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Bad weather colic

2550 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  OdinsOwn, 
O
So my sister's pony is fairly prone to colic and usually has a few mild episodes throughout the spring and summer seasons, always preceding a horrible storm. However, friday evening in the face of a relatively bad snowstorm (for us NJ people at least!) he did it yet again. This is the first time he has shown any symptoms of colic during the winter months, but it still fell in line within 12 hours before a bad storm rolling in. I guess it has to do with the change in barometric pressure and extreme switches in temperature/etc that set him off. In the face of another snow storm rolling in, I am hoping that he isn't triggered by the weather again.
Nothing like the threat of having to deal with serious colic issues and the chance of surgery needed when theres however many feet of snow on the ground and you can't get the trailer out of the drive!
Just wondering if anyone else has a horse that seems to be set off by severe weather? Nothing like some bad timing (not that there's ever a good time for colic)

Oh... luckily Danny made a full recovery after the vet coming out to tube him with mineral oil. It was a long night of walking in the snow for us, and thats the first time its ever been serious enough to need a vet's assistance.
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Discussion Starter · #4 ·
We've had him on numerous different supplements. Currently we use SmartGut (from smartpak) and he gets ulcergard before any stressful event (especially during show season, as he gets stressed and can start to act uncomfortable during long days of competition)
He's never let us down with his endless health quirks (from his bad weather colic to his anhydrosis which is also fun and causes him to get hot easy and then more colic like behavior)
I recollect your issue with Nelson and that came to my mind as I was watching Danny during his episode the other day. Glad to see how well Nelson is doing for you now though
 
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Thanks everyone for the insightful replies. These are all things that we regularly do with him, as we have done pretty much everything in the book to aid in his digestion and keep his routine regular, plentiful roughage, and as well hydrated as possible. Although I said he is prone to it, I don't mean he colics all the time. He is prone- as in if we slip up on something or aren't extra careful with him theres a good chance we might end up with a sick pony :)
I feel he's pretty well managed, and obviously the longer its been that we have owned him- the fewer and more far between the colic episodes have been. Last year it was only once in the midst of a horrible thunder storm over the summer while we were away on vacation (our poor horse sitter out there tending to him with horrible weather, a flooded field, torrential downpours and off and on power!).
Luckily its always very mild gas pains (usually gone with walking or a combination of walking and a dose of banamine paste) even though he acts like its the end of the world. Our Danny happens to be the biggest sissy known to horse kind! He can't handle any discomfort whatsoever!
This last time a couple of days ago was by far the worst he's been as he needed the vet to come out, but it was still a gas colic. Luckily no impactions or twists or worse.
Its interesting to hear that other people experience similar weather related colics. And its always nice and helpful to hear what other people are doing to manage their horses to see if theres anything that I feel we should add or subtract to what we are doing for Dan.
 
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Discussion Starter · #11 ·
We do. The trough just has a heater in at all times, but when they are in their stalls we bring jugs of hot water up and make some nice warm water for their stalls, which they are always happy to drink up.
 
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