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Discussion on Obstructive colic
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New Member:
Gabriele
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Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 3:09 pm:
Our horse Snoopy was hospitalized for 7 days for obstructive colic. He had been doing well for the last couple of days with a good heart rate, no pain, feeding of small amts of hay. The Vet finally let him go home 2 days ago, evenso he still felt "lumpy" inside. An ultrasound was scheduled for tomorrow, to find out about the lumpyness. She was very vague about diagnoses and prognoses and left me very worried. In the meantime Snoopy appears very happy, playfull, hungry. We kept him on frequent small feedings and some grazing. He has had very few bowelmovements. I don't know what he does in the day, since he is out with 2 others, but he had 1 BM per night. Should that be expected, since he has just started to eat? I notice no rolling, pawing. Heart rate 40. He enjoys his food, but this morning his 10pm feeding was still there. When I let him out he started eating with good appetide with the others. He has no history of weightloss before his hospitalization, so I think lymphosarcosis is unlikely. Is ultrasound the best diagnostic tool at this point? Would it show enteroliths?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 6:06 am:
Welcome Gabriele,
I don't know if there are ongoing concerns. Yes when horses first start back to eating after a prolonged bout of starvation they will have less manure for a while but anytime a horse skips a meal I think there is reason for concern. Early in the impaction (or re-impaction) the vital signs may be normal. Are the nightly bowel movements normal size and consistency.
Concerning the ultrasound I must defer to the veterinarian who did the rectal. If there are structures in there that he needs to define better the ultrasound is a logical next step. If the enterolith is within reach the ultrasound can visualize it but often it is out of reach.
DrO
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