If you've had an Impaction Colic...

[targetsmom]

I think I have seen everything mentioned on here... a foal choked this past year and the only sign was milk coming out his nose. No panic, nothing else, and at first I thought it was just a snotty nose. Till I tried to give him Banamine and THAT came out his nose.

Anyway on the colic issue, one thing I think I learned is that horses (or any non-verbal animal) have only limited ways of expressing pain. That is why it is so hard even for vets to distinguish between a gas colic, impaction colic or ulcers. As I mentioned earlier in this thread that Max had surgery for an impaction, but I neglected to mention that after 3 days of examination by a raft of vets in 2 states, the surgery was EXPLORATORY. I still think his main issue was ulcers (stomach AND intestine)... but they removed an impaction from his cecum.

So for Shelterwood, you might want to consider that the symptoms your horse is showing might be ulcers. Max's main ulcer symptoms have been parking out (as if to pee), pawing, lying down and rolling only until his feet are in the air, and just lacking "sparkle". Stool is normal but appetite can be poor, especially for grain, which can aggravate an ulcer. As I think chewing wood can. That sparkle thing is very subtle and I only noticed it when Max got the sparkle back.

 

[jegray21]

I have had one. He was 26" at the time. He has not grown much more..I have to be so careful with his diet...finally found one that works well for him. It took me two years!

 

[rabbitsfizz]

The point abut the draught horses made me remember an impaction I had with a 14.2hh Arab. She colicked and had fifteen foot of gut removed. It was worth it for me, and her recovery was good. She went on to have two more foals (on Vet advice) and lived seven more years, but it killed her in the end. I do not regret the surgery, but I would not do it again, I have to say.

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

Mini's are over-represented in the group of small colon impactions. Not sure if size really matters, but it seemes like it could.

Dr Taylor

 

[Julie/Azariah]

I don't think size has anything to do with it Kim... I have had minis colic as well as biggies... Have had 2 biggies have surgery, a mare and a gelding, they lost the mare on the table, and the gelding is still with us...doing fantastic almost 2 years after his surgery! My 33.25 stallion has had a pretty bad colic incident and required IV treatment, and my 28" mare did the same (at worlds...STRESS!) So I truly don't think size has anything at all to do with it.

Can't wait to see that little Zeus foal!!!! keep me posted!

 

[Jackie]

Thanks Dr. Taylor...do you have any statistics?

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

Thanks Dr. Taylor...do you have any statistics?

Sorry, no. Its available, just couldn't find.

But mini's also have more fecaliths as well and and you can't tell the difference between the 2 until surgery.

Dr Taylor

 

[Matt73]

I've known PLENTY of 18 hand draft horses that have gotten impaction colics. It has nothing to do with the size of the horse nor the digestive tract!

Andrea

 

[shelterwood]

Hello all,

Just an update on my mare that ?choked?colicked this past weekend. She remains fine. Besides the one episode of draining green liquid/chewed hay out of her nose, nothing further. The next day, she was a bit off still, lacking her "sparkle", but on the vet's advice, I gave her a half dose of banamine, as the vet thought that if she really had a choke incident, then her throat could be sore and swollen, so the anti-inflammatory/pain relief would do her good. Indeed it seemed to, and we went for a walk down the road and she practically dragged me around! I have her on antibiotics for seven days in case she aspirated of damaged her throat at all. She is eating eagerly and drinking well. I'm now wondering if she may have some teething or dental issues going on. Just looking for potential root causes. Anyone know a good equine dentist in Northern New York?? Probably not, but its worth a shot. I also realized the importance of having a trailer. While my good friend down the road has one that I can use, she wasn't home the day this happened. If I had to take my mare to the specialist in Vermont, I would have been in trouble. I rescued these two lovely ladies from an awful situation of neglect, no shelter, and possible inbreeding this past spring, and have labored to build a new barn, fence pasture, and obtain tack/carts for training. I now know that my next major purchase will be a trailer, and training them to travel stress-free. If I had to transport her it would have only been the second time she was ever on a trailer, and the added stress would have been bad. Thanks for all the input everyone. These are my first minis and they are nothing like the big guys I have owned all my life!!

Katie

 

[Jackie]

Sorry, no. Its available, just couldn't find.

But mini's also have more fecaliths as well and and you can't tell the difference between the 2 until surgery.

Dr Taylor

Okay, you've got me researching now! This is fascinating. Basically, minis seem prone to fecaliths. This website says: "According to Nicole Johnson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, fecaliths are more common in miniature horses because they are often fed diets that are more suitable to full-size horses and ponies, rather than designed specifically for miniatures." What does that mean? One site says we tend to over-feed them - I am guessing the same quanities - as if they are large horses.

This website gives a season: "Late fall with the grass is course and the weather is cool, reducing water intake".

And this one: also discusses various breeds and their tendency to different types of colic.

Now, the more I search the deeper I go - found out that alfalfa *may* contribute to entroliths from this site, and did see it mentioned on others, but it may be because when people feed alfalfa, they tend to not give other hay for forage.

Seems like the biggest conclusion is that miniatures to have a higher incidence of impact colic (along with Arabians) but the impaction may be fecaliths/entrolith based, and that simply allowing graze/fiber and water goes a long way in prevention.

When I have more time, I'm going to research more...Thanks, Dr. Taylor for peaking my interest!

 

[Kim~Crayonboxminiatures]

I don't think size has anything to do with it Kim... I have had minis colic as well as biggies... Have had 2 biggies have surgery, a mare and a gelding, they lost the mare on the table, and the gelding is still with us...doing fantastic almost 2 years after his surgery! My 33.25 stallion has had a pretty bad colic incident and required IV treatment, and my 28" mare did the same (at worlds...STRESS!) So I truly don't think size has anything at all to do with it.

Can't wait to see that little Zeus foal!!!! keep me posted!

Interesting Julie, thanks for sharing. Spring is getting a nice big belly! I've felt her baby kick a few times now, I can't wait to see the foal!!