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  Discussion on Vet says nothing can be done
Author Message
New Member:
Maurie

Posted on Friday, Jan 16, 2004 - 12:58 am:

I HOPE I AM NOT DUPLICATING ANYTHING, BUT I WILL NOT ACCEPT MY VETS DIAGNOSIS OF MY GELDING. HE STARTED SCOURING ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. ANY THING THAT GOES IN HIS STOMACH GOES RIGHT THROUGH HIM, JUST LIKE WATER. HIS STOMACH SOUNDS LIKE WORLD WAR III ALL THE TIME. HE DOSEN'T WANT TO EAT HIS FEED, WILL EAT HAY, AND GRAZE. HIS SHEATH AND UNDERSIDE WAS SWOLLEN UP ENORMOUSLY. THE VET TOOK BLOOD, AND DID A FECAL CHECK. HE CAME BACK WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF RIGHT DORSAL COLITIS. HE SAID THAT THE REASON FOR THE SWELLING WAS THAT IT WAS EDEMA, BECAUSE HE WAS LOSING PROTEIN. HOWEVER, HE ALSO SAID NOTHING CAN BE DONE, IT HAS TO HEAL ON ITS OWN. HE CAN NOT HAVE ANY HAY AND WAS STARTED ON EQUINE SENIOR. ALSO 1 TABLESPOON OF RATION PLUS EACH DAY. THIS IS ON ITS 4TH WEEK. HE IS STILL SCOURING LIKE WATER, WITH AWEFUL SMELLING FECES. HE IS BARELY EATING HIS FEED. HE DOES GRAZE AND EATS RYE GRASS OR BAMBOO LEAVES. HE HAS LOST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WEIGHT. HE LOOKS AS THOUGH HE HASEN'T EATEN IN MONTHS. HIS RIBS ARE SHOWING AND HIS HIP BONES ARE PROTRUDING. I DONT KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER HE WILL LAST. I DON'T ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE TO WAIT IT OUT. HE WON'T BE ALIVE MUCH LONGER IF HE WON'T EAT OR PUT ON SOME WEIGHT. WITH NO BULK (HAY) IN HIS DIET, I DON'T SEE WHERE THE WEIGHT WILL COME FROM. I AM WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING TO SAVE HIM. ANYBODY HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? PLEASE HELP!
Member:
Tlcstabl

Posted on Friday, Jan 16, 2004 - 7:37 am:

This is a tough one Maurie. I sympathize with you and your gelding. If he was my horse, I would go back to the basics of what you do when a foal (or a human) scours (has diarrhea) for an extended period of time....you should start with reinocculating his gut with the right bacteria to try to help his system get back on track a bit. There are a lot of probiotic solutions out there. I would continue to give the daily dose until the diarrhea ceases because probiotics shouldn't hurt his system at all (be sure to check label though for specific directions). Also try to get as much fiber into him as you can -- maybe in addition to the equine senior you could add some beet pulp with rice bran. There should also be some products out there that could slow down his gut but I'm not sure what they are -- maybe someone else can help in this area. Also, be sure to keep his buttocks as clean as you can to prevent scour burns. As with the foals you can try to coat the area with vaseline. If the area is already very irritated, you may try some triple antibiotic ointment to help soothe the area. Try to keep his stall area as compfy as possible too with extra bedding to help give him more cushion when he lays down. I wish you luck,
Sherry
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jan 16, 2004 - 7:45 am:

The question of what to do depends on the cause of the colitis and protein losing enteropathy. Some causes can be directly treated but they should be identified first as some treatments will worsen other types of diarrhea.

As long as fluids and electrolytes are being replaced the diarrhea is not life threatening but the protein loss is. Besides the Overview article associated with this forum you should also read the other articles in the Diarrhea section on colitis to understand some of the causes. But we have another article to help you understand this condition see, Equine Diseases » Colic and GI Diseases » Weight Loss in Horses » Malabsorption in Horses. From your description fecal examination, culture, and rectal mucosa biopsy might lead you to more specific therapy.
DrO
Member:
Maurie

Posted on Friday, Jan 16, 2004 - 10:34 am:

THANKS SHERRY AND DR. O FOR THE INFORMATION. I WOULD LOVE TO TRY AND LET HIM EAT AS MUCH HAY OR FIBER AS HE WOULD LIKE., ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT THE VET SAID NO HAY. HIS EDEMA HAS GONE DOWN ALMOST TOTALLY NOW, BUT HE STILL SCOURS AND IS NOT HARDLY EATING HIS EQUINE SENIOR AT ALL. I AM ONLY WORRIED THAT HE IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH CALORIES TO GIVE HIM ENOUGH ENERGY TO STRIVE. HE DRINKS WATER AND STILL URINATES NORMALLY. HE HAS LOTS OF GAS AND PICKS AT HIS BELLY ALOT. I WONDER IF THERE IS ANYTHING TO BUFFER HIS STOMACH THAT WOULDN'T HURT HIS ULCERATED COLON, SO THAT HE WOULD WANT TO EAT. I THINK THAT SINCE HIS STOMACH BOTHERS HIM SOOOO MUCH, HE JUST DOSEN'T WANT TO EAT FEED ANYMORE. I WAS WONDERING IF I NEEDED TO CALL ANOTHER VET AND GET A SECOND OPINION, AS THIS ONE SAYS NOTHING BUT TIME WILL HEAL.
Member:
Jjet

Posted on Friday, Jan 16, 2004 - 10:57 am:

Is he actually eating the Equine Senior now that he is not getting hay? If he is, and as it is a complete feed, he should be getting some fiber, only in very short lengths rather than the longer pieces he would get from hay.

Dr. O: I recall reading in a related thread that rice is not used for horses as it is in other species because it is completely absorbed in the horse's gut. Is that correct? If it is, wouldn't that help a horse to gain a few calories in a situation this extreme?
Member:
Maurie

Posted on Friday, Jan 16, 2004 - 11:34 am:

JAN, HE IS EATING, IF YOU CAN CALL IT EATING THE EQUINE SENIOR NOW. HE WILL TAKE A FEW BITES AND THATS ABOUT IT. MOSTLY HE IS GRAZING AND EATING RYE GRASS AND BAMBOO LEAVES. HE CANNOT LIVE ON THIS ALONE, HE LOOKS AS THOUGH HE WILL BLOW AWAY HE IS SO SKINNY. IF THE RICE BRAN WOULD WORK, I AM WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING. I THINK THE ONLY THING GIVING HIM ENERGY IS THE RATION PLUS LIQUID I AM GIVING HIM ONCE A DAY.
Member:
Shirl

Posted on Friday, Jan 16, 2004 - 11:44 am:

Maurie,
If you have an animal hospital close by, it might pay to take him there and have him scoped to find out what the problem actually is. That of course depends on finances I know. Just a thought. My heart goes out to you. Shirl
Member:
Maurie

Posted on Friday, Jan 16, 2004 - 1:44 pm:

UPDATE FROM THE VET - HE WANTS ME TO START HIM ON A GOOD QUALITY ALFALFA PELLET AND TRY SOME RED CELL OR LICITENIC. ITS WORTH A TRY, HE CAN'T GET ANY WORSE THAN HE IS, OR CAN HE?
Member:
Christos

Posted on Friday, Jan 16, 2004 - 3:31 pm:

Maurie,
I would try small portions of 1/2 part soy meal - 1/2 part wheat bran (by volume), well soaked and mixed with 1/2 cup soy oil, a pinch of salt and a pinch of sodium bicarbonate.
Please, ask for your vet's approval before trying.
I would also keep him off those bamboo leaves, as our horses always show very mild colic symptoms when they eat them.
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