Colic surgery horses

[MBhorses]

Hello,

I wanted to know about the horses who have colic and had colic surgery. How well do they do after surgery? Do the filly/mares go on to have foals?Do the studs/colts go on to be future herd stallions?Do they colic again?Over all the prons and cons. Would you buy a filly, mare, stud or colt who has had surgery?Would you sell a filly, mare, stud or colt who has had surgery?Can those who have had the surgery still be shown in the shows?Do they stress easy after going throught surgery?We are looking into buying a mini who has had this surgery, we want to know as much as possible.

thanks

 

[Bluerocket]

I have had one filly who had to have colic surgery last year -- I did sell her this spring to a wonderful new home (who I told about the surgery prior to purchase).

I was told by my vet (who performed the surgery) that this should have no impact on her value as a broodmare.

She healed up beautifully and quickly from the surgery. She was a maiden mare then. I believe the new owners were going to breed her this year.

At the TB breeding farm where I work - several of the boarding mares have had colic surgery and continued their careers as broodmares.

I would expect there to be no impact on a colt or stallion as to their breeding career or even performance.

If I were shopping for horses, I would not allow the revelation of "colic surgery" to stop my purchase.

Just my opinion.

JJay

 

[Jill]

I heard the "mile stones" following colic surgery are 3 months, 1 year and 3 years.

In 2003, I had an 11mos old show filly at the trainers and she colicked and required surgery. Following surgery, I brought her home and she's been home every since. When I asked why the surgeon thought she'd colicked, he said it was as if she had access to very coarse feed. For that reason, we are very careful and only give our minis soft, leafy hay. The hay she'd been fed at the trainers was very coarse.

She's had no issues w/ colic since she's been home and is now a 5yo, probably pregnant, mare.

That said, I really do not know that I'd consider purchasing a horse who has had a prior colic surgery, even though my own horse seems to be fine to date. I just know all the worry I had over the years and with so many horses for sale, it would be a big tick mark in the reasons not to buy column.

The horse that I'm talking about is Triple H Buckin Khaki, who is the classic buckskin mare facing left in my avatar.

 

[minimule]

I have a 7 yr old mare that had colic surgery as a 2 yr old. She recovered quickly and actually went to a show 1 month after her surgery.

: She's my little trooper that recently lost her eye. :no:

While she was at the vets several folks were interested in taking her home (she is pretty cute) until they saw the staples in her belly. She has done really well but does occassionaly have a little problem. I really think her problem is genetic because her 3/4 sister was lost at 2 to impaction. The vet did a necropsy after he put her down and said the blockage was in the same exact spot as Savannah's.

He did say that Savannah would be fine as a broodmare should I ever decide to breed her. I don't think I will just because of all she's all ready been through. With her luck, she'd have a really bad dystocia and I'd loose them both. Not worth it to me.

 

[targetsmom]

I have a big horse (gelding) that has had 2 colic surgeries that removed 30 feet of his small intestine. He has done fine, and was shown quite successfully between surgeries and since the second one (2 1/2 years after the first). The second surgery was in a different spot but the damage was so extensive that they gave a pretty pessimistic prognosis. You can see him on our website (link below). The worry never totally goes away. Of course, he is also the reason we bought our farm and got into minis!

I think a whole lot would depend on what they did in the surgery, but I don't think I would want to buy a horse that had most types of colic surgery. Not every horse has a smooth and uneventful recovery. Adhesions from the surgery can be an issue down the road. You cannot insure a horse who has had colic surgery, nor can you enroll them in Preventicare. I agree with Jill - there are so many horses out there for sale, I would tend to look elsewhere.

 

[wildoak]

I've had 3 colic surgeries over the years. All three are still doing well - only one has had recurrent issues, I imagine she has some serious adhesions. As long as I monitor her diet closely and she gets NO coastal hay she is fine. The time or two I tried to reintroduce it to her diet, she colicked severely again and nearly died. All three surgeries were about 7-8 years ago.

Would I buy a horse knowing they had surgery? I'd ask a lot of questions about what precipitated the surgery, how the recovery was, how long ago it was, etc. If the price was right, I liked the horse enough and the risk factor seemed low for a repeat, it would probably not stop me from buying.

Jan

 

[MBhorses]

This mini is a 4 mos of filly, who had the colic surgery. The owners just brought her home this week. The vet told them she should be 100% now. She is a very nice looking filly. I just wanted to know the prons and cons.

thanks everyone.

 

[Jill]

Oh my gosh, Melissa, I would really caution you to steer clear. That is such a young horse to have been through something that traumatic so recently. Just thinking back to all the hours and hours I have spent worrying over Khaki, especially the first year or so. The vet may have given the horse a good prognosis, but there's not any way at this early stage that the vet can really be "sure" of anything regarding that filly.

Edit to add, my heart really wouldn't let me consider that horse even if it were free, remembering back to all the worry about Khaki.

 

[frekles93]

[SIZE=14pt]My colt is now almost 3 months out from his and is doing great. I will not put him back up for sale till a year has went by. Doc says that after 3 weeks the surgery sight is as strong as it is going to be. After a year , he is as likely to get colic again as any other horse...... He is out in the pasture and there are no ill effects.[/SIZE]

April

 

[zoey829]

How much does this type of surgery cost? It sounds intense??? Removing intestines????

 

[Jill]

There are different types of colic surgeries. The kind my mare had when she was a filly didn't involve removing any intestine. But, it could have if she hadn't gotten to the hospital so promptly (before any intestine died). She had an impaction colic, and the intestine had to be opened, and emptied.

Her symptoms were rolling and extreme pain. HOWEVER, she was still trying to crop grass even as she was trying to throw herself to the ground. So, when people say it's a good sign if a colic horse wants to eat, that is not always the case.

 

[targetsmom]

That was what I meant by it depends on what they did - there are different types of surgery and it would be very improtant to know if the horse was just opened up to remove an impaction, or if (and how much) intestine was removed. It might also depend on whether it was small or large intestine. My boy is missing half of his small intestines because the tissue died and he would have too without the surgery. Because the small intestine is where most of the nutrient absorption occurs, the vets felt he might be "nutritionally compromised". He gets Senior feed and is on pasture 24/7, which I think help him look and act pretty good.

FYI, the price will vary tremendously based on the hospital and the extent of the surgery and any complications. Target's first surgery in 1998 was around $4,000 and the second in 2001 was about $6,000. I have never doubted that it was worth it!

 

[Dona]

We took our stallion, Cock Robin, to OSU for colic surgery a few years back when he was 24 years old! They took two HUGE enteroliths out of his lower intestine (size of tennis balls) and he recovered fully. In fact, he is STILL going strong & siring beautiful foals for Angie Sauer at age 29!

: :aktion033:

I actually sent him there to live out his "retirement years" never dreaming he would still be potent at this age. I am so happy that he is able to repay Angie in that way, for giving him such a GREAT retirement home!

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