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Expert
Posts: 1409
 
Location: Oklahoma | My horse colic the other day and I lost him. Vet sweats that it was nothing that I did or didn't do. But I still cannot help if there was something I could have done or shouldn't have done. Maybe Google at fault lol well me bc Im the one googling. Nutritiion: I have researched and researched and trial and error. I tried to stay as clean as possible. I tried to make sure they have the vit and minerals they need. Hay and so forth. But there is so much out there and I tried to use common sense. What is really the balanced diet of the horse??? Track people I have heard and seen that feed oats a lot of oats and sweet feed. along with alfalfa not saying all I just know of one that does this and horses look amazing. I know a roper that has lush grass and feeds shuck corn a lot of corn too his horses are fat and built like tanks and I have seen horses on other different feeds and look amazing too. and I've seen some friends try to feed clean and they also look amazing. So how you supposed to pick for your horse? You google ingredients what supposed to be bad and good and how much of a good thing supposed to have and on and on and my head just goes in circles!!! just example of what going thru my head I don't think it was nutrition that got my horse but who knows? and I will probably never know. Then I think is there a test I should have had done just as a precaution Like check for tumors or blood disease or something. God put this horse in my care I have failed big time failed! and I don't know how to deal |
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 Saint Stacey
  
| You can't think like that. It sounds to me like you did everything right. There's more than one way to feed. Sometimes things just happen and we have no control over it. Looking back, could you have done something different? Maybe. But at THAT particular time with THOSE circumstances, you did what you felt was right and that's all any of us can do. Hugs and I'm sorry for your loss. I know what you are going through. I've been there myself. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | You may never find the answer youre looking for. God had a plan and no matter what, you werent going to change that. Praying for you <3 |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 915
Location: SE KS | Very sorry for your loss, prayers to you |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | Im very sorry for your lost.I pray your broken heart finds peace soon. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| Sorry for your loss.
But colic can be caused by MANY different things, down to eating a funny grain of sand that morphed into an enterolith (sp?). It could be caused by them rolling and twisting their intestines, which, horses roll, you can't prevent it. It could be caused by BAD feed, yes, but it doesn't sound like you fed bad feed. Everyone's program is different and THOUSANDS of horses survive on JUST grass OR any number of feeds and hay or hay products. The only wrong way to do it is to NOT feed them for the most part! Colic can be caused by lack of water. There are SO many causes, you'll never know. But know you did all you could for your horse. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | This is something that you cant be second guessing yourself on. Your not the first one to lose a horse over colic and sure not going to be the last. It sucks I know, Hugs to you and sorry for your loss 
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2017-09-07 9:03 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | I am sorry for your loss as well. I can tell you, beyond a doubt, that a horse can colic at any time on any feed program.
How to tell if you are taking care of them well? It is such a personal preference and what you feel is best for your horse. You are correct that it is very hard to know what is right, what is wrong, and what makes no difference. There is a different opinion on every thing you could possibly research. That is the very reason that I got into nutrition in the first place. I am sure you are doing a good job taking care of your horses and feeding them. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| I am so sorry. Please don't blame yourself. I hope your heart can find peace in the good memories you have. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| I am sorry. It is difficult to lose a friend. I am not into a horse (or any animal) suffering. My trainer knows that if one of mine colics that she is to do what she can to get them well and if that is not working to put them down. She takes exceptional care so I don't worry.
In feeding, I try to think about horses in the wild and what they eat. Lots of grass. I do feed a pelleted feed and Platinum Performance or GroStrong mineral but mine are in a pasture. The only time they are in a stall is to eat. I keep them wormed every 90 days religiously.
I do recommend the HORSE NUTRITION HANDBOOK. You can pick one up on Amazon for less than $20 and I suggest you highlight things you think are important so you don't have to go back and read the entire book again.
Hope that helps. Again, sorry for your loss. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I think that we take care of them the very best that we can until we know better. Once we know better, then we do better.
I lost one this year to a shot of penicillin. I originally thought it was a bad reaction, turns out I hit a vein because I didn't draw back on the syringe before administering. You can bet I'll never make that mistake again as long as I live.
I know that I take much better care of my horses than I did 10-15 years ago, and I'll take even better care of them 10-15 years in the future than I do today. I'm constantly learning. I think that you can only do "wrong" by your horse when you have the knowledge to do better, but choose not to. Or choose to remain ignorant when there is so much information available. You can't beat yourself up over this and hold yourself to blame. Even if there was something you could have done to prevent it, it was an accident. You have not failed.
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 Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | SKM - 2017-09-07 6:33 AM You can't think like that. It sounds to me like you did everything right. There's more than one way to feed. Sometimes things just happen and we have no control over it. Looking back, could you have done something different? Maybe. But at THAT particular time with THOSE circumstances, you did what you felt was right and that's all any of us can do. Hugs and I'm sorry for your loss. I know what you are going through. I've been there myself.
Sorry for your loss but read and reread the above statement cuz it is absolutely correct. |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| Firstly, I don't know of anyone who has not second guessed or blamed themselves in this kind of circumstance. I believe that is part of the grieving process. Just don't beat yourself up for too long and try to realize that you loved and took the best possible care of your horse. It just happens sometimes and it really sucks. Been there done that. Among other experiences I had a mare colic two weeks after foaling ( a mare that has foaled is the most likely to colic as there is room for organs to shift after the foal is born). Took her for surgery and she came through that (a 360 twist of the small intestine). Two days later she suffered from a twisted cecum. Got her through that. Less than a week later I lost her to a leaking aneurysm of the mesenteric artery......I guess it was just her time..... but I was devastated and questioned every thing I did or did not do.
Sometimes, no matter what we do, we cannot save them.
I am SO sorry for your loss. It hurts, it sucks and it hurts. Let others keep reminding you that you did your best and your horse was lucky to have had you. Some unfortunately do not get that loving care. Lot's of hugs. |
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Member
Posts: 37
| I lost a horse last fall and still to this day do not know what she died from. They ran every test they could and everything came back negative. I was the same as you, I just kept thinking I could have done something different. I spent twice as much trying to save her as I did to buy her. Time helps, but the lose never goes away and I still wonder what happened. Hugs and prayers to you. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Mighty Broke - 2017-09-07 10:24 AM SKM - 2017-09-07 6:33 AM You can't think like that. It sounds to me like you did everything right. There's more than one way to feed. Sometimes things just happen and we have no control over it. Looking back, could you have done something different? Maybe. But at THAT particular time with THOSE circumstances, you did what you felt was right and that's all any of us can do. Hugs and I'm sorry for your loss. I know what you are going through. I've been there myself. Sorry for your loss but read and reread the above statement cuz it is absolutely correct.
Ditto. Sarah McDonald lost Bling to colic and you know she gave that mare the best of everything in addition to routine vet visits. For as big and strong as horses are, they also extremely delicate.
I am so sorry for your loss. |
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 Half-Eaten Cookies
Posts: 2076
Location: Fort Worth / Springtown |
I am so sorry - I know it hurts - it is so tough. I understand that you want to research - yes there is a lot of info on the net, but learning is helpful and kind of healing in a certain way - but do not feel guilty. Like BamaCanChaser said, I myself take better care of my horses than I did in the past, because I learn more and more. And SKM said you did your best that you knew at the time..... Lord knows it is more care than so many thousands of horses somewhere else have received.
Here are my thoughts of things in my control that I have learned that you can consider (of course there might be some that say they do the opposite and never had a problem :) ) -- feed horses often. I used to feed only once a day. I was young, my horses were kept at a stable and we went out there once a day - dry lot. Lost a great one to colic. I had a nice mare that I playdayed - when I started rodeoing on her on Saturday nights -she'd colic. Thought she just couldn't take the pressure of rodeo - one time vet asked - when are you feeding? we said "after the rodeo." Started feeding twice a day, she stopped colicing. Sure wish I had the internet back then!
Another horse my dad feels was pelleted feed.
I keep my horses turned out in a pasture - I monitor their water - I even put Apple Cider Vinegar their water - among other things, it aids in digestion.
I haul with hay bags and make them accessible most anytime.
Recently, after an accupuncturist told me both horses he worked on where showing gut points, he said with my sandy loam pasture, it was more than likely sand - he recommended the phsyllium husk type cleanse. I know some give it monthly as prevention. I've done a cleanse before, but when he told me that, it really made me give it more consideration.
this is what comes to mind at the moment, just thought I'd share, not even knowing what your program is. God bless you. 
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | rodeomom3 - 2017-09-07 11:46 AM
Mighty Broke - 2017-09-07 10:24 AM SKM - 2017-09-07 6:33 AM You can't think like that. It sounds to me like you did everything right. There's more than one way to feed. Sometimes things just happen and we have no control over it. Looking back, could you have done something different? Maybe. But at THAT particular time with THOSE circumstances, you did what you felt was right and that's all any of us can do. Hugs and I'm sorry for your loss. I know what you are going through. I've been there myself. Sorry for your loss but read and reread the above statement cuz it is absolutely correct.
I am so sorry for your loss.
I thought bling tied up?
Back on subject...all you can do is the best you can. At the end of the day they are animals and we can only do so much for them. They are just like people...certain ones can eat junk and others can't. And sometimes it just happens for no reason. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho | So sorry for your loss. It hits us hard when we lose them. I go through this every time, no matter if its a dog, cattle or a horse. We lost a yearling bull yesterday and I am feeling the same way. Did we do enough...should we have tried something else? Try to take comfort in you did the best you could and you loved them. |
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | Nateracer - 2017-09-07 6:58 AM
Sorry for your loss.
But colic can be caused by MANY different things, down to eating a funny grain of sand that morphed into an enterolith (sp?). It could be caused by them rolling and twisting their intestines, which, horses roll, you can't prevent it. It could be caused by BAD feed, yes, but it doesn't sound like you fed bad feed. Everyone's program is different and THOUSANDS of horses survive on JUST grass OR any number of feeds and hay or hay products. The only wrong way to do it is to NOT feed them for the most part! Colic can be caused by lack of water. There are SO many causes, you'll never know. But know you did all you could for your horse.
I've lost horses to the first two things you mentioned.
Horse with the enterolith was 26. He passed it (about the size of a fist) and immediately went downhill. Blue gums, cold sweat, extremely elevated heart rate. I think it tore something. Surgery wasn't an option on a horse that old.
Second horse flipped his intestine rolling in his field. He used to roll every morning, same spot. I was just putting his grain in his stall and I heard him rolling. He happily trotted into his stall, ears pricked, went straight for the grain and then you could literally see his facial expression change. He stopped and dropped to the ground. He was 18 and we did surgery. Had a rough recovery (peritonitis, laminitis and colitis), and a year later he colicked again. Long story short they think he developed adhesions and would need another surgery. We couldn't do it.
So to the OP, sometimes there's nothing you can do, even if you do everything. My horses eat mainly hay, they never have worms, and neither of those horses had ever colicked before. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | You can't second guess yourself. I know you feel like you failed but here is where you didn't -- you sought medical attention. This horse didn't suffer, he didn't spend days in agony. You found him sick and got him the medical attention he needed. I know you think you failed him but here is where you were his hero and there for him when it counted.
You're a good owner. You sought medical attention and now you're worrying that you did right by him. He couldn't have asked for someone better. He was very fortunate to have you, but unfortunately it was just his time.
I'm very sorry for your loss.
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 Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
| I am so sorry for your loss. Just out of curiosity - what kind of grain was your horse on? Do not second guess yourself - you did the best you could. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 380
| This is just one of those things in life that is not in our control. All you can do is your best and what will be will be. It's not your fault but it doesn't make it suck any less. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I am so sorry for your loss. I have lost several horses throughout my lifetime and some of it just cant be prevented. I am a big control freak person because I never want bad things to happen but they still do. Most recently, I bought a mare with a recently repaired hernia (NBD right) well got her off the trailer and was down in an hour. Thought she was colicing. Had vet out and watched over night, back the clinic in the morning, IV's you name it for the next day. Come to find out her intestine somehow got stuck in her surgery site. Freak deal. The hernia was repaired because of my purchase and I always wondered if it hadn't been repaired aka if I hadn't bought her.. if she would be alive today. It doesn't help to go there.
I too have been overwhelmed with feed/nutrition but I try to remember to use common sense. Use whats worked for you or someone you respect. I personally just bought my own farm and have always been very involved with care and doing chores, etc but at the end of the day what they fed was not my call. So when I got this "power" I was overhwhelmed.
I feed a mill mix that my farm growing up has fed for 30 years. It was designed by a vet but many would gawk at it. It has corn and soy bean meal, yadayada. BUT it has worked for all the horses I grew up running and so I use common sense. Horses have always eaten it, looked good on it and majority lived longer than most. Yes, horses have colicked and died but as others have mentioned, you never know what the cause was.
I keep it simple, I feed a good mix hay, full water tank at all times, mineral block, salt block and good exercise program. My horses seem to feel and look great. Do what you can, that's literally call you can. Sometimes the answers are listening to your gut and using common sense.
Again, so sorry for your loss. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| TheDutchMan01 - 2017-09-07 12:47 PM rodeomom3 - 2017-09-07 11:46 AM Mighty Broke - 2017-09-07 10:24 AM SKM - 2017-09-07 6:33 AM You can't think like that. It sounds to me like you did everything right. There's more than one way to feed. Sometimes things just happen and we have no control over it. Looking back, could you have done something different? Maybe. But at THAT particular time with THOSE circumstances, you did what you felt was right and that's all any of us can do. Hugs and I'm sorry for your loss. I know what you are going through. I've been there myself. Sorry for your loss but read and reread the above statement cuz it is absolutely correct.
I am so sorry for your loss. I thought bling tied up? Back on subject...all you can do is the best you can. At the end of the day they are animals and we can only do so much for them. They are just like people...certain ones can eat junk and others can't. And sometimes it just happens for no reason.
I think you are correct. |
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Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | We are having to put down a 3 month old foal today---he was on our keeper list. We threw everything but the kitchen sink at him and it hasn't worked. Sometimes you can do all you can do and it is not enough. This horse biz sure can be heartbreaking. |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| Mighty Broke - 2017-09-07 3:26 PM
We are having to put down a 3 month old foal today---he was on our keeper list. We threw everything but the kitchen sink at him and it hasn't worked. Sometimes you can do all you can do and it is not enough. This horse biz sure can be heartbreaking.
Yes it can. Sorry |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Turnburnsis - 2017-09-07 3:09 AM
My horse colic the other day and I lost him. Vet sweats that it was nothing that I did or didn't do. But I still cannot help if there was something I could have done or shouldn't have done. Maybe Google at fault lol well me bc Im the one googling. Nutritiion: I have researched and researched and trial and error. I tried to stay as clean as possible. I tried to make sure they have the vit and minerals they need. Hay and so forth. But there is so much out there and I tried to use common sense. What is really the balanced diet of the horse??? Track people I have heard and seen that feed oats a lot of oats and sweet feed. along with alfalfa not saying all I just know of one that does this and horses look amazing. I know a roper that has lush grass and feeds shuck corn a lot of corn too his horses are fat and built like tanks and I have seen horses on other different feeds and look amazing too. and I've seen some friends try to feed clean and they also look amazing. So how you supposed to pick for your horse? You google ingredients what supposed to be bad and good and how much of a good thing supposed to have and on and on and my head just goes in circles!!! just example of what going thru my head I don't think it was nutrition that got my horse but who knows? and I will probably never know. Then I think is there a test I should have had done just as a precaution Like check for tumors or blood disease or something. God put this horse in my care I have failed big time failed! and I don't know how to deal
No mam you did not fail. Don't think that way. God gave him to you and it sounds like you did everything right. You did your best for him and that's all anyone can do. I've not lost a horse yet, but I am in the process of losing my 14 year old dog. She's a rescue and I've had her for almost 14 years. I keep telling myself, "Debra, it's time to let her go." Then the next day she's a little better, so I tell myself don't do it too quick because that's like killing her. . . . That's always my fear when the end is near----am I timing it correctly FOR them. I know your situation is different, but sounds like you're a wonderful horse momma who loved her boy and have nothing at all to doubt yourself for. Unfortunately, it was just time for him to go home. . . . Hugs and prayers for you. |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Mighty Broke - 2017-09-07 3:26 PM
We are having to put down a 3 month old foal today---he was on our keeper list. We threw everything but the kitchen sink at him and it hasn't worked. Sometimes you can do all you can do and it is not enough. This horse biz sure can be heartbreaking.
So sorry for your loss;things have been tough for y'all lately  |
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 Lived to tell about it and will never do it again
Posts: 5409
| Very sorry for your loss. Please don't second guess yourself. Colic is caused by so many different things that you may never know what caused it. Sometimes it is even caused from a change in the weather. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
Location: on the fine line between insanity and geniusness | I don't want to sound cliche, but I am a believer in Gods timing. It was your horses time. Had it not been colic, it would have been something else. Many years ago I had a horse die in the alley with me at a major barrel race in LA. He had a heart attack. I did the same thing you did... I questioned for weeks what I could have done different. Maybe had I not have ran him that day he would still be alive. Finally one day a good friend of mine told me it was his time. He was going to die that day whether I ran him or not. God k we the day he was born. I was just lucky I was with him when it happened and he went it doing what he loved! Don't question yourself, it sounds like you did all you could for him! Hugs for you and your broken heart! |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| If you are second guessing yourself get a necropsy done. We all have the shoulda coulda woulda moments.
The necropsy can tell you if there was a Tumour, if it was diet related, if it was a worming issue, etc |
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Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | Chandler's Mom - 2017-09-07 10:15 PM Mighty Broke - 2017-09-07 3:26 PM We are having to put down a 3 month old foal today---he was on our keeper list. We threw everything but the kitchen sink at him and it hasn't worked. Sometimes you can do all you can do and it is not enough. This horse biz sure can be heartbreaking. So sorry for your loss;things have been tough for y'all lately
Indeed it has. This boy is out of our matriarch mare and she is 22 so our time is getting limited which makes it tougher to swallow. He was gonna get the chance to keep his cookies---he was that nice. Stinks. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Mighty Broke - 2017-09-08 7:28 AM Chandler's Mom - 2017-09-07 10:15 PM Mighty Broke - 2017-09-07 3:26 PM We are having to put down a 3 month old foal today---he was on our keeper list. We threw everything but the kitchen sink at him and it hasn't worked. Sometimes you can do all you can do and it is not enough. This horse biz sure can be heartbreaking. So sorry for your loss;things have been tough for y'all lately
So sorry, that is just so hard |
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Expert
Posts: 1409
Location: Oklahoma | Thank you all ! A little update: Gonna check my soil bc heard rumors that we have a lot of lead in our area. We believe it was toxic related. I checked with my extension office bout 6 mths ago and was told we have high selenium. I did a blood test on my horse that I was running barrels on and his blood work showed high selenium but not toxic or any thing else toxic. So I changed turn out for both horses and always made sure that I didn't feed anything with sel. My huge mistake was I didn't test the second horse. I just treated the same as the first. Bc the blood work showed on the one horse and they are on the same pasture but a fence runs in the middle. So one horse on ea side. Since the one with the blood work didn't show the signs the second one did I assume that I was ok.as far as pasture. Bad thing is now looking back 2nd horse shows the symptoms of slowly toxic but you know what, bout the same symptoms for pssm, too much iron, not enough iron, mag. defiency, bone/pelvic injuries, allergic to certain grains. I had pulled him off oats completely and he was getting better and was putting on weight, but at the same time he wasn't getting better. (no I didn't do any changes abruptly it would be too long story if I told you every step I took) I knew it wasnt nutrition I was just using that as an example in my first post. I look back and realized where I should have done more research on my place especially in flood area and by a smelter place that was reclaimed, even tho we only flooded 4 times in the 8 years I was there. I am posting my stupidity hoping this will help someone with their horses. of course my other horse is penned up and will stay that way til I get more answers. Whoever that posted when you know better you do better, you are so right! I will definitely look at things differently. I have had horses all my life, and Ive had colics and lost one before to colic. But this colic was so different than I had seen. I know that I am not the only one that had colic and lost one, but it still hard no matter what. And I cant even imaging what the northern states and the southern states going thru! and maybe florida! I wish I could so rewind time and had the blood work done on the second like I did on the first horse (I have had blood work done on 2nd horse but not for toxic like I did for the first) Again thank you all for responding! and I will let you know when I get the results back on the soil. It may not even be lead poisoning but by golly Im gonna find out bout my soil! Before anything goes out on my pasture! |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | |
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How do you know you doing right by your horse???