How to Help Your Vet Manage a Colic – Part 2

If you somehow missed the first half of this blog, click here to go read it first. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Come back here when you get done with it. Don’t worry, there’s a button on that one that will bring you back to this one, so you can’t get lost. I know you don’t have superior cat instincts, so I made it easy for you.

While your vet is examining your horse

My doc may start by asking you some questions about what’s been going on, or if your horse is really painful, she may need to start working on him immediately. Her exam may include some or all of these things: Physical exam, trans-rectal palpation to feel his internal organs, passing a nasogastric tube through his nose and into his stomach, an ultrasound of his abdomen, an abdominocentesis (“belly tap”) to collect and test the fluid from around his organs, and bloodwork. These are pieces of the puzzle to determine what is causing the colic and how best to treat it. Some types of colic can be treated on the farm with some pain control meds and laxatives. Some need to be brought into a hospital for IV fluids and more involved medical treatment, and some kinds of colic can’t be resolved without surgery. Listen carefully to what my doc tells you is going on and her instructions.

After the vet visit

• You’ll want to continue monitoring your horse frequently. Exactly how frequently will depend on what my doc finds – it could range from every couple of hours in a very mild case to every 15 minutes or so. Colic signs can worsen quickly, so you won’t want to miss anything. Yes, you may have to miss work or lose some sleep during the night.
• Check for manure production. You’ll want to keep your horse somewhere you can see when he passes a new pile of manure. Pick out a stall or a small paddock so you can tell new piles from old. Don’t turn him out in the back 40 where you’ll have no idea if he’s pooping enough.
• Follow my doc’s re-feeding instructions. This will probably mean a gradual reintroduction to feed to ensure the colic doesn’t start again. Yes, your horse will look at you like he is staaarving and you are cruel but remember, it’s just tough love and it’s what is best for him.

The DON’Ts (and the NEVER EVERs in a million years)

• Don’t give your horse banamine without talking to my doc first. Banamine is a pain medication that will mask some signs of colic. This can make it hard for my doc to get an accurate assessment of the severity of the colic. Banamine can also have a toxic effect on the kidneys if your horse is dehydrated, so it is best to let her make the decision if it is appropriate to give. Also, don’t give extra banamine after the first dose if your horse is still painful. If your horse still isn’t comfortable, it’s a sign of a more serious colic, and more banamine won’t do anything to help that.
• Never give banamine in the muscle! It can cause a horrible infection if injected into the muscle. While it doesn’t happen every time, it is definitely not worth the risk! Trust me, I have seen the disgusting result. If my doc instructs you to give banamine, you can give it by mouth, even if what you have is the injectable liquid.
• Don’t walk your horse to exhaustion. While some walking is good for gut motility, there is no need to walk for hours, and it can end up dehydrating your horse further
• This is a big one – NEVER attempt to put a hose anywhere, either down his throat or by rectum. This is a sure-fire way to injure your horse. Don’t give your horse an enema – the horse’s rectal tissue is delicate and at risk for a rectal tear, which can be fatal. An enema will almost never even reach the location of the colic in an adult horse anyway. Don’t try to syringe water or oil into your horse’s mouth either. You could end up aspirating some into the horse’s lungs, which could lead to a fatal pneumonia. Sadly, I have seen these awful conditions caused by well-meaning, but misguided owners. JUST DON’T DO IT.
• If you have to trailer your horse to the hospital, don’t ride in the horse compartment with him. A rolling colic can be dangerous in confined quarters, and there isn’t anything you can do to help him while en route.
• If your horse goes down in the trailer on the way to the hospital, don’t stop. I know it’s scary but keep driving to the hospital – that’s where my docs can help him. While we’re on the trailer topic: don’t tie them in the trailer! If they do go down, being tied can put them in a really bad way, and can make it much harder to get them out at the hospital.
• Don’t discount colic surgery if my doc says your horse needs it. Many horses go on to have long, healthy lives after colic surgery, so don’t think there is no hope. There are often no restrictions on future athletics. Horses that have had colic surgery have gone on to compete in the Olympics, or in 100-mile-long endurance rides like the Tevis Cup.

If you are not sure what to do, just phone one of my docs. They are always there to help you. Working together and intervening early are the best ways to give your horse the best possible outcome.

Until next week,

~Tony

P.S. If you haven’t subscribed to this blog yet, this is the best opportunity you’ll have all day. Just scroll down another inch or two and look for the big purple box. If you subscribe, I’ll email you a link to the newest blog every Monday. That’s right, early access! I know how to incentivize you humans. And under the purple box is a link to some pretty popular books. You might want to check those out, too. After all, I’m practically a main character in them.

How to Help Your Vet Manage a Colic – Part 1

I see a lot of stuff as the Springhill Equine Clinic cat and it seems to me there are few things that strike more fear into the heart of a horse owner than colic. Colic is a catch-all term for abdominal pain and can be caused by a variety of different things in your horse’s belly, ranging from a mild gas colic to a serious strangulating lesion that requires surgery.  I’m not sure why horses don’t just puke on the carpet like I do whenever they start to feel colicy, but my docs say that’s not how it works. Colic will never be a fun time, but here are some ways to help your horse (and my docs!) so things go as smoothly as possible.

Be prepared

• Know how to recognize the signs of colic – Rolling, pawing, looking at the flank, and laying down are the most common signs, but horses can also show more subtle signs such as not wanting to eat, kicking at the stomach, restlessness, stretching out as if to urinate, increased respiratory rate, and reduced manure production. If you notice any of these things, give my doc a heads up so she can advise you what to do next.
• Call your vet! Even if you aren’t sure she needs to come out yet, it’s best to discuss what’s going on. If you wait too long it could turn a mild problem into a severe one. Generally, colic is much more easily (and economically) treated if you can catch it early. A severe colic may have no chance of survival if you don’t pursue treatment immediately.
• It’s very useful to know how to take your horse’s vital signs – things like his heart rate and temperature. Get yourself an inexpensive stethoscope and learn how to listen to his heart and gut sounds. You can find one for as little as $20! Practice ahead of time, don’t wait for an emergency to happen. My doc can show you how to use it! When you call your vet, it’s very helpful to tell her what the heart rate is – it helps to determine how serious the colic is. A horse’s normal heart rate is around 26-46 beats per minute (much slower than yours, and waaay slower than my thrillingly fast kitty heartrate of 170 beats per minute!) You can hear it best on the left side, just behind his elbow, about where the girth rests. You may find it useful to listen to some sample audio ahead of time. A high heart rate is often a sign of a more serious colic. His gut sounds can be heard on both sides of his belly, high and low, in front of his hips. A normal horse has active rumbles all over his belly, and you shouldn’t have to listen for much longer than 15 seconds to hear some. Again, practice ahead of time to get used to his normal. Keep a thermometer around too. This is another useful piece of information to give my doc. Practicing ahead of time will also help you keep track of what your horse’s normal temperature is, so you’ll be more likely to notice a problem. Normal temperature is usually between 98.5 – 100.5 degrees F.
• Have a well-lit area available for my doc to examine your horse. It should be a safe place to work and free of obstructions. Have a clean water source available in case she needs to pass a nasogastric tube into your horse’s stomach. It helps to have a power source available in case she has to ultrasound your horse’s abdomen. Also, this feline thinks you ought to put the dogs away so there are less slobbery distractions.
• Have a transport plan. If your horse needs to get to the hospital for surgery or medical treatment, who is going to trailer him there? If you have a trailer, can it be hooked up quickly and ready to go? Are the tires good? You don’t want to have to worry about these things when the colic is happening.
• Consider a major medical insurance policy for your horse. Colic surgery can be very expensive, often around the mid to high 4 figures in our area. Insurance can be surprisingly affordable, especially compared to the cost of treating a colic. It’s a very sad thing to have a euthanize a horse that could have been treated. When your horse is sick, the financial part is the last thing you’ll want to have to worry about. There are also colic programs from companies like Platinum Performance and SmartPak that will cover a significant chunk of the surgery cost if your horse is enrolled.
• Be familiar with the idea of colic surgery. While hopefully you never have to use this option, you should have an understanding of colic surgery and make sure you don’t have any misconceptions. Decades and decades ago, colic surgery was less common than it is now. Some people still have the idea that colic surgery doesn’t have a great success rate. But the truth is, the survival rate for colic surgery is about 90%. Another misconception is that older horses can’t handle surgery well. Studies have shown that postoperative survival rates for older horses are about the same as younger horses.

While you’re waiting for the vet

• If it’s safe to, take your horse for a walk. Walking can help to improve the activity of your horse’s intestines. But you don’t need to walk for hours and hours at a time, that can do more harm than good. It’s ok to let him rest calmly, laying down isn’t going to cause a twisted gut – that’s an old wives’ tale. If your horse is rolling violently and you can’t keep him up, your own safety is the priority, so it may be best to put him in a safe place and stay back until the vet arrives.
• Take away his food until after my doc has examined him. This includes grass too. It’s ok to leave him water, though a colicky horse usually won’t be interested in drinking.
• Keep an eye out for manure. The amount of manure your horse has passed, and whether it’s a normal consistency, are useful pieces of information for my doc. If possible, collect some of the manure for her to inspect, as it might offer a clue about the cause of the colic. Keep in mind though, a common misconception is that if a horse is passing manure, the colic has to be getting better. That’s not always the case, since there are about 100 feet of gut inside your horse. The manure could be further back than the site of the problem.
• Think about possible causes. Do you have a new batch of hay? Has your pasture changed recently? Anything else different in your horse’s lifestyle?
• Give my doc good driving instructions or an accurate GPS address to find your barn. The importance of well-marked street numbers visible from the road can’t be overstated! Keep your phone close in case she needs to contact you. If the house might be hard to find, especially at night, get someone to stand by the driveway or meet at a landmark to help direct her to where your horse is.

Until next week,

~Tony

P.S. Scroll down to click on to Part 2 of this blog!

P.P.S. If you haven’t subscribed to this blog yet, this is the best opportunity you’ll have all day. Just scroll down another inch or two and look for the big purple box. If you subscribe, I’ll email you a link to the newest blog every Monday. That’s right, early access! I know how to incentivize you humans. And under the purple box is a link to some pretty popular books. You might want to check those out, too. After all, I’m practically a main character in them.

What is with the weather? We usually talk about weather in the winter when it’s getting cold and horses stop drinking water, but let’s talk about all kinds of weather and what kind of trouble we can expect your horse to get into, how to prevent it, and what to do if you find your horse in some trouble.  Personally, I am a warm weather cat, so this heat wave we have been going through has not been an issue for me. However, the rain, well, I am a cat and I do not like getting wet. Even as I sit here writing this, I am listening to the rain fall on the roof of the clinic, the power keeps flickering off, and the thunder is intense. Grrrrr.

Hurricanes

This time of year, the threat of hurricanes is real. We got lucky a few weeks ago and avoided a hit. However, it got me thinking: what side effects can hurricanes have on horses?  As you all know, horses colic at the drop of a hat. Look at them the wrong way, and the next thing you know they are throwing themselves on the ground. Hurricanes cause changes in barometric pressure, and changes in pressure can absolutely cause horses to get a little gassy. If you have ever had an episode of gas, you know just how painful it is. The good news is, if your horse has an episode of gas colic, it’s usually easily resolved with a visit from my docs for some fluids and electrolytes and a dose of banamine.

I talk about colic all the time, so if you are interested in learning more about colic, refer to one of my previous blogs by typing “colic” into the search bar at the top of the screen. After you finish this, of course. Right now, let’s talk about what other problems can arise with weather.

Wind

With hurricanes and storms comes wind. Wind alone is not all that dangerous. However, wind will knock limbs off a tree and bring flying debris about. The best course of action is to be prepared. Keep your trees trimmed, keep your yard free of debris, and secure all items that could potentially become projectiles. This includes lumber, jumps, piles of sheet metal and junk, et cetera. If the wind picks up something and your horse finds himself in a heap of trouble, the first thing for you to do is call my docs. They will instruct you on the next steps to take. The predicament your horse has found himself in will dictate the treatment. They may require some sutures, bandaging, or even hospitalization for treatment. If you are lucky, that’s all that will be required for treatment.

For those less fortunate, you may find your horse in a more serious situation. You could find a tree down in your pasture. Even worse, you could find your horse stuck under that tree. If that happens, you may need to call 911. Emergency rescue crews have the equipment and training to safely extricate your horse from a tree (or any other situation), with the help of one of my docs to administer drugs and treat any injuries. Don’t risk cutting a tree apart if there’s any risk of it falling on your horse. Let the professionals handle that. The same goes for horses who are impaled by something. Never, ever try to remove something that’s stuck in your horse, as it could cause them to bleed to death.

Heat

Extreme heat can also have a serious impact on your horse’s health and wellbeing. On days like the past few days where the heat index has been over 100 degrees, I find myself thankful to be able to take my afternoon naps in the comfort of the air-conditioned clinic. Unfortunately, air-conditioned barns are extremely rare which means your horse is exposed to the extreme heat constantly with little relief. Having a lot of shade trees or shade structures can certainly help your horse deal with the heat better. Similarly, fans are always recommended if your horse is going to be in his stall during the day, although, avoid box fans as they are a fire risk. Make sure your fan is rated for outdoor use and clean the dust and cobwebs off of them regularly to keep maximum airflow. Misting systems are also a great idea that can help to keep your horse cool.

How would you know if your horse is overheated? The signs of an overheated horse include, rapid heart rate and respiratory rate, an elevated temperature, muscle tremors, decrease in sweat production, and dark pink to red mucous membranes.

If you suspect your horse may be overheated, what do you do? First, you take his temperature. Second, you start cold hosing him while you pick up your phone and call my docs.  An overheated horse is an emergency and needs to be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

High heat combined with high humidity can also put your horse at risk for developing anhidrosis. If you notice your horse who is usually drenched in sweat just isn’t sweating as much as usual or maybe standing around huffing and puffing like he’s going to blow the barn down, he may be showing signs of early anhidrosis. Anhidrosis occurs when your horse stops sweating and can’t dissipate heat from their body. While there is no magic cure, there are treatments for non-sweating including preloading electrolytes, acupuncture therapy, and Chinese herbs. If you think your horse might be starting to sweat less call us and talk to my docs about what can be done to prevent a full shutdown.

When it is as hot as it as it has been and the humidity is as thick as pea soup, I recommend staying inside all day, but I am a cat, I can do that. You probably want to enjoy your horse. So, if you are going to do things like exercise your horse please remember to do it early in the morning or later in the evening. You can even rinse your horse off prior to exercise to cool them down.

Another consideration with this heat is trailering. I have done my fair share of “CAT” scans on trailers here at the clinic and let me tell you, those metal boxes get HOT! Ideally, you would avoid shipping your horse during the heat of the day, but I realize that cannot always be done. If you have to ship your horse during the day, please open all the windows and vents in your trailer. Stop often on longer trips to offer your horse water and check to make sure he is still comfortable. I recommend carrying an extra bucket or jug of water with you in case of emergencies, and always have the number to my clinic handy in case you have any questions or concerns while shipping your horse.

Cold

As you all know, I HATE the cold. When it starts to cool down, we see a rise in colics here at the clinic. Horses are just silly animals: when it cools down, they stop drinking. When they stop drinking, their risk for colic increases. Ask any cat, wet food is the best food. Same is true for horses: it is never a wrong answer to feed your horse soaked grain and hay. It not only helps get more water into your horse, but it also helps prevent choke. So, when the temperatures drop, add water. You can also add plain old table salt to their feed. This will encourage them to drink more.

Cold weather can also allow other underlying issues to arise. You may notice that your horse is a little stiff on colder mornings. Just like you or I, when it is cold out, it may be difficult for your horse to get out bed in the morning, especially if he has some arthritis. There are a few things you can do to help your horse. Talk to my docs about daily anti-inflammatories and exercise routines to help keep your horse limber when days and nights get cold.  You all know I am not a big fan of joint supplements. We like research, and most of them do not have research behind them so, unless you want to pay to make your horses poop very expensive, talk to my docs first about what is best for your horse and his current needs.

When we talk about changes in weather we typically think of colic as the first major complication with horses, and to be fair, it is. However, there are numerous other situations and problems that can arise when the weather shifts. Be sure to talk with my docs about any questions you have the next time they’re out for vaccines or a dental!

Until next week,

~Tony

P.S. I have a lot of blog posts. Like, hundreds. If you want to learn more about being a good human (i.e. a good horse mom or dad), click on Tuesdays with Tony to scroll through my previous musings. You can search for any particular topic by clicking on the magnifying glass and typing a word into the search bar. Go ahead, try it.

Horses. They sure have had a week of being horses around here. You would think I could say that every week. Luckily, they aren’t all that way. We’ve had two horses decide fences were fun to put their legs through, one who wildly over-estimated his ability to jump a fence, one who thought eating all the hay placed in front of them was reasonable, and another who suffered from the poor design of the equine GI tract.

Where am I going, you ask? Horses are going to be horses. No matter how well you design your farm, they are going to find a way to hurt themselves, or Mother Nature is going to work against you with her questionable interior design. Having a plan is necessary when you have horses. Cats always land on their feet. I’m pretty sure horses always land in the manner which causes them the most bodily harm. 

First Aid Kit

Have one. In fact, call my minions and pick one up at the Clinic, or have them ship you one. We’ve got one ready made. Here’s what’s in it:

I also suggest you add the following to your first aid kit: 

·Pocket knife/multi tool

·Lead Rope

·Towels

·Info card with your horse’s normal vitals and microchip number

·Copy of Coggins

Armed with these supplies, you are prepared to manage just about anything a horse can do until one of my Docs arrive.

Insurance/Savings Account

Horses are expensive. I like to be a high maintenance guy with my diabetes and my overly sensitive skin, but I’ve got nothing, and I mean nothing, on a horse. A simple colic can be $500, a laceration can easily go into the $1000 range, and don’t get me started on surgeries. Before your horse sizes up your fence, tries to jump, doesn’t make it, and lays their chest open, have a plan for payment. Don’t be in denial that your horse won’t try to drain your bank account. Every. Single. One. Of. Them does it! 

Being the smart cat I am, I have two solid recommendations: a savings account, and insurance. A combination of the two is really your best bet. There are a ton of insurance options for horses. Even if your horses can’t be given a high value by an appraiser, they’re priceless to you. There are insurance plans that will let you cover colic surgery only, some hospitalization only, or all the things. Talking with a great insurance agent will open your eyes to the many options available. You can start by watching our Insurance Seminar over on our YouTube channel at this link (https://youtu.be/el7H3W9VCJI). 

You should also have a savings account with your horse’s name on it. Being the fiscally responsible cat I am, I would put a dollar amount in there every month. This way you have a cushion when Flicka finds the one stick in the pasture to impale herself on. You can also use it to cover the deductible on your insured horse. Win:Win. It’s important to know that many insurance policies work by reimbursing you after you’ve paid your vet bill. That makes the savings account even more important.

Documents

Be prepared even when you’re not there. Going away on vacation? Hit the menu above to find our boarding agreement document. This document works great if you are boarding to authorize your barn owner/manager to take care of your horse in your absence. It also works to authorize your farm sitter when you’re out of town. We’ve got an area for you to let us know how much you want to spend on your horse, how far you would like to go with treatments, and your wishes if your horse passes away. Super-useful so that you can enjoy that vacation with a little less worrying about the horses. 

Be prepared for the worst. You humans don’t like to even think about death, but if you’ve got horses, you need a plan in case the unspeakable happens to you. Talk with an attorney about setting up a trust for your cats, I mean horses, so they get the care you desire even if you are gone. My Docs see lots of horses in bad situations because their owners passed away suddenly, and there was no plan for the horses. My experience has been that humans hate planning for this part of the cycle of life. Do it. Get it over with. Move on. Life advice by Tony.

Spending a little bit of time planning for all the crazy things horses and life can throw at you will reap large rewards later. Take some advice from this wise cat. Get a first aid kit, investigate insurance, and look into a Trust. You can get it all done in less time than I spend lounging on the front benches every day. You can thank me at the next seminar. 

Until next week,

~Tony

P.S. In case you missed it, my Docs put on a seminar recently about Acupuncture and Chiropractic, which is called Equine Medical Manipulation, or EMM, in horses. You can watch the video on my YouTube channel, along with many other past seminars. It’s a great resource, and it’s free! You’re welcome. Before you go, scroll down a bit more and subscribe to my blog. It’s the big purple block, you can’t miss it. Go on. Do it now. Obey the Cat.