redzip
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Post by redzip on Nov 13, 2015 0:24:10 GMT
Zippy has been having a strange, off, week  Mild colic symptoms and can't figure out why. No diet changes, no dramatic changes at all. He was very mellow on Sunday and Monday, altho I rode both days and he was perfect. I knew his demeanor was different but figured he was upset from some hunters on Saturday. Sunday night/Monday morning, he pooped by 1/2 his normal poops in the stall, so I was on notice that something was different. Acted fine once he was turned out, so I rode in my lesson, midday. Monday night/Tuesday morning, increase in poops but still less than normal. Called the vet to let him know my concerns and made apptmt for Wed. Unusual signs included listless demeanor on Sunday, and hanging head down, with neck stretched to the ground, odd posture. Checked out fine with the vet exam Wed morning, mostly observation of gut sounds, breathing, lungs, temperature was normal. Sent off a sample for fecal egg test, results, no parasite load of any kind. Got home from work Wednesday night and his stall was turned upside down. Tied him up, brushed him off, tidied his stall, and turned him loose. Immediately began pawing and circling, pawing, pawing, pawing, and hanging his head to the ground. Took him out, walked him for 20 minutes, observed him for another 3 hours and went to bed about 2am. He seemed fine this morning, poops not quite, but no less. Called vet, started Metamucil, re upped with new banamine to have on hand. Turned Zippy out today, as normal, and he acted fine all day.
Pooped like a champion with normal size poops and good size poop piles.
Zippy is normally a prolific pooper, so he poops a lot.
I affectionately call him Sir Poops A Lot 
Hoping tonight is uneventful and the episode has passed.
Any thoughts??
Thanks,., and -
Prayers for Zippy please  |
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redzip
Junior Member
Posts: 1,701
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Post by redzip on Nov 13, 2015 1:20:47 GMT
Just checked on him, 8pm He has pooped 2x, good sign bc there was decreased output. He is sweating, which I'm 'iffy' about bc its 54 degrees,.., but kind of humid. Still I don't think he should be sweating, but he has a history of sweating oddly. Temperature is 99.4, which vet told me was within the normal range. 100.5 is generally considered normal.
Eating and drinking normally.
Will check on him at 10pm
Hope he has a better night than last night
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Post by horselover4life on Nov 13, 2015 1:29:40 GMT
Something isn't right...
Reduced poop output, sweating.....
Check his capillary refill time....
Gut feeling....check on him at 9:00 and bring the banamine to the barn with you!!
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redzip
Junior Member
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Post by redzip on Nov 13, 2015 1:41:46 GMT
Something isn't right...
Reduced poop output, sweating.....
Check his capillary refill time....
Gut feeling....check on him at 9:00 and bring the banamine to the barn with you!! He has an unusual history of sweating, so it doesn't alarm me like it might with another horse. I'm trying not to panic here, but am planning to check on him all night long. I will call my vet if it becomes something more. He is pooping more regularly today than were his daily poops this week. Had not thought about capillary refill time, and not sure I could see very well in the dim light of the barn at night. Hoping his night goes well. |
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redzip
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Post by redzip on Nov 13, 2015 2:11:24 GMT
Checked his CRT and seems normal. Held gum for 2 seconds, refilled within 2 seconds. Still slightly sweaty but no obvious distress like last night. Will continue to check thru out the night. Thanks for the input HL4L  |
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redzip
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Post by redzip on Nov 13, 2015 3:52:43 GMT
Oh no, poor you! I hope whatever it was has "passed" (pardon the pun) but definitely keep an eye on him for the next few days/weeks. You know him best; if something is not right, call the vet. Do you have a stethoscope? You can also listen for gut sounds by just pressing your ear to his belly (near his flank and then down low as well). Check his heart and respiration rates too. Has he been drinking normally? What about peeing? Perhaps a very, very wet mash of some sort is in order to get some water into him. (Do you have any hay cubes you could make a mash with?) It couldn't hurt anyway. Please keep us updated as now I will be worried about him and you.  Thanks MM. 10:30pm Check - resting comfotably, lying down,., no distress. Has drank a bit more water and has been drinking daily. Gave more grass hay, no more poop from earlier, but not concerned since he pooped 2x earlier. Not sweating anymore either. Will check temp and CRT at next check time @ 12:30am ish Breathing seems relaxed and normal. Gut sounds have been present all week. Peeing normally. Got a hay cube mash for dinner with Metamucil (Metamucil for 6 more days). So far, seems to be having a decent night. Re check at 12:30 ish. |
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redzip
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Post by redzip on Nov 13, 2015 6:32:02 GMT
1:30am, He seems comfortable.
No signs distress, standing eating hay, drank more water, has laid down, sweating has stopped.
2 poop piles.
Fingers crossed.
Another check in a few hours.
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mistersmom
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Abita Springs, LA
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Post by mistersmom on Nov 13, 2015 13:06:43 GMT
All good updates! Keep up with the fluids and Metamucil. I wonder if maybe adding just a bit of salt to the mash would promote more drinking as well or if that would be an overkill?
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redzip
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Post by redzip on Nov 13, 2015 13:56:49 GMT
All good updates! Keep up with the fluids and Metamucil. I wonder if maybe adding just a bit of salt to the mash would promote more drinking as well or if that would be an overkill? Its something to consider MM, altho I think his drinking is normal to very good right now. Red never drank much, but Zippy is very good about drinking water. Might leave things the way they are for now and in time, start to add daily salt etc. He has a salt lick by the watertub that he uses also. I'm wondering, given all indicators were *normal* whether he had an issue with gas. I noticed he wasn't passing much gas for a few days, and that seems better too. His temp was fine this morning, attitude/demeanor much more normal, drank more water after late night check. Laid down but didnt dig to China, or roll around and keeps himself moving around in the pasture much better, the last 2 days. Sunday he just stood in the corners and grazed minimally. Started Metamucil for 7 days, fecal ball test was minimal, almost none for grains of sand. HOPING it has resolved itself bc I'm exhausted and i know hes not used to not feeling well either. Got to give it to Zippy, he was excellent patient tho!! |
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Post by lorddaxter on Nov 13, 2015 14:03:32 GMT
So worrying, has there been big weather changes atall, frost or anything?
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redzip
Junior Member
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Post by redzip on Nov 13, 2015 15:31:16 GMT
So worrying, has there been big weather changes atall, frost or anything? We have been getting 'swings' in the weather this fall. Cool and crisp, typical November weather,.., and then muggy and humid. Very humid for November,., we are still battling flies and mosquitos daily, grr. And he's in full winter coat, so it might have something to do with it. Zippy RARELY has any health problems, the opposite in fact, so its strange that he had any problem at all. Especially with all other signs being *normal*,.., has me 'on guard' now smileys-dogs-380076 |
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Terry
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Central Illinois, USA
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Post by Terry on Nov 13, 2015 15:34:23 GMT
Glad to hear that it sounds like he is doing better now. They sure do know how to scare us, don't they! |
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Post by carshon on Nov 13, 2015 15:46:02 GMT
So glad to hear he seems to have mended. Weather changes are so odd and could have affected him And with hunters around it could have just tipped the scales for him
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hugs
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Post by hugs on Nov 14, 2015 1:03:15 GMT
Oh man, I feel for you RZ, I really do, it's so unnerving when our animals aren't well and horses and colic, just the worst. Sounds like it was a temporary thing and his body took care of it with your tender loving and attentive care. So lucky you're on the ball, so very, very lucky.
The only colic I've experienced was Buster's reaction to being treated for Lymes. Otherwise for 10 years nothing even close to that for Peaches or Penny and 6 years for Ziggy. Do you suppose it's because they are on pasture all of the time and we only supplemented Ziggy with SafeChoice when we first got her to help her get up to weight?
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mistersmom
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Abita Springs, LA
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Post by mistersmom on Nov 14, 2015 2:14:02 GMT
 , I think some horses are just more prone to it and some aren't but certainly keeping your horses out on pasture so they are always moving and always eating helps. In the 3.5 short years I had Cowboy, he coliced at least 6 times (it seems like anytime the weather changed he would colic). On the other hand I had Mister for 10+ years and only had 1 colic episode. Red - still keep an eye on Zippy but it sounds like he is almost back to normal! |
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redzip
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Post by redzip on Nov 14, 2015 7:27:26 GMT
He seems much better today, fingers crossed. The temps are more inline with November weather today and I think that helps. This is the first ever 'episode' with him, Zippy is generally quite hardy. Red was too, altho, he had 2 episodes in the time I owned him, within a few weeks of each other. I am a bit concerned about his water intake MM. In summer, he drinks gallons of water everyday, but his consumption seems a bit off. Cleaned the water tub today, and he drank some, but not like he normally does. He is drinking in his stall, and I gave a nice warm h20 top off tonight, after work. Hoping he gets back 'on schedule' again. good night guys, and thanks for the insights, and good vibes for Zippy (& me). |
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Post by horselady on Nov 14, 2015 12:37:56 GMT
You are doing a wonderful job in monitoring him and it does sound like he is out of the woods. perhaps his water intake is not like usual because of the mash.. i would also watch the alfalfa cubes as they promote gas build up especially if they get clogged in his bowel. if you give alfalfa cubes make sure it is really broken up and soft.
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Lipizzan
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Europe, Croatia
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Post by Lipizzan on Nov 14, 2015 13:35:33 GMT
He could have eaten something in the hay, you never now. You are doing fantastic job by monitring and keeing eye on simptoms. I did not have any deaths thank God by colic, but my horses did have them over the years, every one of them had it at least once. My stallion has a bad past of colics, he survived more then 5 attacts. In my book when I notice the simpthoms I put them on a lunge and keep them moiving, dont let them lay ever, until vet comes. I usually always stop colics by chesing them to sweat and to make their stomach work, they poop before the vet comes and it is a big relief. I had maybe two cases when even that was not helping but drogs did.
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redzip
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Post by redzip on Nov 15, 2015 1:32:25 GMT
You are doing a wonderful job in monitoring him and it does sound like he is out of the woods. perhaps his water intake is not like usual because of the mash.. i would also watch the alfalfa cubes as they promote gas build up especially if they get clogged in his bowel. if you give alfalfa cubes make sure it is really broken up and soft. Thank you HL We totally break apart the hay cubes and soak them for, roughly, 45 minutes to an hour, each night. Then we stir them with a big plastic spoon to mix,., the consistency of cooked spinach. My husband is very diligent in Zippy's dinner preparation,., he loves to make Zippy a special dinner when he feeds. We also add molasses for taste  But, I have decided to back off of the horse treats he gets, they're kind of hard. I'm switching back to carrots and apples instead of the bagged treats at TSC. The hardness makes me nervous, thinking it could potentially cause a blockage if it doesn't break down properly. He seems better today and the weather feels better too. I think he was probably getting too hot with his winter coat and the high 70 to 80 degree weather. I'm planning to ride for a few minutes tomorrow, so I guess we will see how he feels then too. So glad that he is feeling better, I hate that kind of worry,.., very draining. |
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, I think some horses are just more prone to it and some aren't but certainly keeping your horses out on pasture so they are always moving and always eating helps. In the 3.5 short years I had Cowboy, he coliced at least 6 times (it seems like anytime the weather changed he would colic). On the other hand I had Mister for 10+ years and only had 1 colic episode.
