Petrified of Colic

[Tootsie4U]

I have never seen it but I have heard the horror stories.

Whenever I work my horse at any degree I never let him drink more than a few swallows. I fret over changing his grain. I feel like I'm worrying too much as I never notice any one else taking these precautionary measures.

Exactly how bad do things have to be for a horse to get bad colic? Is not letting him drink too much too drastic? Has your horse ever colic'd and why?

Thanks -- I just dont know if Im over doing it :)

[Miriam]

There is a lot of things that can cause colic which is not to say that your horse will suddenly have an attack. The thing to remember is to call the vet if you think your horse does have colic.

I know the first pony I ever had to deal with that had colic was a little shetland which had given up his stable for my new pony :eek: Luckily I had other people around me which were experienced and the first thing we did was call the vet. We do not know what caused it.

The second horse did in actual fact not have colic but a tumour growing round his intestine and had he not given off the signs of colic we would not have known and would have lost him :( The vets themselves were treating him as a colic case it was only when we rang to say the injection the vet had given him did not seem to be working that they decided to have him straight to hospital and operate as they suspected a twisted gut. This was the most horrific case I have had to deal with partly because he took ill on the morning when my friend and I were putting him out for his owner.

Not all cases are like this and most get over it by themselves with a little help from the vet. As in the case of the last two horses I have had to deal with. All horses I am pleased to say are all fit and healthy today.

You are right not to let your horse drink too much water after exercise especially if he has worked hard and always introduce new food gradually.

HTH and gives you more ease of mind

[galadriel]

You're not the only one paranoid about colic. Since Duchess had a mild case due to the weather (it was warm in the day, so she ran and played, but so cool at night that she wasn't drinking enough) I am near spastic about making sure horses have enough water at all times. I make any changes to feed, etc, slowly--I try to keep as much in their lives consistent as possible. I think it's the right way to go about it...and your horse, even if he doesn't colic, will probably be more comfortable anyway.

[Sparkle]

Ginger colicked once, it wasn't serious but it was the first time I had seen colic. We callled the vet, who said to walk her (which we were already doing) and give her an injection. We don't know what caused it, but she was fine.

[samm]

I'm very very worried about colic, as one of my horses died of it 2 years ago.

they said she had an impaction in her gut, and they did all the normal- pumping her with liquid parafin, etc, but unfortunatly it wasnt enough.

this happened over xmas (didnt even have xmas dinner on xmas day, coz i wouldnt leave her side). anyway, there were 3 different vets dealing with her, because people were going off home for xmas. by the time they realised how serious it was there was nothing they could do, and it was too late to get her to the surgery. needless to say, i am no longer with these vets!!

they did suggest afterwards that it could have been a 'hard to detect tumour'.

i blamed myself for months afterwards........why didnt i MAKE them take her in....but it wont bring her back! i better shut up, or i'll get myself all upset!!

[Tootsie4U]

Oh Samm, Im sorry to bring up bad times for you. :( Im glad you got to be with her in the end. She had someone there who obviously loved her.

My horse is a very hardy horse, an easy keeper. His previous owner used to change his feed entirely in one day and he had no problems with it. I wouldnt push my luck that way but I certainly never was the type to dote over anything, so Im wondering if its necessary.... :rolleyes:

[Wally]

As mentioned colic is not a condition in its self, it is a symptom of many, many problems.

I would let a horse drink rather than limit his intake as dehydration is just as likely to cause an impaction than cold water in his stomach, Cold water in his stomach is far less of a problem than an impaction.

It's like azoturia, any horse can get it at any time, even though you pay good attention to worming, and feeding regimes. Don't let the worry of an attack stop you enjoying yourself. 9 times out of ten the simple veterinary remedies will sort a dose of colic, there are horror stories out there, but don't let them rule your thoughts.

[AmandaW]

the vets did say carrying fat can predispose them (not always) to develop the type of lipoma that twisted over her gut.


Amanda I am sorry to bring this up as I know it is probably hard for you at the moment but can I please ask what the Lipoma was or is. As I have said above the horse I waslooking after developed what we thought was colic and it turned out to be a growth. Is it the same thing. He was a little overwieght at the time but the vet never said anything about it. I am just wondering if this is the same thing that he may have suffered and we have just been lucky.

[Tootsie4U]

Thank you Amanda. That is what I needed to know. I guess I can worry all I want, but as long as I do the best management I can, I have done all I can. Also, thanks for the warning about carrying fat. I generally prefer a "thicker" horse and keep the horses under my care a bit bigger than the norm. Not that we have had any problems, but its good to be on the look out.

Thanks everyone for your input. :)