I am posting this, hoping to get comments regarding colic in one of my horses. He had to be euthanaized. He was a gelding who would have been 19 in 2 months. I owned him for 2 years...super horse! As background, all my horses are wormed on a schedule worked out in consultation with my vet. The horses receive very little grain, half steamed crimped oats, half sweet feed, less than a quart total per feeding, which is only twice a week or so. There are out on pasture, with various shelters 24/7, and receive high quality brome/orchard grass. Roany developed colic Monday afternoon. He was shivering (it was raining). He had shelter that day, and I had never seen him shiver before, even on the coldest, wet days. His temp was 100, respiration 35. He passed cow pie consistency manure, and would not eat or drink.The vet gave him banimine, rompin, and pepto bismol. I gave him more pepto 2 hours later, per vet. There were gut sounds. I watch him during the night, and he was O.K. At 5 in the morning he started with the classic colic signs again. Gave Rompin injection per vet orders, and no better. Second vet  out, tubed him with mineral oil, pulse, temp still O.K. Gut sounds not as good as before, gums just O.K. Vet gave bantimine, and said  he would have to be referred to surgery center if this did not work. Even with sedation, my beloved horse would not tolerate rectal exam.  I  would not consider surgery, and he did not improve. I am at a loss as to what I could have done differently to prevent this. Comments appreciated.

Thank You!

Brenda 

Colic is still the a major killer in horses today. There are many types and causes of colic pain, from mild belly aches to fatal damage. Recognizing the signs early and relaying the condition and history of your horse to your vet has a very important role. A horse's pain and mental condition can be checked by the owner, but also check the vital signs. Temperature. Respiratory rate and character. Heart rate, pulse rate and pulse strength. Color and capillary refill time (refill time and color can indicate shock). Mucous membranes and skin elasticity (signs of dehydration). Quality and frequency of intestinal sounds. You never said if the vet did gastric reflux but from what you said about his stools I would say he had a blockage, from sand ,twisted gut, or other and without surgery, you did all you could do. I'm sorry for your loss.

First and most importantly, I am very sorry for your loss. No matter how hard we try to save them, when they pass, it hurts.

As for anything you could have done. I think you did everything you could under the circumstances. Whatever it was that took your horse from you was not an easy fix. That was proven by all your hard work and two vet visits.  Happy trails will come your way again.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Two suggestions: stay away from the crimped oats and sweet feed mix. I used to do that with my horse and she continually coliced. I now have her on SafeChoic(by Nuetrena. It's made for horses who colic) with a scoop of Triple Crown w/ rice bran, 1/4 c. veg oil, and well soaked beet pulp two times a day. I use Fastrack (once a day) in the am. I also turn this all into a mash by adding lukewarm water.

They need to be on a regular feed schedule. If a 1000 lb horse needs .50 lbs a day, for example. thats 5 pounds (right? Check my math). Feed half in the am and half at night. Irregular feedings can be a problem.

The other thing I suspect is sand colic. Do you live in a sandy area and did the vet check for sand? That sounds to me like it could the factor. Do a sand test at least once a month, it really lets you know what's going on.

Again, I am so sorry for your loss. Colic is my worst nightmare. The steamed crimped oats I used to feed my horse, thinking this was the best thing in the world, I'm afraid might have been a trigger for her impactions.

Also, it could just be weather changes. Drastic changes in weather are often blamed for these tragedies.

A few years ago at a boarding stable we were using a horse coliced on a plastic grocery bag.  The horse ate the bag and it blocked up his intestines. 

If you don't mind me asking, why did you not consider the surgery?

I am only guessing at this one, because I'm not the horse owner.

1. the expense is extremely high for some horse owners.

2. the success rate of opening up a horse under surgery.

3. post op. complications, infections and the time you have to invest as the owner.

I'm absolutely sure that both of the vets offered surgery as an alternative. Any competent vet would. Happy trails.

I was going to same the same thing.I know of several this year that decided no surgery.I have also in the past did the same.5k plus is what it runs.I have also decided not too and had the horse get over colic after 2 weeks worth of on again off again colic with never finding a answer.Most of the vet schools are a somewhat quick to jump the gun on surgery IMHO.

"We had a horse that we opt for the surgery after 2 trips to the vet within a 4 hour period.  It was during a really hot day in August.  Finally took him to Los Colinas where they waited approx 5 hours and with no improvement (horse was sweating and shivering with a high heart rate) before doing the surgery as a last resort.  This was about 4 years ago and horse has not coliced since (still keeping our fingers crossed).  After having colic problems with other horses during hot weather, we have started giving them electrolytes to get them drink plenty of water during the summer.  As I remember cost for surgery was about $3,500 and even if it had been $10,000 my wife would still have insisted on it even if we had to take out a second mortgage.  Her horses are like her family. "

What did the veterinarians find while doing your horse's surgery and his reasons for colicking?

While a morbid thought after having your horse euthanized, an autopsy could have been done by your veterinarian to find what had caused your horse's colic and death.

Good care of horses to prevent most colics include accessible water and in winter weather especially, since horses that are out on pasture, frozen water troughs, waterers are common and some horses just won't drink really cold water. Running a pysillium product such as Sandclear or SandEx through your horse whether he is on a sandy paddock or not(dirt can still cause problems) every couple months helps with potential sand colics/blockages. Keeping your horses on a rotational deworming program throughout the year and more than twice a year is important too. Good quality feed is important too. Dusty, moldy hay is obviously a red flag for many problems in a horse.

Tumors, blockages, twists, sand are all potential problems in an elderly horse. While reevaluting your horse's environment, his feed and your overall horse keeping with your veterinarian might be a good idea, the loss of your horse is very unfortuneate and you and your vets did what was best for your horse.

The vet school near me will usually do the post morten at no charge.It takes a while,sometimes a long while sometimes not.Their used for classes.

"What did the veterinarians find while doing your horse's surgery and his reasons for colicking?"

Mifarmbabe:  That was the frustrating part - they never found what caused it.  They figured it was an impaction and maybe cleared while the horse was being lifted and placed on the table for the surgery. 

Our horse was only 12 at the time so not sure what we would have done if he had been around 20.

Texas, thank you for the info. You really think that works to prevent colic? I usually put about a tsp of sea salt in their feed and then once a week I give them more, also soak their hay and make their feed into a mash (pour lukewarm water.)

I've heard Gatorade is good for electrolytes (for horses) but I'm not crazy about the sugar. :)

I'm a little concerned about Farnam as a company after their Equitrol problem. I used to use one of their loose mineral/fly feed through products but you say this is a good product?

Anne

hounddog, I cant find any info on Moormans SureGro minerals. I just keep getting fertilizers. :) Can you get me a link?

Thanks all for your input. Did not mean to hijack the colic thread. Just trying to always be vigilant in preventing it.

I just buy the packets from the feed store and add about 1/4 tsp to my old mares feed every morning. 

You sure make feeding difficult, my horses won't eat their food it it was wet.  I have to make sure there is no water in the feed pans after a rain or heavy dew or they will leave what ever is wet and let it turn to mush.