Colic

[dannyboy]

Murphy is very poorly. I called out the vet after noticing that he had been rolling in his stable last night and not eating.

The vet has diagnosed impacted Colic. He's given him painkillers and advised us to refrain from feeding him for 24hrs.

Please God don't let anything happen my boy!

[racaille]

Fingers crossed for you DB.

[zara]

So sorry to hear this DB, how is he now, has he pooed? Hope he feels better soon xxxx

[solomon]

Oh gosh everything crossed for you, come on Murphy lovely lad.

[fleabitten]

oh dear hes not having a very good time lately really hope hes ok! do you think it would help to feed him a bit of bran mash with his feed once he gets better? what does everyone else think? might help to loosen things up a bit.

big hugs DB! i know how distressing it is.

[ceej]

Oh DB, hope all is ok

We had a very very bad case of impacted colic in mums horse about 15 years ago after he ate his bed (he made it through but he was so very poorly, grinding his teeth in pain, on drip and everything, they even had to take a tap as they thought it burst through his gut and risk of peritonitis - about as bad as it gets - too poorly even to roll so dont worry much much worse than Murphy!!) and a mildish bout with Harry where he did roll and was uncomfortable, not eating, and he was fine after 24 hours. Murphy sounds more like the harry type...try not to worry (not sure my story of ben would help, but just trying to point out that mild is fairly common and passes itself fairly quick - like constipation really...you dotn feel much like eating when you havent pooped in a few days!!

Keep us posted...hope it passes (in more ways than one) xx

[dannyboy]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate it.

He has poo'ed and hasn't rolled since. The vet has him on a fresh air diet. It broke my heart taking out Caspers feed and giving Murphy none.

Flea, the vet told me to get Bran today to feed him with this tomorrow after 24hrs fasting but I couldn't get it. The vet came at 1pm and all the feed merchants closed at noon - I couldn't believe it! I'll contact him tomorrow to see what else he suggests.

Hopefully Ceej its a mild bout like Harry had.

Thanks all again. x

[fimacg]

Sorry to hear this DB, but glad he is feeling a bit better - Chomps had a bout of colic over the summer (he ate too much and gave himself tummy ache) half an hour on the lunge helped and he was quite musical going around trumping with every step.

[haffyfan]

oh DB what a worrying 24hrs you've had. Sounds like he was lucky and is on the mend, with a bit of luck it was just a freak bout and won't ever happen again but it's still worrying xx

[brigadier]

hope he is still recovering DB x

[ceej]

sounds like a fairly mild attack of scoffing and not then plopping... - hope he continues to improve x

[racaille]

Paco had a bout after he ate his bed too - I vowed then it would be the last time he lived on straw! Some horses are just sooooooooo greedy

DB I hope Murph is still on the mend.

[dannyboy]

A very small dry poo yesterday morning but nothing since. I gave him bran mash as instructed by the vet yesterday afternoon (which he ate) and last night (but he didn't eat this). He hasn't touched any water and he's looking miserable. His bed is all tossed again too. I've left more bran mash this morning before work so hopefully he's eaten it.

I've been walking him out in-hand but he's sluggish.

I'm not sure what I should do. I've text the vet this morning but no word yet.

Thanks for thinking of me.

[fimacg]

hope he is OK my vets advised me to add molasses to a bran mash as a lot of horses dont really like bran on its own. and if you make it very sloppy with water and the molasses they can slurp this up.

Did the vet say anything about the balding on his legs etc when he saw him?

fingers and toes crossed

[racaille]

Is there any chance you could turn him out? I know that walking them doesn't do any real good (according to my vet) but it does help keep their mind off the discomfort and help stop them tucking up which can make the problem worse. At least turned out he might be able to move around. And there is always the chance that moving will help get things moving again.

[scattymare]

Damn DB I've only just seen this and really sorry to hear he's not on the mend now. Please stay with him if you can and get the vet back asap. If the impaction had cleared he should be feeling better two days on.
If he hasn't drunk anything he will need some fluids administered as soon as possible and it sounds like he needs some more pain killers.
If you can gently walk him then do so. Let him lie down if he wants to providing he is not rolling/thrashing around. Keep him warm.
Keeping everything crossed for you
xx

[dannyboy]

Scatty, I'm stuck in work until 3pm but I have a friend calling after 1pm to check on him. I've booked off the next couple of days from work so I can be closeby.

Fi, no the vet didn't mention it. I informed him of the lice and asked could his illness now be connected to the treatment. He was sure it wasn't as it happened almost a week later from treating it with Spot on.

Rac, I have a turnout area which is pretty mucky atm. I have Casper in there today to keep him away from Murphy but I suppose I could swop them. I also have a little area to the front of the house but it has some grass on it. Would it be safe to put him onto that?

[racaille]

If he's not eating, I don't suppose the grass area will do him much harm but I'd ask the vet's opinion anyway. If in doubt, put him in the muddy area - are you keeping him away from Casper because of his baldy patches? He might relax a bit with his chum, and that might help him.

Remember that being immobile in a box can be linked to colic so I'd do my utmost to get him out and moving. But as Scats says, a call to the vet would be a good thing, as she says, he should be feeling a bit better now and it's rather worrying that he hasn't had a drink.

Everything crossed for you.

[ceej]

As scatty said - I would be a bit concerned that he felt better enough to eat and has now stopped again - two days is dragging on a little - yes re the fluids - as I said earlier we had to have ben put on a drip - we walked him round and round the yard with the drip on the end of the pitch fork. You could mix a little sugar or molasses with his water (and offer him luke warm water, not ice cold) to encourage him to drink first.

Keep us posted. Thinking of you xx

[scattymare]

Any news DB? Thinking of you both x

[Jen]

that sounds awful DB im echoing the others here and i would get the vet straight back out again as it has been going on for a while now, try and keep him moving around even if he is lethargic and try everything that you can to get him to drink, my friend used to put fresh apple juice in her horses water at shows to encourage drinking, this might help??

keep us all posted on how the big boy is doing and i am sending get well vibes as well

[kitcat]

DB, I've just seen this. Is there any more news? I hope he is ok.

[zara]

DB only just seen that the big lad isn't so well again; echo the above re; vet and fluids. Sending get well vibes and hope he's feeling better soon. They are such a worry Zxx

[spotti]

How's he doing? Fingers crossed he's feeling a little better...

[spotti]

Just been sent this in an email. Don't know if it is of any help but I saw it and thought I'd post the link for you to have a read.

www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19407

Hope the big man feels better soon xxx