tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post3097172107628201666..comments2024-03-26T05:15:39.663-07:00Comments on Equestrian Ink: ColicJami Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-2459873835418180332009-02-22T18:58:00.000-08:002009-02-22T18:58:00.000-08:00Jami,I still have horses. I have the mares first ...Jami,<BR/><BR/>I still have horses. I have the mares first foal by the same stallion. She is 7 this year, and is sort of a miracle herself-- she had botulism as a foal, a month before the mare died.<BR/><BR/>In total, 3 horses, a pony, and a mini donkey. All spoiled, seldom ridden. Hoping to get some more riding time this year. Never did use the breeding-- had a live foal guarantee, but things just never worked out to rebreed.<BR/><BR/>Thanks,<BR/>MonicaMonicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06778084807332169847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-46333928579393312442009-02-20T18:33:00.000-08:002009-02-20T18:33:00.000-08:00Monica, My heart goes out to you. I am so sorry ab...Monica, My heart goes out to you. I am so sorry about your misfortune. Do you have another horse now?Jami Davenporthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-623655156411100332009-02-20T18:17:00.000-08:002009-02-20T18:17:00.000-08:00Wow, that Henry is a keeper for sure. I too am am...Wow, that Henry is a keeper for sure. I too am amazed that he had all that stuff in there and just kept right on working for so long. I'm so glad he's doing well. <BR/><BR/>It's such a hard decision, surgery. My first horse coliced and she twisted a gut. There was no way I could have had surgery on her. She survived and I know it was nothing short of a miracle. I have never seen an animal in so much pain. I was ready for her to get the pink juice (it's not blue out here). But she made it somehow.<BR/><BR/>I am lifting a beer, literally, to Henry right now. Sending him healing thoughts and prayers.Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00977898784588176802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-78438089191123929622009-02-20T13:11:00.000-08:002009-02-20T13:11:00.000-08:00Thanks to all for the good wishes. Henry went in f...Thanks to all for the good wishes. Henry went in for his second recheck today at three weeks out. I had hoped they would remove his belly band and pronounce him healing normally (they removed his staples last week). But no, there was still some drainage from the incision. An ultrasound determined that the draining was from infection in the skin, the abdominal wall seemed to be healed, no hernias, no drainage from the interior. So, hopefully, this is not a big deal. But Henry has a new bandage, is now on antibiotics and has another recheck appointment in a week. One day at a time.... He does feel great, is bright eyed, has a great appetite and seems quite normal in every way, so that is good. Thanks again for the good wishes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-18861426772347131262009-02-20T07:12:00.000-08:002009-02-20T07:12:00.000-08:00Laura,I'm glad Henry is doing well at this poiint ...Laura,<BR/><BR/>I'm glad Henry is doing well at this poiint in his recovery. Any time a horse makes it home from colic surgery is a good sign. I'm glad you caught it early.<BR/><BR/>I lost my QH mare after colic surgery in 2002. She was in foal to a Congress WP Champion. I got home and found Penny down in the field, covered with mud from rolling. At the time I worked for a mixed animal practice and a friend from work came out with more banamine, ace, rompun... while I waited for a bigger trailer. Nothing touched the mares pain. She would be fine, eating one minute then violently trying to throw herself down to roll the next.<BR/><BR/>Our clinic wasn't equipped at the time to do a major surgery, so I hauled the mare from Bowing Green to one of the big equine hospitals in Lexington KY. The trip with a trailer normally takes about three hours, I think we made it in two.<BR/><BR/>The mare was uup and down in the trailer the entire trip. When we got there, she was cut up, had an eye swollen shut, just pretty banged up.<BR/><BR/>She ended up on the surgery table about 30 minutes after we got her off the trailer. The suregery went well, she had a nephro-splenic twist. Apparently there is a small area between the kidney and the spleen where unlucky parts of intestine can squeeze through and become stuck.<BR/><BR/>After the surgery, the mare was recovering and rolled over to get to her feet. Apparantly during the trailer ride she had caused a small fracture in her femur that fractured completely when she tried to stand. I had to euthanized her immediately.<BR/><BR/>There are so many variables with colic surgery. I wouldn't hesitate to go to surgery with a horse again, if the expense could be handled. The hospital my mare was at is an excellent facility, these things just happen sometimes.<BR/><BR/>I am very glad that your horse is doing well. Hopefully he is out of the woods at this point.Monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06778084807332169847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-73717216268547984112009-02-19T20:39:00.000-08:002009-02-19T20:39:00.000-08:00This book by Lucinda Dyer has a LOT of good colic ...This book by Lucinda Dyer has a LOT of good colic surgery recovery accounts in it. I'd recommend it.<BR/><BR/>http://www.amazon.com/Back-Work-Rehabilitate-Recondition-Horse/dp/B001NXDS16/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233663521&sr=8-1joycemochahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14432039547225718943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-4528318439088485142009-02-19T14:33:00.000-08:002009-02-19T14:33:00.000-08:00Oh my goodness. Good luck and good wishes to you a...Oh my goodness. Good luck and good wishes to you and Henry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-1890874039700653202009-02-19T13:45:00.000-08:002009-02-19T13:45:00.000-08:00Ezra--I did ask them about the sand clear, but the...Ezra--I did ask them about the sand clear, but they said it probably wasn't needed. That black sand they took out of Henry probably came from the ranch where he lived from when he was six until when he was fifteen. It was a river bottom piece of land, and this sand looks like that ground. My land has no sand that is remotely like that. I still can't get over the fact that the poor horse was packing all this stuff around for the last five years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-26199354098186492672009-02-19T13:39:00.000-08:002009-02-19T13:39:00.000-08:00Glad to read that all went well with Henry. I'm su...Glad to read that all went well with Henry. I'm sure you and your son are very relieved. :-)<BR/><BR/>I have been so lucky not to have had a problem with colic with my horse.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-90061991605682268142009-02-19T13:17:00.000-08:002009-02-19T13:17:00.000-08:00We lost a horse to colic too, he was only about 4....We lost a horse to colic too, he was only about 4. It was horrible making the decision, but we too asked the vet honestly what we should do and he told us there was only a very slim chance our guy would even make the trip down there and he was in so much pain as it was, we couldn't think of even making him take a 3 hour ride. It was a twisted gut.<BR/><BR/>I know you said that the stuff that came out wasn't from your place, but did they suggest anything like sand clear for Henry? just to try to help make sure it doesn't build up again?<BR/><BR/>I wish you all the best of luck in his recovery and hope it goes without a hitch :)ezra_pandorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04626213285612235702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-9478002276666723582009-02-19T08:34:00.000-08:002009-02-19T08:34:00.000-08:00Oh, Laura,I'm pulling for Henry. That is something...Oh, Laura,<BR/><BR/>I'm pulling for Henry. That is something I worry about quite a bit. We had some issues at the barn where I board with a new barn worker not understanding why horses need water. My mare ended up with mild colic, and I was PISSED. Everything is fine now.<BR/><BR/>It sounds like he's on the mend. I hope you keep us updated.Jami Davenporthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-50245936783637473952009-02-19T07:49:00.000-08:002009-02-19T07:49:00.000-08:00Fantastyk Voyager--I'm paranoid about horses getti...Fantastyk Voyager--I'm paranoid about horses getting hurt by being kicked by other horses. I think that's a vastly under-rated problem. My vet once told me that by far the majority of the broken legs he'd dealt with were caused by horses being kicked by their pasture mates--not by accidents while the horse was being ridden. I used to keep my horses turned out together in big corrals, but I don't do it any more. I'll still turn them out together in my sixty acre pasture, but when they're in the corrals, each horse gets his own pen. And I know what you mean--the horse that fatally injures another horse never meant to do it--you can't blame them. It must have been a very tough thing for you to go through.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-15862929606939078302009-02-19T07:43:00.000-08:002009-02-19T07:43:00.000-08:00Horse of Course, I'm wondering what sort of road w...Horse of Course, I'm wondering what sort of road we'll face in getting Henry back to work (if we get there). They tell me that some horses are back to completely normal use (including competing at jumping and roping) in three months--but I have a hard time picturing that. Henry's job involves being able to pack my little boy up some big hills, and carry him at the lope for some good long sessions--but nothing more strenuous than that. I guess we'll just see what the future holds. So far my son is getting along well riding my little trail horse, Sunny, so at least I have a backup.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-37287650011335172412009-02-19T00:14:00.000-08:002009-02-19T00:14:00.000-08:00I had a wonderful phone two days ago. It was from ...I had a wonderful phone two days ago. It was from one of my best friends. She had her horse colic operated last summer, and it has been a long and tough road to get him back in shape.<BR/>She had just had her dressage lesson, and Movie was completely back to his old self. Strong, working well and even throwing in some bucks, just to show off.<BR/>It was a marvellous feeling, and she wanted to share the joy. <BR/>We shed some tears of happiness, both of us.<BR/>Good luck with Henry!HorseOfCoursehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15907659164579327290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-62215967018683300402009-02-18T21:56:00.000-08:002009-02-18T21:56:00.000-08:00Wow, I'm so glad Henry pulled through! I haven't h...Wow, I'm so glad Henry pulled through! I haven't had to deal with too many colics, (knock on wood) but I did have to nurse a horse for 10 days with an esophogeal injury. When it was getting close to the time to make THE decision, she tripped up and fell, while being led, and broke her own neck. It was horrible, but in the long run, it was a fast and painless way to go. <BR/>I cried for months afterwards at the injustice of it all. I still own the horse who kicked her.Fantastyk Voyagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15065772565014490544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-49821765476775791622009-02-18T13:02:00.000-08:002009-02-18T13:02:00.000-08:00I agree, Janet--I was lucky to get good veterinary...I agree, Janet--I was lucky to get good veterinary help. If I had waited, as it was my inclination to do, Henry might not have been a good candidate for surgery, either. I learned this much--if you think you would do the surgery if needed, its best to go for it earlier, rather than later. But in my case I think that the stone had shifted and was blocking Henry's gut enough to make him uncomfortable, but he wasn't entirely blocked. He always had gut noises, and he stayed real stable. These horses that have a twist or are completely blocked go downhill in a hurry and then they're very hard to save, even if you would go to surgery. I was really lucky. In the future, if one colic treatment doesn't bring a horse out of it, I'm going straight to the equine center and getting the X-ray. It would have saved me at least one sleepless night (my husband, too).<BR/><BR/>Also, another thing I learned. I always thought of the surgery as being really hard on a horse, too. But this did not turn out to be the case. I went to see Henry less than 24 hours after the surgery and he was bright-eyed, showing no pain, eager to go for a walk and eat grass. He was on a little banamine and that's it. I couldn't believe it. If I had been through what he went through I would have been in bed for a month. They only kept him on painkillers for a few days. Since we've had him home he gets none. And he shows no sign of pain. Its amazing. But I learned that this quite major surgery doesn't bother a horse as much as you might think.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-23146483449328407572009-02-18T12:28:00.000-08:002009-02-18T12:28:00.000-08:00It is a tough call to decide on surgery. I am so g...It is a tough call to decide on surgery. I am so glad it has worked for Henry. <BR/>A client of mine had the opposite situation put on her, an unethical vet pushing surgery....she got a second opinion at the major veterinary hospital in our area.They told her the mare wasn't a good surgery candidate. It was heartbreaking.<BR/>The first vet was one she didn't have a working relationship with. Her regular vet was out of town and she went to the one closest to her house.<BR/>I now keep a list of second choice vets, reccomended by my primary vet on hand.<BR/>Happy slogging through the mud Laura. Could you send us a little of your rain please?mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-19802776099365441092009-02-18T11:26:00.000-08:002009-02-18T11:26:00.000-08:00Thank you Heidi, Michele and Shanster--I can use a...Thank you Heidi, Michele and Shanster--I can use all the good wishes I can get. I've only owned Henry for a year and a half (since he was retired from team roping), but I have known him since he was six, and he is a great horse. I am guessing (hoping) that the conditions that led to the stones and sand in his gut came from his previous home, since it takes a horse many years to develope these stones. (Knocking on wood.) But yeah, it's one day at a time. I'm off to take him for his walk now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-73618547176767183112009-02-18T10:44:00.000-08:002009-02-18T10:44:00.000-08:00Cheers to Henry, the brave horse!This story really...Cheers to Henry, the brave horse!<BR/><BR/>This story really lifts me, because I've lost two to colic. One was a VERY old pony who'd been retired at our place. The other, in August 06, was my 21 yr old half-arab gelding. He was so fit and healthy. He didn't look or act his age. It was a shock. <BR/><BR/>Of course I tried to figure out what caused it but considering our young mare was fine, the vet told me it probably wasn't a management problem. <BR/><BR/>Surgery wasn't an option financially, but even if I had the money, I couldn't do it to him. They couldn't guarantee that it would cure him, and I didn't want him to suffer through surgery only to have to put him down anyways. So I made the hardest, and quickest decision ever and he was put down immediately.<BR/><BR/>In your case, I think I'd do what you did. Henry had a chance and you opened that chance for him. I am sending you my best hopes and wishes for a full recovery for Henry! Sure sounds like he's worth it!Heidi the Hickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00639479864903922047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-6925178727366541922009-02-18T08:37:00.001-08:002009-02-18T08:37:00.001-08:00Oh Laura--wow. I am in tears just reading it. I ca...Oh Laura--wow. I am in tears just reading it. I can't even imagine what you've been through. Thank God you made the decision for Henry to have the surgery. I will send out some prayers that he continues to heal. He is one brave horse. I wish I was there to hug you and him, cause you are one brave mom, too!<BR/><BR/>We lost two horses to stones the size of grapefruits back in the late eighties. My dad changed the water system after that as he discovered there were too many minerals in the water, but it was really tough to go through.<BR/><BR/>Thank goodness you caught this with such a stoic little horse!<BR/><BR/>I'm thinking of you.A.K. Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02365909229606536388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-30222758219064261762009-02-18T08:37:00.000-08:002009-02-18T08:37:00.000-08:00Definately. Here's to Henry! My mare colic'd eve...Definately. Here's to Henry! <BR/><BR/>My mare colic'd every spring. Before I bought her I knew she'd had a nephrosplenic entrapment colic surgery... <BR/><BR/>One spring it was so bad she was on IV fluids all night and we were a hair's breath away from taking her to CSU Vet Hospital. We didn't have to. <BR/><BR/>The colics decreased in severity every year. Last spring there was no colic. I'm hoping this spring there will be no colic. (knocking frantically on wood) We (my vet and I) have a theory that it was due to hormones and her heat cycle kicking back in. <BR/><BR/>Great job. I'm glad you made the right choice for Henry, yourself and your son. I hope Henry keeps making leaps and bounds toward perfect health and he is with you for a long time to come!!! Go Henry!Shansterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04397551985965117012noreply@blogger.com