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Post by dannyboy on May 14, 2011 19:44:44 GMT
I'm so worried about Murphy. I took down his food at 8pm and he was shaking. I noticed a little graze on his head were his head collar is but nothing else evident. I brought him up to the stable and he's been rubbing / scratching his neck frantically, his chest / top front of his thigh is jerking (sorry for description but not sure how to describe it), he's weaving, pacing. I've put on a wicking fleece to dry off as the rain here today has been horrendous - could it be a chill or poisoning or colic etc::: He was getting so unsettled in the stable that I've left the door open for him to move around the yard. I'm monitoring him at the moment but I'm going to probably ring the vet in a mo if I don't see some real improvement. Anyone any suggestions or advice  |
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Post by solomon on May 14, 2011 19:51:13 GMT
Phone vet, thinking of you poor boy. Sounds like colic.
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Post by zara on May 14, 2011 20:17:00 GMT
DB really hoing it's nothing serious but I agree with Sol, phone the vet if he's not settling xxx
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Post by brigadier on May 15, 2011 6:17:06 GMT
Call vet DB, could be any number of things.
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Post by jack on May 15, 2011 9:37:02 GMT
think its best to call the vet
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haffyfan
Administrator 
is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
Posts: 7,391
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Post by haffyfan on May 15, 2011 10:12:17 GMT
Hope everything is Okay DB
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Post by fleabitten on May 15, 2011 10:41:31 GMT
Big hugs DB!! Hope the big fella is ok!  Doesnt sound like colic to me but he does sound very distressed |
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Post by solomon on May 15, 2011 10:43:15 GMT
How are things?
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Post by spotti on May 15, 2011 10:50:14 GMT
I missed this last night. Hope Murphy is ok. What did the vet have to say?
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Post by fimacg on May 15, 2011 12:38:43 GMT
I missed this last night too, hope he is OK.
Thinking of you and fingers crossed.
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Post by FirenLady on May 15, 2011 19:30:14 GMT
*fingers crossed too* hope he is ok.
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Post by jack on May 15, 2011 19:31:58 GMT
hope all is ok
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Post by dannyboy on May 15, 2011 20:50:31 GMT
Thanks all  . What a 24hrs I've had but I'm glad to say that Murphy is showing real signs of improvement. I rang my vet (who was operating on a cow), who gave me instructions to monitor closely and give him regular calls to discuss his state. Hubby thought he was going to die, which nearly put me out of my mind!! As Murphy had been so distressed we had left Casper out for a while longer. Shortly after 10pm, Murphy was still very distressed , so I brought Casper into his stable, who was unusually as quiet as a mouse, obviously sensing something was up. Within 1hr, Murphy had stopped weaving, his breathing was still fast but not to the extreme I initially found him in. He seemed more calm with Casper's presence. After another couple of hours, his whole demenour was relaxed and altogether like himself again. I left him with a haynet (steamed, using Brig's suggestion of the black bin and boiled water from the kettle ) and him munching away. I got up throughout the night to check on him and he was fine, thank God. Today he's been out in the paddock with Casper for the first time and he's positioned himself as the main man so I take it that, that is a good sign of health? I'm baffled by his distress or what it could have been. Could have been a chill? The weather had been wet but he has good shelter  I noticed another small mark at the front of his throat, its more like a clip mark from his rubbing the wooden fence posts. He's been eating at the hedge but he's been in the field before and nothing like this has happened. Completely confused. To add to the drama, Casper slipped on the tarmac yesterday and has cut his hind hock. All cleaned and barrier cream applied. Not lame and healing well already thankfully. Nurse DB is off to bed for a well deserved sleep  . Thanks again. xx |
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Post by solomon on May 15, 2011 21:22:24 GMT
Oh my goodness what a night, thank heavens all is well. I was worried all day!
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Post by racaille on May 16, 2011 5:52:43 GMT
Very glad to hear all is well! The boys have obviously bonded well - it was a good call to bring Caspar in too. I think now that they seem so close you might have to keep them together all the time.
Paco, although completely happy to hack out alone, goes quite hysterical if Mr T isn't in his paddock (ie if he's still wandering around the garden) when P is put back in it.
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Post by fimacg on May 16, 2011 8:37:42 GMT
I'm so pleased to read this, he could have eaten something mildly poisonous. Chompy had something similar a few years back - I think he ate too much chickweed, which was rife in the field at the time... but for 48 hours he was off his feed, sweating and then shivering, with a raging temperature. I spent the two days swapping between a sweat rug and a HW stable rug...
It certainly sounds like Murphy is over the worst of whatever it was, it might be an idea to check his grazing and what access he has to plants as a surprising number of 'normal' garden plants are poisonous to horses to some degree.
It also sounds like he and Casper have now bonded and will be happier together than apart. keep us posted.
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haffyfan
Administrator
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Post by haffyfan on May 16, 2011 10:49:14 GMT
So pleased he appears back to his old self. What a worry they are at times...why do we do it to ourselves!
Pleased to hear him and caspar are going to be the best of buds too.
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Post by dannyboy on May 16, 2011 10:55:40 GMT
Fi, I'm going into the field today to have a really good hunt around for any plants Yeah, its great they are going to be friends Haffy  but I'm already a little worried about seperation anxiety. Does anyone have ideas to help this? I'm hoping to get another field but Murphy would have to mow a small bit of it down first before Casper could be introduced as quite rich. |
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Post by fleabitten on May 16, 2011 11:12:35 GMT
Thats great about the field!! Not sure what to do about separation anxiety only to take them out regularly on their own.
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haffyfan
Administrator
is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
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Post by haffyfan on May 16, 2011 11:18:08 GMT
yep not sure either I guess make sure they have time apart regulary right from the off ...think thats where I went wrong as with Harry being barely handleable and Murph getting lami I never thought about seperating them for about the first year we had Harry bar one day we took Murph to Oakham (and fortunatly the jousters were here at the time so harry wasn't alone) and of course when i did we realised the full extent of the bond/associated seperation anxiety created  |
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Post by racaille on May 16, 2011 11:41:33 GMT
Get Caspar a grazing muzzle, then he can be with Murph in the field - they are much less likely to break out if they are together rather than frantically trying to get to each other!
Re separation anxiety, the only way is to take them out separately as much as possible and as soon as possible!
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Post by scattymare on May 17, 2011 11:12:44 GMT
Phew so glad he's better. Wonder what on earth caused it. Ech above re seperation anxiety, just keep taking one away for short periods of time - they may still holler a bit. Flossy tends to spend 10 minutes running round calling when I've gone (despite having Harvey there!) then settles to eat and only starts again when she sees us coming past the field.
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Post by dannyboy on May 17, 2011 18:44:35 GMT
Not sure Scatty, its a mystery. I searched his field but didn't see anything. There are quite a few weeds but I can't get those sorted until I get the other field. Fingers crossed I get it soon.
Thanks for all your advice re: seperation anxiety. He's already made a very strong bond, just this morning he nearly took off the stable door when we took Casper out first. I'll keep taking them out individually and hope it works.
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Post by brigadier on May 17, 2011 20:32:52 GMT
Glad. its getting sorted DB, agree that it may have been something that he ate, main thing is that he is ok now. Cant add anything re attachment, its just a case of keeping up with what you do, I dont think we appreciate how much horses need company until they show us when they stress about being parted!
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Post by fimacg on May 20, 2011 12:28:03 GMT
how are they now DB?
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for so much hard work we thank ye!!
. 
I noticed another small mark at the front of his throat, its more like a clip mark from his rubbing the wooden fence posts. He's been eating at the hedge but he's been in the field before and nothing like this has happened. Completely confused.
but I'm already a little worried about seperation anxiety. Does anyone have ideas to help this? I'm hoping to get another field but Murphy would have to mow a small bit of it down first before Casper could be introduced as quite rich. 
