Post by shadowlark on Sept 3, 2014 7:41:17 GMT
So, Monday night, Lucy had an episode of gas colic. Starting this thread to post her symptoms and get any feedback/suggestions for future reference for anyone who needs it!
Started with her turning her nose up at the treats she usually can't get enough of. Then rolling twice, the second time she didn't want to get up until BO gave her a good whack on the rump. Then just looked off and not herself with dull eyes and not eating. Pawed the ground a few times.
Vet came out. Heart rate was normal, so that was good. Did a rectal exam - manure looked normal, but she could feel gas. Put a tube through her nose into her stomach to siphon out the contents. Other than the few treats I'd given her, stomach was empty so vet didn't think there was an impaction. Vet didn't hear many stomach sounds. Vet gave banamine and instructions to walk her for 10 minutes, let her rest for an hour, then lunge with a good trot for about 10 minutes to try to get her gut moving again. No food over night, then Tuesday start with small feedings and work up to a normal amount.
Did as the vet suggested. After the first walk, we put her in a pen by herself and she wandered around, had a bit of a drink, nibbled a little grass around the edge of the pen, and passed some gas. Yay! An hour later we lunged her, and when we took her back to her pen, we could hear stomach rumblings/gurglings and she passed some more gas. BO texted at 11:30 to say when she did the night time feedings, Lucy kept nickering at her and wanting some hay, so that was encouraging!
Went out today. BO said she pooped overnight, so that was good. She had eaten a handful of hay. Took her out and hand grazed her near the trails and she was eager to eat. Then around 11:00AM, she started to look a bit off again. We figured the banamine was probably wearing off. I called the vet to see what they suggested, noting that she wasn't in distress/rolling/pawing but just wasn't herself. Vet suggested trying a lunge again and just keeping an eye on her, and if we were worried to call back and they'd come out. So that's what we did. She was sluggish when lunging and kept breaking from a trot to a walk, and after she still looked off, but when the BO started lunch time feedings, Lucy perked right up and nickered for some hay. We gave her another handful of hay and she ate it right up and that seemed to perk her up a bit.
Went back to the barn around 7:30PM Tuesday and she looked better but still off. She had pooped again, so that was good. Couldn't tell if she'd peed as it had rained and the ground was wet/muddy. Lunged her again, and she was much more energetic. Wouldn't say normal energy level, but better than in the afternoon. Gave her a handful of hay again and that perked her up again, and after she ate it she started wandering around the pen looking for grass to eat.
So, right now, she seems to be on the mend, just slowly. We figure she had quite a bit of gas that distended her colon and it's just sore, but she's eating and it's getting through her and out the other end, so that's a definite improvement from Monday. BO texted again around 11:30PM to say there was a lot of nickering again when she did the night time feed, so she gave her a bit more hay tonight, about 1/4 flake. If things are looking good tomorrow, we'll start increasing hay throughout the day back to normal amounts.
So, anyone else had experience with this that they can share their tips/advice for everyone? I did a google search and some sites suggested giving Gas-X - anyone ever tried that? I wouldn't do it without a vet's ok, but it would make sense that it would work. Any other thoughts?
Started with her turning her nose up at the treats she usually can't get enough of. Then rolling twice, the second time she didn't want to get up until BO gave her a good whack on the rump. Then just looked off and not herself with dull eyes and not eating. Pawed the ground a few times.
Vet came out. Heart rate was normal, so that was good. Did a rectal exam - manure looked normal, but she could feel gas. Put a tube through her nose into her stomach to siphon out the contents. Other than the few treats I'd given her, stomach was empty so vet didn't think there was an impaction. Vet didn't hear many stomach sounds. Vet gave banamine and instructions to walk her for 10 minutes, let her rest for an hour, then lunge with a good trot for about 10 minutes to try to get her gut moving again. No food over night, then Tuesday start with small feedings and work up to a normal amount.
Did as the vet suggested. After the first walk, we put her in a pen by herself and she wandered around, had a bit of a drink, nibbled a little grass around the edge of the pen, and passed some gas. Yay! An hour later we lunged her, and when we took her back to her pen, we could hear stomach rumblings/gurglings and she passed some more gas. BO texted at 11:30 to say when she did the night time feedings, Lucy kept nickering at her and wanting some hay, so that was encouraging!
Went out today. BO said she pooped overnight, so that was good. She had eaten a handful of hay. Took her out and hand grazed her near the trails and she was eager to eat. Then around 11:00AM, she started to look a bit off again. We figured the banamine was probably wearing off. I called the vet to see what they suggested, noting that she wasn't in distress/rolling/pawing but just wasn't herself. Vet suggested trying a lunge again and just keeping an eye on her, and if we were worried to call back and they'd come out. So that's what we did. She was sluggish when lunging and kept breaking from a trot to a walk, and after she still looked off, but when the BO started lunch time feedings, Lucy perked right up and nickered for some hay. We gave her another handful of hay and she ate it right up and that seemed to perk her up a bit.
Went back to the barn around 7:30PM Tuesday and she looked better but still off. She had pooped again, so that was good. Couldn't tell if she'd peed as it had rained and the ground was wet/muddy. Lunged her again, and she was much more energetic. Wouldn't say normal energy level, but better than in the afternoon. Gave her a handful of hay again and that perked her up again, and after she ate it she started wandering around the pen looking for grass to eat.
So, right now, she seems to be on the mend, just slowly. We figure she had quite a bit of gas that distended her colon and it's just sore, but she's eating and it's getting through her and out the other end, so that's a definite improvement from Monday. BO texted again around 11:30PM to say there was a lot of nickering again when she did the night time feed, so she gave her a bit more hay tonight, about 1/4 flake. If things are looking good tomorrow, we'll start increasing hay throughout the day back to normal amounts.
So, anyone else had experience with this that they can share their tips/advice for everyone? I did a google search and some sites suggested giving Gas-X - anyone ever tried that? I wouldn't do it without a vet's ok, but it would make sense that it would work. Any other thoughts?
/sleet/wind and not drink all day. So, with her recent history, I am considering putting her in for the winter. They are outside from about 7:00AM until about 10:00PM so LOTS of turn out. Thoughts?
