Post by Admin on Aug 4, 2005 10:52:45 GMT 1
Subject : Feeding after colic
From : Cassie
Date : 18.12.04 8:33:00 PM
Hello everyone. Would like some advice please. Had the vet out tonight as my horse had very mild colic - think it must have been spasmodic as she was pawing the ground and not eating one minute, then as soon as vet was on the way she started grazing!
She refused a bran mash which the vet recommended, and there is not a huge amount of grass in her paddock (she is out overnight). The vet looked at the haynet she usually has and said "That's a huge haynet" and then at the feed she had left and said " That's a huge feed - little and often is best" - well, I use Simple Systems and don't feed anywhere near the amount they recommend, but she has ad lib hay all day and night.
I will of course build it up gradually, but I was quite hurt that the vet commented on the amount of feed she is having - especially as when he removed her rug to examine her he said she is a bit thin! I have a job keeping her weight on in winter as she is getting on a bit now (19).
I thought that it was OK for them to have ad lib hay to trickle feed day and night, and have heard on here how good Simple Systems feeds are - they are big in size because of soaking the pellets, and SS told me it is mostly water.
Not sure now that I am doing the right thing, according to the vet. I cannot get there more than twice a day to give her a feed though, and if I make it smaller she will lose weight. Sigh!
Anyway - wondered if it made a difference that the SS feeds are forage based - do you think the vet thought I was feeding huge amounts of cereal feed? I did say it was forage based, but not sure he was listening. (
And when can you feed hay again after a very mild colic episode?
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Cassie
Date : 18.12.04 8:56:00 PM
Isn't there anyone on here tonight who can help me plz?
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From :
Date : 18.12.04 9:01:00 PM
Cassie, Im actually quite shocked at your vet.
You CANNOT feed a horse too much fibre.
Ad-lib hay should be provided and limiting hay can actually cause colic, not help prevent it.
I cant comment on simple system feeds but contact a nutritionist and check what you are feeding is correct.
Lastly find a better vet, who instead of critising will HELP and give useful advise!
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Cassie
Date : 18.12.04 9:15:00 PM
Well, this is the first time I've had this vet from the practice out - and I can hardly choose who is on call out of hours now, can I?
Perhaps he meant that it was a huge haynet considering my mare wasn't to have any hay after this colic attack.
Anyone know how long horse should be kept off hay - she is on poor grazing all night, but I just went back to check her and she looks very hungry. (
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From :
Date : 18.12.04 9:18:00 PM
Hi Cassie, My 22 year old mare had colic yesterday morning, my vets instructions were to keep an eye on her offer hay after 1/2 hr and her breakfast as soon as she ate some hay.
Said add lib hay was fine.
What you are doing is just fine.
Vet also said any horse any time can get colic for no reason at all said also the weather often plays a part in it.
If your girl has reached 19 under your care you are doing just fine.
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Cassie
Date : 18.12.04 9:19:00 PM
Thanks anon - she had her first signs of colic at 4pm today. The vet gave her a painkiller and muscle relaxant and she has been fine since. Can she have some hay tonight? Vet said it was better to give it soaked, but I haven't heard this before??
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From :
Date : 18.12.04 9:23:00 PM
Just an added though you shouldn't feed any more than 4lb hard feed at a feed because the horses tum wont digest it.
Have you tried baileys no1 mix that is very good for poor doers only start of with a very small handful at a time and must be fed damp.
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From :
Date : 18.12.04 9:36:00 PM
Cassie - if she is losing weight have you had her teeth checked? I had mine done on my older mare and she was struggling to chew her food properly and it was going straight through without her getting any goodness.
My boy also has mild colic on Tuesday. The vet said he was fine to graze and plain and simple hay should be offered. I would offer her ad lib hay tonight but ring and check with the vet again now - you will probably get a different one this time
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Nicola
Date : 18.12.04 9:42:00 PM
Simple systems forage foods can be fed as a hay replacer and as such can be fed in large quantities, mostly horses will graze on them as if it is hay if given enough.
Sounds like your vet made a lot of assumptions! prob did assume that what was in the bowl was hard feed
I would call the emergancy number if you have one for advice on what to feed tonight as the person above said, but I cant believe that the vet didnt go through that with you!!
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From :
Date : 18.12.04 9:53:00 PM
Hi Casie my vet didn't say anything about soaking her hay just make sure you have plenty of water for her to drink.
I can see his point though as wet would go through easier without blocking.
My mare was fine though on dry hay I kept her in all day yesterday and turned her out as normal today.
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : kate
Date : 18.12.04 9:59:00 PM
Cassie, hugs for you.
My vet and I were talking yesterday regarding the new strangles vaccine, during conversation he mentioned quite a few horses were going down with colic like symtums, he sugested it could be due to the mild weather over the last few weeks encouraging unusual grass growth, then there being a heavy frost and too much moisture in the grass.
Did you mention to your vet what feed you horse is on and explain what percentage she needs. If simple systems isn't helping your girly keep weight on i'd highly recommend the TopSpec feed balancer, I feed it to my 2,8 yr olds and my friend feeds her 26 yr old arab(colic prone) it, along with half scoop of speedibeet and half hifi lite per feed with 5mls of restore(globalherbs)to help get the liver working right.
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Cassie
Date : 18.12.04 10:33:00 PM
Anon at 9.23 - SS feed is not a normal hard feed - it is forage based, and I have been told I can feed up to 5kg dry weight a day!
Have tried lots of different feeds in the past and feed balancers, and this is the best for her so far.
Her teeth are checked twice a year, and she doesn't have a problem with eating at all.
My mare doesn't "graze" on the SS feed - she does eat it all at once, although slowly. She has been on this for months now though, so I can't imagine it has given her colic. Was just a bit taken aback with the vet's comments.
Rang and checked, and she is not allowed hay until the morning. Just checked on her and she is grazing happily, although there is not a lot of grass out there. He also said he has been out to FIVE cases of colic this evening! Must be something in the air!
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From :
Date : 19.12.04 12:05:00 AM
up
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : gn
Date : 19.12.04 12:27:00 AM
My boy had colic 2 years running almost to the day and had no change to diet or routine whatsoever, last time we had a run down to Liverpool and he walked off the otherside as fit as a flea!! I was advised to feed him Equilibra to keep his gut right and he has been on this for 8 years now with no problems. Fingers X'd!!
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Sara B
Date : 19.12.04 6:34:00 PM
I went through this last night with my boy, its horrible isn't it I hope you and your girl are ok X
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : June
Date : 19.12.04 7:02:00 PM
My vet usually recommends soaked hay after colic. He says that horses often don't drink enough when the weather is cold and soaking the hay is a good way of getting some water into them. Feeding after colic depends on the type of colic. If there is no impaction then feeding fibre is okay. My old vet used to recommend a small net whereas my current vet recommends leaving the horse with as much hay as it wants.
I think I would be inclined to leave the horse with some hay in the field if that is possible without fighting. It is pretty cold tonight and frosted grass might cause a problem. Could the horse be ingesting soil if there isn't much grass? If so then hay in the field should help.
On the subject of weight, simple systems instant linseed is good. Baileys Ultimate Finish is also good. It is high in oil therefore very high calorie so doesn't need to be fed in large quantities. It doesn't fizz horses up easily but you need to feed a vitamin E supplement as an antioxidant. If you use Top Spec balancer that has enough vit E without having to add any extra. We've used Ultimate Finish several times very successfully on horses that have arrived at our yard looking like hat racks.
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Nettie
Date : 20.12.04 0:26:00 AM
I can never get my head round the "don't feed after colic" thing. Surely a constant flow of fibre is the best thing given that's what our horse are evolved to do?I can only see that stopping hay wouldbe more likely to induce colic than not.
My elderly girl has had a few cases of colic in recent years but she seems to know what is best - if the hay is there she will eat it if she wants to, and leave it if she feels poorly. Just like us humans!
From : Cassie
Date : 18.12.04 8:33:00 PM
Hello everyone. Would like some advice please. Had the vet out tonight as my horse had very mild colic - think it must have been spasmodic as she was pawing the ground and not eating one minute, then as soon as vet was on the way she started grazing!
She refused a bran mash which the vet recommended, and there is not a huge amount of grass in her paddock (she is out overnight). The vet looked at the haynet she usually has and said "That's a huge haynet" and then at the feed she had left and said " That's a huge feed - little and often is best" - well, I use Simple Systems and don't feed anywhere near the amount they recommend, but she has ad lib hay all day and night.
I will of course build it up gradually, but I was quite hurt that the vet commented on the amount of feed she is having - especially as when he removed her rug to examine her he said she is a bit thin! I have a job keeping her weight on in winter as she is getting on a bit now (19).
I thought that it was OK for them to have ad lib hay to trickle feed day and night, and have heard on here how good Simple Systems feeds are - they are big in size because of soaking the pellets, and SS told me it is mostly water.
Not sure now that I am doing the right thing, according to the vet. I cannot get there more than twice a day to give her a feed though, and if I make it smaller she will lose weight. Sigh!
Anyway - wondered if it made a difference that the SS feeds are forage based - do you think the vet thought I was feeding huge amounts of cereal feed? I did say it was forage based, but not sure he was listening. (
And when can you feed hay again after a very mild colic episode?
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Cassie
Date : 18.12.04 8:56:00 PM
Isn't there anyone on here tonight who can help me plz?
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From :
Date : 18.12.04 9:01:00 PM
Cassie, Im actually quite shocked at your vet.
You CANNOT feed a horse too much fibre.
Ad-lib hay should be provided and limiting hay can actually cause colic, not help prevent it.
I cant comment on simple system feeds but contact a nutritionist and check what you are feeding is correct.
Lastly find a better vet, who instead of critising will HELP and give useful advise!
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Cassie
Date : 18.12.04 9:15:00 PM
Well, this is the first time I've had this vet from the practice out - and I can hardly choose who is on call out of hours now, can I?
Perhaps he meant that it was a huge haynet considering my mare wasn't to have any hay after this colic attack.
Anyone know how long horse should be kept off hay - she is on poor grazing all night, but I just went back to check her and she looks very hungry. (
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From :
Date : 18.12.04 9:18:00 PM
Hi Cassie, My 22 year old mare had colic yesterday morning, my vets instructions were to keep an eye on her offer hay after 1/2 hr and her breakfast as soon as she ate some hay.
Said add lib hay was fine.
What you are doing is just fine.
Vet also said any horse any time can get colic for no reason at all said also the weather often plays a part in it.
If your girl has reached 19 under your care you are doing just fine.
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Cassie
Date : 18.12.04 9:19:00 PM
Thanks anon - she had her first signs of colic at 4pm today. The vet gave her a painkiller and muscle relaxant and she has been fine since. Can she have some hay tonight? Vet said it was better to give it soaked, but I haven't heard this before??
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From :
Date : 18.12.04 9:23:00 PM
Just an added though you shouldn't feed any more than 4lb hard feed at a feed because the horses tum wont digest it.
Have you tried baileys no1 mix that is very good for poor doers only start of with a very small handful at a time and must be fed damp.
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From :
Date : 18.12.04 9:36:00 PM
Cassie - if she is losing weight have you had her teeth checked? I had mine done on my older mare and she was struggling to chew her food properly and it was going straight through without her getting any goodness.
My boy also has mild colic on Tuesday. The vet said he was fine to graze and plain and simple hay should be offered. I would offer her ad lib hay tonight but ring and check with the vet again now - you will probably get a different one this time
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Nicola
Date : 18.12.04 9:42:00 PM
Simple systems forage foods can be fed as a hay replacer and as such can be fed in large quantities, mostly horses will graze on them as if it is hay if given enough.
Sounds like your vet made a lot of assumptions! prob did assume that what was in the bowl was hard feed
I would call the emergancy number if you have one for advice on what to feed tonight as the person above said, but I cant believe that the vet didnt go through that with you!!
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From :
Date : 18.12.04 9:53:00 PM
Hi Casie my vet didn't say anything about soaking her hay just make sure you have plenty of water for her to drink.
I can see his point though as wet would go through easier without blocking.
My mare was fine though on dry hay I kept her in all day yesterday and turned her out as normal today.
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : kate
Date : 18.12.04 9:59:00 PM
Cassie, hugs for you.
My vet and I were talking yesterday regarding the new strangles vaccine, during conversation he mentioned quite a few horses were going down with colic like symtums, he sugested it could be due to the mild weather over the last few weeks encouraging unusual grass growth, then there being a heavy frost and too much moisture in the grass.
Did you mention to your vet what feed you horse is on and explain what percentage she needs. If simple systems isn't helping your girly keep weight on i'd highly recommend the TopSpec feed balancer, I feed it to my 2,8 yr olds and my friend feeds her 26 yr old arab(colic prone) it, along with half scoop of speedibeet and half hifi lite per feed with 5mls of restore(globalherbs)to help get the liver working right.
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Cassie
Date : 18.12.04 10:33:00 PM
Anon at 9.23 - SS feed is not a normal hard feed - it is forage based, and I have been told I can feed up to 5kg dry weight a day!
Have tried lots of different feeds in the past and feed balancers, and this is the best for her so far.
Her teeth are checked twice a year, and she doesn't have a problem with eating at all.
My mare doesn't "graze" on the SS feed - she does eat it all at once, although slowly. She has been on this for months now though, so I can't imagine it has given her colic. Was just a bit taken aback with the vet's comments.
Rang and checked, and she is not allowed hay until the morning. Just checked on her and she is grazing happily, although there is not a lot of grass out there. He also said he has been out to FIVE cases of colic this evening! Must be something in the air!
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From :
Date : 19.12.04 12:05:00 AM
up
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : gn
Date : 19.12.04 12:27:00 AM
My boy had colic 2 years running almost to the day and had no change to diet or routine whatsoever, last time we had a run down to Liverpool and he walked off the otherside as fit as a flea!! I was advised to feed him Equilibra to keep his gut right and he has been on this for 8 years now with no problems. Fingers X'd!!
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Sara B
Date : 19.12.04 6:34:00 PM
I went through this last night with my boy, its horrible isn't it I hope you and your girl are ok X
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : June
Date : 19.12.04 7:02:00 PM
My vet usually recommends soaked hay after colic. He says that horses often don't drink enough when the weather is cold and soaking the hay is a good way of getting some water into them. Feeding after colic depends on the type of colic. If there is no impaction then feeding fibre is okay. My old vet used to recommend a small net whereas my current vet recommends leaving the horse with as much hay as it wants.
I think I would be inclined to leave the horse with some hay in the field if that is possible without fighting. It is pretty cold tonight and frosted grass might cause a problem. Could the horse be ingesting soil if there isn't much grass? If so then hay in the field should help.
On the subject of weight, simple systems instant linseed is good. Baileys Ultimate Finish is also good. It is high in oil therefore very high calorie so doesn't need to be fed in large quantities. It doesn't fizz horses up easily but you need to feed a vitamin E supplement as an antioxidant. If you use Top Spec balancer that has enough vit E without having to add any extra. We've used Ultimate Finish several times very successfully on horses that have arrived at our yard looking like hat racks.
Subject : re:- Feeding after colic
From : Nettie
Date : 20.12.04 0:26:00 AM
I can never get my head round the "don't feed after colic" thing. Surely a constant flow of fibre is the best thing given that's what our horse are evolved to do?I can only see that stopping hay wouldbe more likely to induce colic than not.
My elderly girl has had a few cases of colic in recent years but she seems to know what is best - if the hay is there she will eat it if she wants to, and leave it if she feels poorly. Just like us humans!