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Veteran
Posts: 150
 
Location: Okla | Can anyone explain to me why this year (and last year) so many horses have died with colic? I live in SE Ok and just heard another horse died with it this afternoon.. Never can I remember having such an out break with it before. |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
 
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I never have seen it like this either. We have had 3 with mild belly aches that a shot of Banamine cleared right up in 14 yrs...then this yr we had 3. One died, he was 28 and I think he had twisted already before we found him upside down against the round bale feeder. We did what we could and ended up putting him down. Then I had a yearling with a belly ache. I couldn't get him to respong to Banamine so dropped him off at the vet for observation as I had to be out of town. He was fine and we put him on ulcer meds. Then my breeding stallion coliced with an impaction 3 days before he was to be turned out with mares. It took a couple of days for him to pass it and was about the scariest ordeal I have been through in a while, but he is fine today. |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
 
| I have never seen horses colicing and dying like this year either. My mare coliced and I thought we were going to lose her. Hers was stress from a Shoer. I have started giving electrolytes and Sand Clear . And now feed only Alfalfa. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | readytorodeo - 2014-08-08 8:30 AM I have never seen horses colicing and dying like this year either. My mare coliced and I thought we were going to lose her. Hers was stress from a Shoer. I have started giving electrolytes and Sand Clear . And now feed only Alfalfa.
Stress from the shoer?!!!! |
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Location: WI | Just in the last 3 weeks we had two show signs of colic. No changes in feed, workout, etc, completely random. The first was my 4 yr old that ended up getting taken to the vet to be observed overnight, we are contributing his to worms as he was very wormy (he is wormed regularily!) and the other was a week later my mare had gas colic, a shot of banamine and she was fine. I am now on edge for all our horses after these two! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
Location: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere | Our mare had an episode with gas colic a couple of weeks ago and then about 2 weeks ago we were at the end of our local jr. rodeo season when a high school girl was going in to make her run and her horse balked at the gate and fell with the girl and then just died, my heart broke for that poor girl.  |
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It is what you think it is
Posts: 1176
Location: Eastern Kansas | I had a vet tell me this spring that he is beginning to thinks its a virus like the stomach flu causing colic..... However that is just his opinion. It almost makes sense with so many horses having this problem. |
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It is what you think it is
Posts: 1176
Location: Eastern Kansas | That's so sad. |
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 JMHO
Posts: 1869
Location: Oklahoma | I lost my 3yo Enflano filly Monday to colic. Never felt more like quitting until now. |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| Southtxponygirl - 2014-08-08 10:08 AM readytorodeo - 2014-08-08 8:30 AM I have never seen horses colicing and dying like this year either. My mare coliced and I thought we were going to lose her. Hers was stress from a Shoer. I have started giving electrolytes and Sand Clear . And now feed only Alfalfa. Stress from the shoer?!!!!
Yes from the Shoer. Even the vet that works with him said it was what he had done when she was shod. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | there are many reasons a horse colics. Gets a belly ache ..worms are very resistent this year so make sure your program is aggressive and often .switch it up to ..make sure horse is hydrated. Soak grain and cubes or beet pulp with extra water. Even Gatorade will help..mild impactions are high due to not enough fluid in gut .sand is a issue so beet pulp soaked will help push it thru to alfalfa hay keeps gut moving to. Round bales of coastal cause a lot of issues as well .be proactive and the chances are slimmer. Keep banamine on hand and if horse isn't responding get to vet ... |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| I had a brood (open) colic between February and May. Seemed like every time I'd turn around she'd be down and thrashing. I finally treated her for ulcers and now she's fat and happy again with no signs of discomfort. Her's were weather related I think since the times she'd go into an episode was when a radical change in weather was imminent or started. We had, and are having, a strange weather year. I guess a mild summer doesn't bother them, but the mild winter did? I don't know.
I have pulled fecals on all my horses this year. No one had any issues worth treating so far, but I dewormed in April nonetheless. I will continue random fecals through the fall and see what needs to be done. I've had more uncomfortable horse from deworming than not. I skipped power pack last December and would like to do that this December, but if there is no load it seems a waste of money.
I have a feeling my western alfalfa has helped my whole crew. They are honestly the best weight and overall condition they've ever been in. I'm one year into this feed program (no to very little bagged product) and still loving it. Just wish I could find some others in VA to split a load of the alfalfa straight from the west at half the price! |
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| Bibliafarm - 2014-08-09 7:49 AM
there are many reasons a horse colics. Gets a belly ache ..worms are very resistent this year so make sure your program is aggressive and often .switch it up to ..make sure horse is hydrated. Soak grain and cubes or beet pulp with extra water. Even Gatorade will help..mild impactions are high due to not enough fluid in gut .sand is a issue so beet pulp soaked will help push it thru to alfalfa hay keeps gut moving to. Round bales of coastal cause a lot of issues as well .be proactive and the chances are slimmer. Keep banamine on hand and if horse isn't responding get to vet ...
Soaked beet pulp helps push sand out? Never heard that before. I feed it once a day usually to my crew. Good to know! |
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
Location: stray dump capital of the world | I had a couple this summer. One cleared up with banamine, but my older mare didn't. The vet thought hers was more heat stress related. It has been horrible this summer. We lost one the day before Thanksgiving. It was sad. I think I'm more of a hypocondriac now due to losing her. I feel like sometimes I'm more prone to call the vet out or haul in rather than risk another loss. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | want2chase3 - 2014-08-09 12:21 PM
Bibliafarm - 2014-08-09 7:49 AM
there are many reasons a horse colics. Gets a belly ache ..worms are very resistent this year so make sure your program is aggressive and often .switch it up to ..make sure horse is hydrated. Soak grain and cubes or beet pulp with extra water. Even Gatorade will help..mild impactions are high due to not enough fluid in gut .sand is a issue so beet pulp soaked will help push it thru to alfalfa hay keeps gut moving to. Round bales of coastal cause a lot of issues as well .be proactive and the chances are slimmer. Keep banamine on hand and if horse isn't responding get to vet ...
Soaked beet pulp helps push sand out? Never heard that before. I feed it once a day usually to my crew. Good to know!
yes ..better then sand clear. IMO. Its just a added bonus to feeding it |
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 Crazy Doggy Mommy
Posts: 1419
Location: Where Governor's make the liscense plates | Is it hotter than normal in these areas? We've been pretty lucky this year, but heat is a serious trigger in my opinion. Being dehydrated and overheating can cause a whole nightmare of issues and they decline fast... |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1001
Location: Kansas | What about gas colic?
I have a mare that showed signs of colic Friday night. I loaded her up and took her to the vet. He said gas colic, she received banamine, a tube of immediate response and accupuncture. Within a hour she was good to go. Yesterday she was back to her normal self. I fed this morning and she started do the same as Fri night. Stopped eating her grain pawed a couple of times stretched out and pawed. I grabbed a halter ready to get her then she passed gas and went back to eating. She never tried to go down like Fri night. I am keeping an eye on her this morning. What causes gas colic and I worried this is going to be an ongoing thing? |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| Bibliafarm - 2014-08-09 7:48 PM
want2chase3 - 2014-08-09 12:21 PM
Bibliafarm - 2014-08-09 7:49 AM
there are many reasons a horse colics. Gets a belly ache ..worms are very resistent this year so make sure your program is aggressive and often .switch it up to ..make sure horse is hydrated. Soak grain and cubes or beet pulp with extra water. Even Gatorade will help..mild impactions are high due to not enough fluid in gut .sand is a issue so beet pulp soaked will help push it thru to alfalfa hay keeps gut moving to. Round bales of coastal cause a lot of issues as well .be proactive and the chances are slimmer. Keep banamine on hand and if horse isn't responding get to vet ...
Soaked beet pulp helps push sand out? Never heard that before. I feed it once a day usually to my crew. Good to know! yes ..better then sand clear. IMO. Its just a added bonus to feeding it
I have been told this by old timers and people I respect in the industry for many years too! I believe it. Also, first hand experience with a mild sand colic, we dosed my mare with 120cc of white wine. Then threw an 8 yo kid up on her to walk for 2 hours. She was fine after it all. 
To the OP ... I agree this has been a strange year for colic. I'm not sure why either. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | I know in so cal it has been more humid than usual and our horses aren't used to the extreme heat. Lot's of them are becoming dehydrated and then it is turning into an impaction. Only a few gas. |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| kscanchsnglaziergal - 2014-08-10 9:20 AM
What about gas colic?
I have a mare that showed signs of colic Friday night. I loaded her up and took her to the vet. He said gas colic, she received banamine, a tube of immediate response and accupuncture. Within a hour she was good to go. Yesterday she was back to her normal self. I fed this morning and she started do the same as Fri night. Stopped eating her grain pawed a couple of times stretched out and pawed. I grabbed a halter ready to get her then she passed gas and went back to eating. She never tried to go down like Fri night. I am keeping an eye on her this morning. What causes gas colic and I worried this is going to be an ongoing thing?
What are you feeding?
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Member
Posts: 36
| Put the horses on Forco its a digestive fortifier. helps horses break down their food better. balances the bacteria levels in the stomach and hind gut which helps reduce the risk of colic, impactions and ulcers. Im a dealer for it and have sold it to several people that have had colic issues and it has helped a lot. Very reasonable to feed. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1001
Location: Kansas | readytorodeo - 2014-08-11 9:22 PM
kscanchsnglaziergal - 2014-08-10 9:20 AM
What about gas colic?
I have a mare that showed signs of colic Friday night. I loaded her up and took her to the vet. He said gas colic, she received banamine, a tube of immediate response and accupuncture. Within a hour she was good to go. Yesterday she was back to her normal self. I fed this morning and she started do the same as Fri night. Stopped eating her grain pawed a couple of times stretched out and pawed. I grabbed a halter ready to get her then she passed gas and went back to eating. She never tried to go down like Fri night. I am keeping an eye on her this morning. What causes gas colic and I worried this is going to be an ongoing thing?
What are you feeding?
I am feeding Strategy Healthy Edge, she gets forco, THE muscle mass and Cosequin MSM at night, just Strategy HE in the mornings. I had not changed any feeding while this happend. During the day she is turned out to graze (I do have poor quality pasture just grass and weeds here and there but it was mowed off a few weeks ago) and has a round bale to munch on. At night in her stall she gets 2-3 flakes of brome. She also was/ is drinking plenty of water day and night. |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| kscanchsnglaziergal - 2014-08-12 8:01 AM readytorodeo - 2014-08-11 9:22 PM kscanchsnglaziergal - 2014-08-10 9:20 AM What about gas colic? I have a mare that showed signs of colic Friday night. I loaded her up and took her to the vet. He said gas colic, she received banamine, a tube of immediate response and accupuncture. Within a hour she was good to go. Yesterday she was back to her normal self. I fed this morning and she started do the same as Fri night. Stopped eating her grain pawed a couple of times stretched out and pawed. I grabbed a halter ready to get her then she passed gas and went back to eating. She never tried to go down like Fri night. I am keeping an eye on her this morning. What causes gas colic and I worried this is going to be an ongoing thing? What are you feeding? I am feeding Strategy Healthy Edge, she gets forco, THE muscle mass and Cosequin MSM at night, just Strategy HE in the mornings. I had not changed any feeding while this happend. During the day she is turned out to graze (I do have poor quality pasture just grass and weeds here and there but it was mowed off a few weeks ago ) and has a round bale to munch on. At night in her stall she gets 2-3 flakes of brome. She also was/ is drinking plenty of water day and night.
I would try adding a ulcer product to her feed. |
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JMHO
Posts: 1869
Location: Oklahoma | Mine was a gas colic, it hasn't been overly hot here for a change. She pooped last at 7am but passed gas all day. More so when she layed down. By 3am she was blowing through drugs in 30 min that should have lasted 2.5 hours. She was out on green pasture only, no grain. Pretty, fit and sassy mare. My heart goes out to everyone who's had to deal with this. IT SUCKS!! |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| We've had two colics this year, one a broodmare that twisted, foaled early, then died. We also had an impaction caused by an immune system issue that caused the mare's lymph nodes in her rectum to swell and block her rectum. We've had some sand colics in the past with younger horses. We treat all of our older horses regularly but hadn't been doing the young ones. We had a yearling and a 2 year old ingest a lot of sand, I'm assuming because we've been in such a bad drought. Treated them initially with banamine, started on Sand Clear, and then treated for ulcers (something I always do if I suspect there has been a sand issue). |
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Colic?