Aimees in a bad way any thoughts or advice

[bramblesmum]

Aimee went down with a serious bout of colic on weds, was seen by the vet (I was away at the time) she was found to have displaced her stomach and had a massive gas buildup, she seemed a little happier after pain killers and antispasmodic.

Today looked bright but belly still tight vet due in the arvo for check up, got there at 2.30pm to find her collapsed in the field again, my livery and I managed to get her up and the vet has been and has given her more of the same drugs, has found she is still or has displaced again to the right, she has also been stomach tubed with parafin though still just gas buildup.

She has diareahh since the first colic episode, is on reduced feed on vets advice but seems to have no trouble eating, has been drinking two large buckets of water which is unlike her.

Prev history, shes an ex racer, windsucks and stresses easily, have had her since sept she came as a hat rack and although adlib haylage at all times she is not putting any weight on at all, she seemed to show two milder colic bouts in sept/oct but got over them without vet attention

She is on good grazing daytime, in at night with haylage adlib (she never finishes it) and speedibeet and hi fi as found the windsucking increased with any other weight gain feeds

Vet is perplexed and feels to have two colic episodes so close there must be something else triggering it, he has taken bloods and hopefully well have an idea soon

any suggestions would be greatfully received as I am so scared we're going to loose her before we work out whats causing it and Aimee temperament wise has come on so well and is such a sweet mare at only 4yrs she deserves a chance to fight.

[Lulu]

Sounds like possibly a build up of sand ? It would make their poos more watery. I also think this mare has a hind gut problem... try some succeed ? If it works, then you know you have the answer ? We use equine america's "sand-out" for removing possible build up of sand from gut as we are on sandy soil. Had a gelding with runny poos and drinking lots, and gave him an intensive 2 week course of sandout, and he's now dry and happy. Collect some clean poo sample and mix with water in a clear jam jar, and leave to settle. You'll see how much sand she has in her poo at the bottom of the jar once the water has settled..

[bramblesmum]

Ta lulu will give that a go first thing in the morn, we have wondered if ulcers were an issue and hindgut would be a consideration too would that cause the weight loss and colic? We are on very clay soil here not sure what sand levels would be in that, do you think yard turnout with her hay for a few days rather than field would help?

[Deleted]

If she's on clay she's not likely to be taking in more sand currently so probably not much point removing her from the grazing. Yes ulcers and hindgut problems can cause weight loss and colic.

[bramblesmum]

thanks guys if ulcers hopefully after treatment jst a case of management?am going up to see her again soon give her some haylage if shes improved, a friend mentioned grass sickness is this likely?

[clipclop]

If grass sickness, I would expect her to have dropped weight rapidly. Which vets do you use?

I can back up the fact that the soil is very much clay round here. Which side of your grazing is she on? If the side with your school, it could be possible for sand to have blown onto the grazing as that's the way the prevailing winds go but it's quite sheltered so I'd think it was unlikely.

I've moved yards so I don't drive by your guys daily now :-(

[bramblesmum]

Shes on the otherside clipclop at the top near the yard as thats where the best grass is at the moment. I use nantwich vets, they have been good so far, just have limited funds so really want to nail down the cause asap. Hope all your guys are well clipclop xx

[poppyandbea]

bea was like that with her liver she was eating fine to but would then colic after and her stomach would bloat too and she would just collapse with colic and she lost weight
hope the vets get to the bottom of it for you and i hope its nothing to serious

[clipclop]

Hopefully the bloods will come back with some answers - fingers crossed for you.

Def not on sandy ground! Have a check round the boundary to see if there's anything obvious in the trees or hedges that she could have eaten? Any acorns still around?

Nantwich are good vets - pricey (I don't use them for this reason), but they have some good vets.

My lot are very good thank you - really settled in new yard and loving having an indoor school!!

[bramblesmum]

thanks p&b shes had a normal blood panel so will hopefully flag something up if liver even if we have to do further tests after am hoping to get them tomorrow as my vet has tried to rush them through.


clipclip I do have an acorn tree but theyve not got access to it at the moment, only hawthorn hedge is that ok? Nantwich are dead pricey totally agree just didnt know any others in the area, let me know if you can recomend a good one. Ohh very jealous of the indoor school! Glad they all doing well xx

[apacherose]

You haven't mentioned anything about worming? If she came as a hat rack she may well have worms. Has she been wormed recently?

[big e]

I would also say perhaps she might be wormy? If you have wormed her check your wormers covered red worm, round worm and tape worm.

I hope she gets better soon

[bramblesmum]

yes all wormed to date and bought from vets would imagine they should cover those but will check tomorrow x

[apacherose]

Make sure all stages of red worms are covered. Was she wormed before the colic? Sometimes worming can cause colic

[bramblesmum]

no not recently shes almost due her next wormer mid jan I believe, popped up there and she looks brighter and has eaten the hay ive given her, drunk two water bowls (large trug tubs) so filled them again tummy still very tight and not comfy she was like this for a day after the last bout then went downhill again so really hoping she wont repeat the same cycle