinch it ( which he never does anyway). Truly terrifying, I had the vet on the phone, my daughter and the YM in the field with me. I would get yours scoped asap. Appreciate funds are tight, can you speak to your vet about a payment plan?

 

[Stenners]

I had a horse with megaoesophagus which could choke on grass or any solid food really. When it first started the incidents were much more frequent than yours though, it was obvious that something was wrong. What you describe is not normal so it's best to know what's going on and how to manage or treat in future.

How did you manage your horse with this and what was the outcome/prognosis?

 

[Stenners]

My horse has been in to be scoped today and not good news unfortunately. She's still in there as they have scoped her twice and need to rescope her tomorrow. She has food blocked in her oesophagus and all in her stomach so they haven't been able to look around her stomach even though they have given her something to try and clear it, it's not budged and they think it's been there for a good few days as it's very smelly. Without looking further they think they have found an initial diagnosis of 'megaoesophagus' which is apparently very very rare in horses unless they are youngster or have had a very serious case of choke which is possible if she had it overnight at some point. She also said its rare for food to be stuck for this long as she didnt expect to have to keep her in overnight. They haven't' been able to see for any ulcers etc as so much food is in there. She will be been starved for 36 hours by the time they do the next scope at 10am tomorrow . I've been advised her whole management will have to change and also her ridden work could be in jeopardy. She could also have to be on Omeprazole for the rest of her life (which is something I could not afford!). I'm literally beside myself and don't know what to think. She's only 8 (nearly 9) and hasn't shown me any other causes for concern! The vet did say she's probably quite uncomfortable but isn't really showing it but she does have a mega high pain threshold! She didn't want to elaborate too much and said we will discuss more when she has rescoped tomorrow....

Has anyone else come across this?

 

[Tiddlypom]

How worrying for you.

Fingers crossed for a good outcome.

 

[nutjob]

My horse was 16 when this started and was pts at 23 as it got increasingly more difficult to manage him. He had to be taken completely off hay / haylage and only allowed a diet of short grass or liquid based foods like soaked nuts. Any long fibre food even grass would get stuck. They struggle to get enough calories so micronised linseed is good to add in. Winter was hard and my partner stayed up late to give him a late feed and I would get up early for the first one. We then fed him at approx 2 hourly intervals. He lived out but often not much grass to pick on. Summer he could manage mainly on grass. Eventually the management wasn't enough and he also started having sinus problems which was probably related and we called it a day.

I'm not sure if he ever had omeprazole, possible one course but I also would not have been able to afford it daily for the rest of life. We kept riding him as keeping his head up and trotting especially helped any stuck food go down. I also trotted him round on the lunge if I saw a choke coming on. I would say riding would be helpful but nothing too strenuous as keeping weight on is a problem.

I don't think megaoesophagus would cause the stomach to be blocked. I think its more likely that the stomach is not emptying properly and the back up of food has caused the megaosoephagus. Can your vet pump out all the stuff thats currently impacted? That would give a better picture of whats going on.

Good luck, these things are so stressful.

 

[Annagain]

I've got no advice as I've only ever heard of it in a dog before but just wanted to I'm sorry it's not the outcome you hoped for.

 

[Stenners]

My horse was 16 when this started and was pts at 23 as it got increasingly more difficult to manage him. He had to be taken completely off hay / haylage and only allowed a diet of short grass or liquid based foods like soaked nuts. Any long fibre food even grass would get stuck. They struggle to get enough calories so micronised linseed is good to add in. Winter was hard and my partner stayed up late to give him a late feed and I would get up early for the first one. We then fed him at approx 2 hourly intervals. He lived out but often not much grass to pick on. Summer he could manage mainly on grass. Eventually the management wasn't enough and he also started having sinus problems which was probably related and we called it a day.

I'm not sure if he ever had omeprazole, possible one course but I also would not have been able to afford it daily for the rest of life. We kept riding him as keeping his head up and trotting especially helped any stuck food go down. I also trotted him round on the lunge if I saw a choke coming on. I would say riding would be helpful but nothing too strenuous as keeping weight on is a problem.

I don't think megaoesophagus would cause the stomach to be blocked. I think its more likely that the stomach is not emptying properly and the back up of food has caused the megaosoephagus. Can your vet pump out all the stuff thats currently impacted? That would give a better picture of whats going on.

Good luck, these things are so stressful.

The vet has tried to dissolve it today and it's just not budging which she is very suprised about and isn't sure why it's not moving so shes hopes it's moved by tomorrow but I have no idea why she's so blocked ;(

 

[Snow Falcon]

Have they tried coke to dissolve the blockage?

 

[SEL]

I have nothing to add but I really hope you get more positive news tomorrow - you must be incredibly worried xx

 

[Dave's Mam]

Hoping for positive news tomorrow.

 

[Stenners]

Have they tried coke to dissolve the blockage?

Yes