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  Discussion on Undiagnosed Colic
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New Member:
fordy15

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009 - 4:12 am:

My horse is as 7 year old 18hh Hanovarian who was moved last year from Southern Australia (Melbourne) to mid Northern Australia.

The temperature can be a lot hotter here.

The pasture is dryier.

He was not on hard feed down south and is on small hard feeds here.

Down south he was at pasture all the time.
Here is is at pasture 6-8 hours a day and yarded at night.
Am feed: oat chaff, rice bran. Vitamins.
hay
Pm feed - same

He does sweat a lot up here.

He has been here for approx 9 months, and then he got a bout of colic (he was off his feed in the morning and when turned out was found shortly later lying on his side, uncomfortable with a temperature).
the vet called said he was "Gassy" and administered bute and prescribed psyllum husks.
One month later the same thing happened.
One month after this the same thing happened again.
It seems to occur monthly or thereabouts.

He was hospitalised and had scans to see if there were stones in his tummy, but none were found, he was ultra sounded also, but as he is so big I was told it can only look so far and there coul be a stone tucked up in there somewhere.

His blood was tested, liver etc, all healthy.

He does have a sensitive stomach (found this out by him being listless and restless and not eating at grass whilst on coppra).

He has had one colic at the age of 5years at the stud he was born at, and none since then until about 4 months ago, after which it has been happening approx every 4 weeks.

I do not wish to do exploratory surgery on him.

Each time it has been controlled with bute but obviously this is not a cure.

He is currently in horse hospital for a leg infection from a needle the vet gave him for something else, he is a very sensitive fellow.

I think I have had him tested for everythihng I can think of, although I am no vet I have the intuitioh that it is not a stone (don't ask why) but I am madly trying to get any advice I can.

Does anyone know if there is anywhere in australia (or the world) where his blood can be analysed in detail or is there soil etc that could cause this if there are high levels of something in it the horse is not used to?

there are 10 other horses at the same agistment who have not had any of these symptoms.

he has also had a worm count done.

Any advise GREATLY appreciated as he is my best friend =((
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009 - 11:08 am:

Welcome Amanda,
As you have posted in the right place I presume you have read the Overview of Colic article. It lists many causes and management factors associated with increased incidence of colic and will give you an idea of things to look for and how to go about diagnosing them. Important to the diagnosis is the findings on the physical exam during an episode which should include a rectal exam and passing a nasogastric tube. In case the episodes continue we have an article on how to handle the assessment and treatment of such cases at Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Colic in Horses » First Aid for Colic. I think you will find lots of information to think about in these articles and if you have more questions bring them back here.
DrO
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