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  Discussion on Colic after work
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Member:
Salir22

Posted on Monday, Nov 8, 2004 - 11:49 am:

Hello-
I am writing my gelding who for the past few days has been colicky after work. It started Thursday when he colicked (it was unrelated to exercise-vet thought it had something to do with barometric pressure). We gave some banamine and he got better (ie normal pooping, urination, drinking, eating). He seemed really exhausted on Friday (but had notmal temperature) so I gave him the day off. Saturday he seemed better so we had a light walk around field. Within a few minutes of returning to barn he was acting distressed (started digging, sweating, being crabby and just acting uncomfortable) We gave some Banamine and he got better again. Sunday we went on a trail ride and once again it happened. This is strange because he does everything normal (eating, drinking, pooping, urinating, normal temp) and is ok until I get back from a ride. He is a very fit event horse, so there should be no problems of him being overworked. Is there something else I should be worried about?
Member:
Christos

Posted on Monday, Nov 8, 2004 - 3:18 pm:

Hi, Jennifer,
Be careful with him, it is the fit and willing horses that one can ride to death without even noticing it.
I'd give him a week off and take it from there.
If I may ask, how old is he and what is the last time he had three continuous days of rest ?
Member:
Deggert

Posted on Monday, Nov 8, 2004 - 3:28 pm:

Jennifer
I would consider ulcers or a stone? could not tell where you live or if stones occur there. Has he ever done this before, have you ever observed him eating for a short period and then laying down, this symptom is common in ulcer horses. Also neck stretching and lip curling are more ulcer related according to the equine surgeons I spoke with. I have dealt alot with my own gelding who had enterolith surgery and then ulcers. He is a high risk ulcer horse now. But we manage him for this. Good luck with him.
Debbie
Member:
Swancott

Posted on Monday, Nov 8, 2004 - 5:19 pm:

Jennifer,

Since your horse is doing this after exercise, I would look into tying-up synDrOme which has a couple of main causes including Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM/EPSM) and Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (RER). Both of these underlying causes of tying up in horses are commonly mistaken for colic. My Appaloosa sport-type stud colt was diagnosed with a mild form of PSSM and he has a lot of TBs and US army remount quarter horses in his pedigree. He had a tying-up episode which resembled colic after he was worked regularly for a few months and then was given time off for a few days before going to an in-hand dressage show. The stress and excitement, as well as being confined to a 12 x 12 stall before the class caused him to have an episode that resembled severe colic. However, he recovered immediately when the vet gave him a tranquilizer and then tubed him with antacids. The vet suggested that he might have ulcers since he recovered so quickly (less than 10 minutes). I took him to a clinic for a stomach scope and while there he had another attack. We ended up doing a muscle biopsy and it came back positive for mild PSSM. Since that time (last May) I put him on a high fat, high fiber diet and he has never had another attack. So the good news is, it is a condition that is very managable in most cases, but first you have to find a vet that is familiar with all possible symptoms. The only way to tell for sure is to do a muscle biopsy and send it to either Stephanie Valberg at the University of Minnesota or Beth Valentine at Oregon State University. Dr. O has a really good article on Tying up on this site also and it will give you a lot of good info that will help you determine if you should pursue that diagnosis. Best of luck, Vanessa
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 9, 2004 - 7:36 am:

Vanessa is right tying up can look like colic and there is nothing in your description that rules it out for more see Equine Diseases » Lameness » Muscle & Tendon Diseases » Tying Up, Rhabdomyolysis, and Shivers (EPSM). If it is colic there are so many possibilities, and as one member alludes above ulcers for the heavily trained horse is near the top of the list. The article associated with this forum has a list of many causes of colic and ways to help differentiate them.
DrO
Member:
Salir22

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 9, 2004 - 2:08 pm:

Hi everyone-
Thanks for all the info. To answer everyone's questions first: My gelding is 11 was on the track for 9 yrs retired last October (due to knee chip), gets worked 4-5 times a week, gets 4 days off after every event (last event October 23-24). He gets 9-12 hr turnout everyday and gets along with all his pasturefriends. The day he originally was sick, they stayed in because of downpours.
It's interesting to me that everyone thinks it's tying up because when I first saw my horse on Thursday (the first night he colicked) I thought he was tying up because he was pawing and stiff acting, and stood in his stall in the parked out stance. However, the vet on call at the clinic said it was colic (not my normal vet). When I looked in on him last night he still seems stiff and sore in backend.
I was wondering about this PSSM mentioned, can it come on suddenly like this? He hasn't had any major changes in his diet in 3 months or so (when I changed barns). The feed he is on is the Purina Ultium (which is 12%protein, 12%fat, 19%fiber). The night he was first sick he got a bran mash about 4 or 5 hours before colicking, could they be related somehow? I always thought bran was supposed to do good things...
As to tracking down a cause....Could it maybe be caused by some weed in the hay? Or something viral? The only reason I ask is some other horses at the barn also colicked within a 2 day range of my horse colicking. All 5 (out of 50 or so horses) are all in different turnout fields and are stabled no where near each other in the barn), and have very limited contact with each other.
Member:
Suzeb

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 9, 2004 - 7:10 pm:

Hi Jennifer,
I suppose if you are looking for a common denominator, you might want to check out the watering situation. Is it a constant fresh supply or do they have to rely on someone filling buckets? If the weather has been inclement, this could be a factor in why some of the other horses have colic.

Did you ever do a follow up with your normal vet? It is good that you had someone out on emergency, colic or tying up does warrant such a visit.

The parking out stance that your gelding does might be indicative of colic or PSSM/EPSM. In addition to Dr.O's article on the subject, you could check out Beth Valentines site at www.ruralheritage.com. Could be sore hocks too.

I think the best thing is for your regular vet to come out and give an exam based on the things that you are observing.

Check out the hay quality as well.

Sorry to have sent you on such a hunting expedition but I think your horse is worth it.

Susan B.
Member:
Swancott

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004 - 12:53 am:

Jennifer, to answer your question about PSSM coming on suddenly: Yes it can. Actually the PSSM metabolism was always there, but sometimes it takes years for a horse to have an attack. My colt is only two, but he went through a lot of changes since I shipped him from Pennsylvania to California when he was a yearling. He began having attacks when I confined him to a 12 x 12 stall -- he has never tied-up in his 1/2 acre pasture or when I work him in the round pen.

Even if you and your vet are not convinced about the PSSM diagnosis, it would not hurt your horse to give him less carbs and more fat along with extra Vitamin E. You'll find it makes him look really good and mellows him out. Also, have him tested to make sure he is getting enough selenium. Susan's suggestion to go to Beth Valentine's web site is excellent -- you'll find a lot of good information. Beth is my hero because she is the most knowledgeable about PSSM/EPSM and she helped me understand that PSSM is a type of metabolism that needs to be properly managed. In fact, after years of studying tying up in both drafts and light breeds, she noticed that the best performing horses with the best personalities tend to have it. The PSSM metabolism could also be the underlying reason that some horses are exceptional performers, as long as they are fed and managed correctly.

Vanessa
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004 - 8:41 am:

Jennifer, if you are asking could there be something causing colic effecting multiple horses the answer is yes, but this is conjecture. If you are having tying up as a problem a simple blood test for elevated levels of muscle enzymes will confirm this.
DrO
Member:
Deggert

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004 - 1:28 pm:

Hello
I did not know much about PSSM/Epsm so searched the web. Interestly, Triple Crown Nutrition has a great and informative website on all kinds of nutrtion, I do feed this line of feed and have been very impressed, I know I sound like an advertisement. anyway, here is the link
https://www.triplecrownfeed.com/newshealthproblems.php
They talk about these 2 metabolic problems and RER
and feeding. Also, how to differentiate low carb feedstuffs. Good luck
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