Colic Question

[shannonw]

Our horses are on a dry lot but occasionally we will let them out in the yard to graze. We let them out this evening for about an hour. Our mare goes crazy when we let her in the yard to graze. Tonight after I put them up she immediately started rolling. She went down about 5 times in a matter of a few minutes which is not like her at all. I put her halter back on her and walked her around for a little bit. She then had a bowel movement and after that I walked her around a little bit more.

I looked back out there about 10 minutes later and she was rolling again. Now she is laying down calmly. I am guessing that her tummy might have been a little upset from all the green grass she ate while she was out.

Are there any other colic signs I need to be looking for? We have only been into horses for about a year so I have never had anything like this happen.

 

[shannonw]

I just went back out and she seemed back to normal. She was up and walking around plus she passed gas. Guess I just panicked a little early.

I have just heard the colic horror stories and of course my mind goes to the worst.

 

[Marty]

Holy cow that's some lush grass you must have there. Maybe she was so excited to eat something green she made a pig of herself and chowed down way too much too fast thinking she's never going to see it again. Wondering if the grass was wet, like if you've had recent rain? That could have done it too. Maybe try easing her into the grass about 30 minutes a day the fist week, then to an hour the next, then build up on that and she wouldn't pig out so bad.

Nipping at her sides is also a sign and not eating, depression. Good thing you caught this in time.

 

[MountainMeadows]

Hi Shannon

I mention this only because you have indicated that you are new to horses - and it sounded like from your post that you turned your horse out on the "lawn". Please understand that miniature horses CANNOT tolerate freshly mowed grass clippings - they will cause them to gas up horribly and can often die a horribly painful death. I am NOT suggesting that this is what happened, but I know that a lot of new horse owners think it would be a great treat to rake up the glass clippings and feed them to their horses - in effect "killing them with kindness" -- just a thought and an FYI.

Stacy

 

[maggiemae]

Hi Shannon

I mention this only because you have indicated that you are new to horses - and it sounded like from your post that you turned your horse out on the "lawn". Please understand that miniature horses CANNOT tolerate freshly mowed grass clippings - they will cause them to gas up horribly and can often die a horribly painful death. I am NOT suggesting that this is what happened, but I know that a lot of new horse owners think it would be a great treat to rake up the glass clippings and feed them to their horses - in effect "killing them with kindness" -- just a thought and an FYI.

Stacy

Triple Crown Safe Starch looks like chopped up grass clippings - why does it not hurt them? Or, does it?

 

[Charlotte]

Safe Starch is dehydrated and properly cured hay. It isn't fresh grass clippings.

Note to shannonw since you mentioned being new to horses. Any change to a horse's diet should be made gradually over a 5-7 day period.

For horses not on green grass every day they should start with 5-10 minutes of grazing per day and gradually work up to one hour or longer. If off grass for several days, start over with the timing.

Lawn grass grazing.....there should have been no fertilizer, pesticides or herbicides put on the grass. There should not be access to any ornamental plants which can be poisonous to horses.

It sounds like Shannonw loves her little horses and likes to give them the treat of grazing....nothing at all wrong with that just need to modify the time a bit and be aware of some other possible issues.

Charlotte

 

[maggiemae]

Thanks for the info. I feed TCSTF - didn't want anything to happen to my little one - got a little concerned for a minute.

 

[MountainMeadows]

It is the fresh clippings that will ferment and cause a lot of "off gassing" - so the processed feeds should be just fine as Charolette has mentioned.

My horses often get turned out on our lawn for a treat - especially the new moms with babies, but again as Charolette so correctly pointed out, no fertilizers, weed killers, or dangerous plants for them to get into.

Continue to have fun with your horses and FOR SURE come on here to ask questions if you have any - you have access to a lot of wonderful people who will willingly share their years of experience for the benefit of your horses - nothing like it anywhere else in the world - we are so very fortunate to have this Forum and the people who frequent it are World Class

Stac

 

[Ellen]

What about dry lot? Sand colic? We keep all of ours on dry lot, the only get a minimal amount of grass. One of our Sr mares, who is very used to our feed program, coliced this week.

We are fairly certain she had a mild sand colic. When we tubed her, we gave her a mix of Gatorade, Metamucil, Water and oil to mark how far back the blockage , if there was one would have been. I know there is controversy over this, but we gave her a warm water enema. We then started walking her. Just slow, let her show us how fast was comfortable for her. No bowel movement. She was still posturing so, we administered 3cc of banamine.

Finally she went, but it was all water with a small amount of manure. Long story short, by the time she passed the problem, it was a large hard piece of manure. At the Vets advice, we disolved the manure in water to see what the problem was. Did she eat something that got stuck? No she didn't. We had sand. So, now. Flirt is fine, but all our horses are eating Metamucil with their daily rations.

So, Shannon, not to make you worry about yet another thing. But I wanted to let you know, 1 you are not alone this week, and 2 maybe it was caused by sand. But good Job, you took great care of her and she is better.

We all have those that eat like pigs, nose to the ground the whole time they are out. They always find tummy trouble.

 

[shannonw]

Thanks for the replies! Our mare is quite a little piggy so when she gets out to graze on the lawn (a mixture of bermuda and buffalo grass) she goes crazy.

We had company and they were enjoying watching them so I let them graze a little too long...won't make that mistake again.

Our grass has not been treated with anything. I had heard that about the grass clippings fermenting so I never give them those.

They are on a dry lot but we really don't have a lot of sand in our area so I don't think sand colic is a big issue here.

She seemed just fine this morning, thankfully. I was so worried last night!

Thanks again...it is such a relief to know I can come on here and ask questions!

 

[GypsyMoonMinis]

My horses are also on dry lot and get daily 1 hour turn out on the 'lawn', mainly just so they can go through the act of grazing.

Dry lot and sand/dirt - you can get a product called Sand Clear. you give it to them once a month for 5 days. Its a psyllium seed husk that will 'gel' and absorb the sand and dirt in the gut allowing it to pass. My horses aren't on 'sand' either but dirt, and I just feel better giving this just in case. Its something to think about. You can test the feces to see how much sand is in it.

Colic - these are my experiences with it, including discussions with my vet. First, walking a horse in colic. The first time my yearling coliced I was in a panic at 3 in the morning. I'd only experienced big horses and knew they could easily die. I drug my husband out of bed and made him walking my guy while I phoned my vet. She told me that walking is really only done to prevent them from hurting themselves as they roll and that studies have shown that miniatures rolling does not generally cause the gut to twist as was thought in the past. Since he was laying in his stall (but had acess to the paddock if he wanted) there was nothing for him to get caught on or hurt himself if he rolled, so she suggest letting him lay down as he wanted. Let me tell you I was so scared, I'd never seen a horse roll to their back and hug thier legs to thier body's like he did! However, if you feel better walking them, there is no harm in doing so either.

I also learned that colic simply means that there is a stomach ache. It could be a gas colic which is likely what your mare had (they will often have bowel movements), an impaction colic which is deadly (no bowel movements, and note here that minis can't be examined the way a large horse to explore for blockages, it has to be done surgically if tubing etc doesn't work), worm infestation and then colic distress from other complications.

I had a tube of banamine, which is a pain killer, and was told to give him that and if he didn't improve in an hour to call her back. (don't use bute) Within 40 mins he was up and eating and acting normal again.

Signs of colic would include: rolling, biting and kicking at their bellies, pawing, lack of appetite, pacing, frequently looking back at their bellies, standing and laying repeatedly, tension in the abdomen and lack of bowel movements or frequent attempts to urinate.

 

[Miniv]

I like to look at it all as if it were US.....We often have a certain type of diet we live with, although there are many other foods we LOVE.

Every now and then we are given the opportunity to "feed" on some of those OTHER FOODS....and we will go a bit nuts.....

The end result for us is either we get an upset stomach and 1.VOMIT..... 2. Have Diarrhea hours later... or 3. Have horrible gas pains and perhaps one of the previous listed.....

Now.....Think about our HORSE. Our Horse CANNOT VOMIT. So the only options are.....numbers 2 and 3. Both tend to show themselves as versions of COLIC.

What I just described is more of a "GAS COLIC". The Impaction Colic is a whole different situation and the vet deals with it differently. However, there is always a concern that a Gas Colic, if not addressed, can develop into the deadly Twisted Gut. We never take a Gas Colic lightly.

Guess the bottom line of all of this is......Giving your little one(s) the treat of green grass but in major moderation..... Much like you'd give a small child their first sample of chocolate.

 

[Ellen]

All good ponits MiniV, and you are very wise for pointing out the difference between Gas Colic and impaction, which I failed to mention is my post. But Gas colic can kill. As harsh as it sounds, it can.

 

[shannonw]

So if a horse is having gas colic would it be safe to say that if they are passing gas after a period that the bout of colic is resolving or is it better to call the vet at the first signs of colic regardless?

 

[Ellen]

Shannon,

I am NOT a vet. But a lot of times in my personal experience a Gas colic will be resolved with oil and walking. And passing gas. But there are those cases where there is Gas on the secum and further intervention and surgery is required. But, you would know if this were the case. The symptoms would still be severe.

I worked for a horse speacialist for a while. Learned and saw a lot. Generally when the gas pressure is on the secum, or twisting the intestines, you certainly know. The horse will thrash violently, posture, get up and down......you would know.

I think you made it thru with your guy. Keep a close eye and at the first sign of further distress call you vet.

Ellen