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| I need more thought and ideas please...
Here's what's been going on:
My daughter's pony colic'd from compaction on Monday. I gave him a shot of banamine, took him to the vet where the first vet checked his reflexes, heart rate, temp and respiratory rate, oiled him and said there was nothing they could do because he was to small and sent him home with "wait and see" instructions.
At noon, or 3 hours later the pony was still in a lot of pain. I called the vet back and talked to the other vet who said I could bring him in and we could try IV fluids but that was all that could be done. I rushed him in and we hooked him up. After fluids and observation, I was instructed to take him home, walk him every 2 hours for 15 to 20 minutes make sure his water stayed luke warm and did not freeze over night and call in the morning with an update. The doctor said I should see the oil in 12-18 hours. The pony seemed like he felt better until about 11:30 Monday night when he wanted to go down and roll. By 1:30 he was better and between 1:30 and 3:30 he only tried to roll once.
I did as I was instructed and on Tuesday morning at 9 am, or 24 hours after oiling, there was no change and no show of oil. I called the vet and he said to continue the walking and if there was no bowl movement or oil by 2 pm to bring him back in and have him oiled again.
Tuesday afternoon at 1 pm he passed two manure balls the size of grapefruits and then 30 minutes later a small manure pile. He then was feeling painful again and I gave him another cc of banamine. An hour later he was not behaving painful any more. I called and spoke with the vet at 3 pm and he said to continue the walks but only every three hours and call in the morning.
Wednesday morning at 3 am he had passed two more grapefruit sized manure balls. By 6 he had passed a total of 7 piles of manure since 1 pm the previous afternoon. I called the doctor around 9 am and told him that the pony had passed 7 piles and had not been down to roll since Tuesday afternoon. I had me start feeding him bran every 3 to 4 hours. The pony was doing really well, eating, pooping and drinking until 1 pm Wednesday afternoon and then he wanted to get down and roll again. I called the doctor he said to give him another cc of banamine and take him for a walk but to continue the bran on schedule. I did and the pony was doing great. We had no problems after the banamine, the pony seemed tired but not sick.
Thursday the doctor had me start him on hay again, a 1/8 flake soaked in water every 3 to four hours. The pony ate good, continued to pass manure, was acting normal and did not lay down or roll at all. I thought I was in the clear.
Friday (today) the doctor told me to start feeding him a 1/4 flake twice a day (regular feeding) soaked in water. The pony seemed to be doing good until 1:00. He wants to get down and roll but has been eating and drinking well. I called the doctor and he said to give him another cc of banamine and monitor him.
Is there anything else I can/should be doing with/for him? I can't take him to another vet, we only have two and the first vet told me all we could do was oil him.
Edited by cyount2009 2013-12-13 3:29 PM
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
 
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Immediate Response if you have some. If not, electrolytes and the best probiotics you can get your hands on. Definitely get some fluids into him. I've also bumped or rocked their belly to help get things moving.Edited to add-- keep him from rolling. Usually walking will help but if they get exhausted it does more harm than good. If hes not tired though Id start walking.
Edited by Fairweather 2013-12-13 3:35 PM
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Did you only give him 1cc of banamine? I think a full size horse normally gets 10. I would think a pony would need at least 5 cc's to have any effect at all. If it is indeed impaction, I think a proper dosage of Banamine and to keep oiling him is the way to go. Sounds like you are doing what you can. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12704
| Ulcer meds and probiotics. Both will help. There is an antispasmotic drug (shot), starts with a 'B,' that did wonders for my last two colics. Baking soda or yogurt can substitute for ulcer and probiotics, as well as aloe vera for tummy. |
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 Living on the edge of common sense
Posts: 24138
Location: Carpenter, WY | Along with the oiling and banamine, put him in the trailer and take him down the bumpiest road you've got around there
Edited by teehaha 2013-12-13 4:17 PM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | My gelding was doing this a fews years back, he was colicing on and off for almost 3 days, then he got really bad so took him in for the second time to a different vet, he had a displaced colon and needed surgery to put it back in place, had surgery and hes a happy camper. So if I were you I would have him checked out, and ask about if his colon is in the right place. |
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Expert
Posts: 1898
| wyoming barrel racer - 2013-12-13 4:11 PM
Did you only give him 1cc of banamine? I think a full size horse normally gets 10. I would think a pony would need at least 5 cc's to have any effect at all. If it is indeed impaction, I think a proper dosage of Banamine and to keep oiling him is the way to go. Sounds like you are doing what you can.
I thought 5 as well but the vet said 1 cc. I asked about oiling him again too and the vet said he thought it would just be throwing money away since he is passing manure normally. |
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Expert
Posts: 1898
| Southtxponygirl - 2013-12-13 4:29 PM
My gelding was doing this a fews years back, he was colicing on and off for almost 3 days, then he got really bad so took him in for the second time to a different vet, he had a displaced colon and needed surgery to put it back in place, had surgery and hes a happy camper. So if I were you I would have him checked out, and ask about if his colon is in the right place.
They can't do a rectal evaluation because he is too small. The vet said he might be able to do exploritory surgery but he doesn't know if he'll fit on there exam table. (They aren't set up to do horses)
ETA: I don't know if I would want to do exploratory surgery either. The pony is in his twenties and the vet gave him a 50/50 chance of making it with surgery. It breaks my heart to think about losing the little guy. My daughter is two and is so attached to him. She rides him almost every day and on the days she doesn't ride she brushes him for hours.
Edited by cyount2009 2013-12-13 4:50 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 1218
Location: Great NW | I would be seeking 2nd opinion. oil and bigger dose banamine if he were mine I have NEVER been told to use JUST 1 cc on a colic - even for a small pony. He may need an IV to get his fluid leve back up. Praying everything turns out ok. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | If this pony is still colicing and it started on Monday then i would be seeing another vet, Like I said in my other post I would have them check to see and make sure his colon is in the right place. If the banamine is not working then this little fella is in trouble. On my mini I give 2 cc's of banamine. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | cyount2009 - 2013-12-13 4:47 PM Southtxponygirl - 2013-12-13 4:29 PM My gelding was doing this a fews years back, he was colicing on and off for almost 3 days, then he got really bad so took him in for the second time to a different vet, he had a displaced colon and needed surgery to put it back in place, had surgery and hes a happy camper. So if I were you I would have him checked out, and ask about if his colon is in the right place. They can't do a rectal evaluation because he is too small. The vet said he might be able to do exploritory surgery but he doesn't know if he'll fit on there exam table. (They aren't set up to do horses ) ETA: I don't know if I would want to do exploratory surgery either. The pony is in his twenties and the vet gave him a 50/50 chance of making it with surgery. It breaks my heart to think about losing the little guy. My daughter is two and is so attached to him. She rides him almost every day and on the days she doesn't ride she brushes him for hours.
Oh I know its so hard when you dont have the right vets around to help you with something like this, but I think you do need a second opinion, prayers for the little guy and I hope that this will work out for y'all  |
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Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Any updates?
Is the manure he's passing kind of dry or does it have a good bit of moisture in it?
How has his water intake been? I know you've wet down the hay, but I'm wondering if maybe that's still not enough liquid for his digestive tract or maybe it's too rough for his digestive tract right now. I'm wondering if maybe he needs to stay on the soaked bran for a while longer since it's easier passing through, and it helps to get enough liquid in his gut.
Is he gassy?
I agree a second opinion would be good. |
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Expert
Posts: 1898
| Fairweather - 2013-12-13 6:28 PM
Any updates?
Is the manure he's passing kind of dry or does it have a good bit of moisture in it?
How has his water intake been? I know you've wet down the hay, but I'm wondering if maybe that's still not enough liquid for his digestive tract or maybe it's too rough for his digestive tract right now. I'm wondering if maybe he needs to stay on the soaked bran for a while longer since it's easier passing through, and it helps to get enough liquid in his gut.
Is he gassy?
I agree a second opinion would be good.
He's doing well right now. He is drinking plenty of water and the manure he is passing is very moist and it seems to he pretty regular. He is urinating regularly as well and it's not yellow or dark.
A second opinion will be hard for us. The next closest vet office is almost 5 hours away and it's across state lines, I have almost depleted my bank account to this point, no one will see him on credit and I dont qualify for any kind of payment plans I have applied for.
When I reviewed my notes it seems like he is acting sick at the same time everyday which seems odd to me. |
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Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | cyount2009 - 2013-12-13 7:12 PM Fairweather - 2013-12-13 6:28 PM Any updates?
Is the manure he's passing kind of dry or does it have a good bit of moisture in it?
How has his water intake been? I know you've wet down the hay, but I'm wondering if maybe that's still not enough liquid for his digestive tract or maybe it's too rough for his digestive tract right now. I'm wondering if maybe he needs to stay on the soaked bran for a while longer since it's easier passing through, and it helps to get enough liquid in his gut.
Is he gassy?
I agree a second opinion would be good. He's doing well right now. He is drinking plenty of water and the manure he is passing is very moist and it seems to he pretty regular. He is urinating regularly as well and it's not yellow or dark. A second opinion will be hard for us. The next closest vet office is almost 5 hours away and it's across state lines, I have almost depleted my bank account to this point, no one will see him on credit and I dont qualify for any kind of payment plans I have applied for. When I reviewed my notes it seems like he is acting sick at the same time everyday which seems odd to me.
Are you feeding at the same time every day and that's why he's getting sick at the same time?
Any changes made just prior to this or even a few weeks prior to this?
It's got to be gas, ulcers, or something just irritating his stomach really bad. What kind of hay is he getting and where did it come from? |
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
Location: stray dump capital of the world | I lost a mare the day before Thanksgiving due to colic. She was squirrly on Tuesday evening, gave her 10cc of banamine at 6 pm, and she was fine until 10 the next morning. She went down wanting to roll. I was in the same boat as you. All vets are at least an hour away, we got her in, was sent on to an equine hospital 3 hours away and the little mare didn't make it.
I will certainly keep you and your pony in my prayers. |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | You can put oil in his bran 1-2 cups would help with out the vet it will still get in the stomach. hope the little guy comes around. |
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| I think your pony is in the process of foundering and the colic is a result of pain he is suffering from and his age is not helping.
One thing I have tried to impress on pony owners is they have a very good digestive system and need very little feed ... like a double handful maximum or no feed ... and a very small ration of hay and even limiting their pasture time when on good pasture. Their digestive system is tuned to living on poor ground for 100's of years and has become very efficient compared to a horse.
I have found several people over the years some really good kid ponies and they have fed them like a regular horse and not a one of them survived the owners overfeeding them.
I could not believe the vet increased his hay that soon after a serious bout of colic ... all it did was ball up again with bad gut bacteria not allowing the fermentation to happen.
Most of your common probiotics takes weeks to take affect to build good gut bacteria ... so get you 5 cups of vanilla yogurt and mix one cup per day with a half handful of pellets that is like watered down soup.... it should be more of a slurping contest than a eating contest ....... The more water you can get inside him the better. To keep some hay processing and pushing thru his system ... feed him only a handful type chunk several times a day. ... A lot of vets will also have you stop feeding them which I think is totally wrong ... if they are impacted they need something full of moisture to push on the impaction to make it move on thru ... always keep in mind the poop you see is what they ate 2 days ago.
Keep him in a lot where he can walk, trot or move around instead of camped up in a stall... the more walking movement he does the better ...
GOOD LUCK ... I hope some little simple something will bring him back around ..
Edited by BARRELHORSE USA 2013-12-13 11:24 PM
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Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Any updates on how the pony's doing? |
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Expert
Posts: 1898
| Sorry for the delay on an update! I don't have internet at home so there is no access on the weekend!
The pony is doing wonderful! I went to town Friday, bought Forco and ProBios gave him both and seems to be doing much better. He did not have any "complications" this weekend. YAY! |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | cyount2009 - 2013-12-16 8:33 AM Sorry for the delay on an update! I don't have internet at home so there is no access on the weekend! The pony is doing wonderful! I went to town Friday, bought Forco and ProBios gave him both and seems to be doing much better. He did not have any "complications" this weekend. YAY!
excellent news |
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Colicing Pony HELP!