colic-colic-colic

So the other day I noticed Pistols poop was really runny so I sand cleared for the week (it was time anyway)... I noticed last night that his poop was kind of hard so I've been watering down his senior feed. Today he was shivering (which is actually normal for him if it's windy or rainy or just cold) and he was quiet - which my horse is not quiet so I put him in the stall for the day. I havent decided there really is an issue yet but since I had to go to work I figured it'd be a good idea to lock him up so I can check out his poopie activities...

I hate colic... I just paid a $280 bill for his colic last month! Ugh.. I can sometimes go 2 full years w/out an issue with him and then he'll go through a stage where it's everytime the temperature changes....

So... Since I THINK he might be heading down that road... can anyone give me some ideas on some preventative maintenance? To see if he is borderline colicy to try to "fix it" before it actually happens?????

10cc's of banamine...relax his gut for him - - also, lots and lots and lots of water

Keep him warm - when they shiver, everything gets tighened together - - keep him warm so it gets "looser".

...and keep us updated :)

If he's only slightly "off", turn out would be better than being in a stall. The more he walks around the better it will be for his gut, it will keep things moving.

I would also "force feed" some fluids, make up some really watery mashes.

Absolutely! I forgot to mention the turnout thing :)

If you still deal with the same vet from the last colic, you might get some free advice over the phone. I know my vet would do it.

Ok. I'll call my vet, that's a good idea. I actually just changed vets about a year ago (I had used the same vet for 10 years before I finally left him - his emergency response time is awful because he's a one man show). I'll banemine him when I get home, - I'll just use the paste, I started to do it this morning and then decided I'd wait... The only reason I stalled was because I wanted to see how much he pooped while I was at work. Do you think I should warm his water? It's 65 today and rainy... I geuss I could blanket him w/ sheet?

This is my new vet... (I'm on hold right now)
http://www.oldwaterlooequine.com/

I hope your guy gets feeling better soon... Does your turnout have a shelter for him to go into? I would hate for him to be in the rain not feeling well, I would blanket him though even when he is in. It will help keep him warmer...funny we have like 60s and its raining also.

Good luck, let us know what you find when you get home.

I talked to the vet. She told me to go home and take his temp. Normal should be around 98-100.5 and that if he's slightly off then give him a dose of banemine for about a 500lb horse (he's about 800lbs and she did ask his height and weight). She said to check his gums and make sure he's hydrated and then watch him. She didn't say in or out. But I will sheet. My paddock has an overhang and I have 2 stalls that have dutch doors, I keep those two stalls open all the time so they can run in and out so he'll have shelter.

Wouldn't hurt to check his pulse too. Make sure his gums are nice and pink. Could he possibly be in shock from something? How is he doing right now?

Warm water might be a good idea. Did anyone suggest a dose of mineral oil yet? I don't remember reading that above.

He had one good pile of poop when I got home and he had pee'd. He was a little more chipper but he did have pine shavings on him from laying down, course he could have been bored. I gave him a dose of banamine to be on the safe side and fed him watered down grain. I went ahead and opened his door so that he can go out. He's still kind of not right but he seems better. He has gut sounds and wasnt shivering, although his water bucket was completely full. The vet had told me that older horses don't drink as much as they should all the time, which is why I watered down his grain. I'll do it again tomorrow. He seems ok-ish but not perfect....