colic

Minelson · #1 07/04/10, 04:09 PM

I believe my horse "Joey" has colic. He was pawing at the ground this morning while I was doing chores and I thought he was just frustrated with the bugs. Then he laid down...got up...down. I wasn't sure if it was colic or a reaction to bug spray. He did a normal poop. So I hosed him down to get the bug spray off just in case. 10cc of Banamine IM and 40cc of mineral oil. Put the fly wraps on his legs and a fly sheet on and walked him. So now he is in the corral and seems better. Stopped pawing and laying down. But I'm nervous. Of course this happens on a holiday. ugh!! Any comments or advice are appreciated.

**Kris in MI** · #2 07/04/10, 05:30 PM

If your weather is like ours at the moment (cool all week, got hot yesterday and is REALLY hot today), he could be in a mild colic brought on by the weather. Have you tried offering him anything to eat? If he's normally a pig and now refuses food, you know something is definitely wrong. In that case, call the vet now! Don't give him a lot, just a little hay or offer some grass to graze on and see what his reaction is. Then take the food away unless you are 100% sure he is not colicky.

Also, do you have an idea of how much he has drank in the last 24 hrs? Could be he is dehydrated and while he passed a normal manure earlier in the day he might be impacted further up the line.

How long ago was the Banamine given? 1/2 hr ago and it has kicked in, which could be why he seems better. Give it time to wear down a bit (say 4hrs after it was administered) and check him then. He might still be okay by then, or he might be acting uncomfortable again. If he's been dosed, was okay for a few hours, then acts colicky again I'd call a vet out.

Minelson · #3 07/04/10, 05:44 PM

Thanks Kris

It has been hot and windy here, rained last night and today is VERY humid and no wind. Lots of bugs. I gave him the Banamine Between noon and 1pm it's 5:45 now. He still seems much better. He did eat a little grass while I was walking him. Had a little hay before I took it away. He is nibbling along the fence line. He has had water...not too much but some. The water looked normal this morning...he is with another horse so I can't be sure how much he drank. Oh and I took his temp it was 100. I wonder how long to keep him off food?

Just wanted to add that I do have Sand Clear and Probios...should I be using those?

**Tiempo** · #4 07/04/10, 05:52 PM

How are his gut sounds?

Minelson · #5 07/04/10, 05:58 PM

Sporadic...one was pretty loud. The rest just gurgles. I don't have a stethascope so I just listened with my ear on his side.

Minelson · #6 07/04/10, 07:13 PM

He wants to eat...should I feed him? My options are grass hay...pasture...alfalfa. I'm thinking maybe just some grass hay for tonight.

**Kris in MI** · #7 07/04/10, 07:51 PM

If he seems normal and is trying to find things to nibble at the fence, give him a little grass or grass hay. I wouldn't give alfalfa, grain or anything too rich. He does need to keep ingesting grass or hay to keep his digestive system moving; horses are designed to graze and if they don't eat for too long that also will shut things down. Give him about 1/2 his regular ration of roughage tonight, but keep an eye on him. If he does well overnight, in the morning give 3/4 ration, and if still ok tomorrow night, go ahead and give full ration (but only part of grain if you normally give grain).

ETA: if you want, you could go ahead and give some Sand Clear (but not w/grain yet unless you think he is 100% back to normal). Unless he is normally kept on a dry lot or sandy ground, I don't think sand is the problem as much as the change in the weather.

Minelson · #8 07/04/10, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris in MI

I
ETA: if you want, you could go ahead and give some Sand Clear (but not w/grain yet unless you think he is 100% back to normal). Unless he is normally kept on a dry lot or sandy ground, I don't think sand is the problem as much as the change in the weather.

Thanks Kris

I was a little concerned about sand because we just put a fresh load of road base down in their loafing shed. I don't feed them in there but maybe he was being a dork and ate some of it. I feed them on stall mats in the corral but sometimes they kick it around and some gets on the ground. Also..last night I gave them more alfalfa than usual because I'm getting low on grass hay and still have a bunch of alfalfa. I should have broken up the flakes more...they were pretty dense and compact. So...I don't know. I gave them a flake of the grass hay tonight and I'm sure I will be worrying all night now that it "goes through" ok. I don't feed grain.

lamoncha lover · #9 07/04/10, 08:39 PM

When my horse coliced I had to walk her if i rememebr right pretty much all night. Vet also said to let her pick at grass on our walking. In her case it was colic induced by choke and a stupid diff vet who misdiagnosed her choke and said she had an upper respiratory infection. UGH

DamnearaFarm · #10 07/04/10, 09:07 PM

I'd go grass only-the moisture can't hurt. Hay in the morning. Walking isn't necessary, which i'm sure you knew :0) If he's comfy, i'd let him be.

**Kris in MI** · #11 07/05/10, 07:08 AM

Minelson, how is your boy looking this morning?

Minelson · #12 07/05/10, 08:40 AM

He is looking fine

Hubby got up before me and everything looked normal so he let them out on the pasture. I'll be keeping a close eye on him to make sure everything is coming out alright. Thanks for help!!

Minelson · #13 07/05/10, 10:56 AM

His poops are smaller...more rounded than usual so I'm thinking they are drier. They have plenty of water. I couldn't get him to eat the Sand Clear. I would really like to figure out what happened so I can prevent it from happening again.

2horses · #14 07/05/10, 11:28 AM

Sounds like just a mild colic, could have been gas, something simple like that. As long as he's comfortable, not in pain, and intake and outputs are happening regularly, then he's probably fine. Kris had a good plan for feeding, he should be fine. If the poops stop coming or they are thin and watery, get thee to a vet immediately.

Minelson · #15 07/05/10, 02:18 PM

Just noticed another poop. Quantity is less than normal. How do I get him to drink more water?? I'm obsessed with his poop now.

**Kris in MI** · #16 07/05/10, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minelson

Just noticed another poop. Quantity is less than normal. How do I get him to drink more water?? I'm obsessed with his poop now.

Does he have access to a mineral block? If not, give him one! That will make him thirsty

Linda J · #17 07/05/10, 04:02 PM

It sounds like he's on the road to recovery. I hope he drinks more water and keeps getting healthier and healthier!

Minelson · #18 07/05/10, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris in MI

Does he have access to a mineral block? If not, give him one! That will make him thirsty

Yes..he has a mineral block. We just had a downpour of rain. Maybe some soaked into him!

wr · #19 07/05/10, 04:21 PM

Minelson, I thought it was unusual that you hadn't responded to my comment till I realized that I posted it on the wrong thread. About a teaspoon of good old vanilla can often ease mild colic symptoms. According to our ag college, pure vanilla extract is desirable but I've had good results when I had to use the cheap stuff.

Minelson · #20 07/05/10, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wr

Minelson, I thought it was unusual that you hadn't responded to my comment till I realized that I posted it on the wrong thread. About a teaspoon of good old vanilla can often ease mild colic symptoms. According to our ag college, pure vanilla extract is desirable but I've had good results when I had to use the cheap stuff.

LOL! I just asked you on the other thread! So do you just put a teaspoon in their mouth?