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  Discussion on New mother colic
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Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2000 - 11:01 pm:

This is long, but did not want anyone's time wasted with help offered but lacking details. I have owned a 7 year old mare for 2 years. No history of colic. 5 weeks ago she gave birth. All normal-both healthy. She has always wind-sucked but no past health problems from this. Is regularly wormed and is due again next week.
This morning she appeared ok. Ate ok... At 1PM found her in stall laying down. Looked distressed. Her eyes appeared infected, pus drainage, swelling in glands down side of each neck. One side was more involved. With gentle urging she got up then quickly back down again. Moved her from stall to pasture, which she visits for a few hours each day, where she continued to lay down and attempt to roll. Urging her to walk with a lead was difficult. Walked her until vet came, difficult to keep her up. She did have 2 regular looking bowel movements. Wanted to eat grass but was not allowed. No temperture, no raised heartbeat, but obviously in pain. He injected Banamine/quickly relieved pain, tubed her, found small amount of fluid on stomach, induced mineral oil/water mixture. Gave shot of penicillin for infection. Some bowel sounds were present. One possible problem. He gave ok for her to have hay. Gave her and she ate one flick of hay. She stayed up without apparent distress for 4 more hours, had one bowel movement, allowed baby to nurse. Then problems began again. Apparently banamine was masking the problem, then wore off. Down on side attempting to roll, looking at her side. Took her into vet. Some bowel sounds, no impaction as far as he could reach. He again used Banamine which gave quick relief, tubed her, water/mineral oil. Going to tube... again in 3-4 hours after banamine wears off. Help! I'm worried.

Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2000 - 4:20 pm:

Hello Sandy,
Without a specific diagnosis, specific treatment is difficult to recommend. General recommendations on both the diagnosis and treatment are in the article associated with this forum just select: Colic in Horses from the navigation bar above and click on the title. I know how worrisome this can be and with a baby at her side it is doubly troubling. Many have wrote in to say studying the article, other forum posts, and following the links out gave them comfort.
DrO

Posted on Monday, May 29, 2000 - 10:35 am:

We recently had a beautiful foal born but within an hour of the placenta presenting I realized that all was not well as the mare would not settle down and kept pacing the stall. I told my husband to call the vet and within the hour that it took thm to get to us the mare was covered with sweat, trying to roll, even though the foal was in the stall, and was kicking the barn walls.

It was explained to us that on ocassion a mare will colic after the placenta is birthed. Even though I had spent many years with horses, I had not run across this. It might be a good thing for an article.

The mare was fine after some oil and bantamine. We did have to watch her throughout the night to make sure the colic did not return.

All is well now.

Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2000 - 7:23 am:

A friend of mine has a mare that colicked about two hours after foaling. They to had to give banamine and oil. Six hours later while they were all watching her she finally passed some manure along with a ball of dead worms the size of a tennis ball. This mare had been wormed every two months so the owner was really surprised at what she was seeing. Just a thought, and to let you know someone else has experinced this very stressful situation. This mare to is now ok.

Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2000 - 4:15 pm:

I just visited a mare and foal - foal was born on Friday and both were taken a couple of days later to our local Vet School as the mare was colicky. They only stayed for the day.

The mare has been a momma several times over the years. They owners were told that sometimes the space that the foal took up in utero becomes "available" after birth and can cause some of the mom's gut to be misplaced/arranged differently.

I think she'll be okay as they sent her home - right now, this mare is off of grain, gets very small amounts of hay, frequently, and is getting fluids via an iv since her owners are also vets.

Not sure if this is the same situation, but something to tuck away if you breed horses.

Posted on Saturday, Jun 3, 2000 - 3:06 am:

Update of new mother colic. Scary weekend but all is well with no other problems to date. Vet thinks this might of just been a particular set of concurrent circumstances which came together to cause her problems. Her test for worms was ok.
The articles and messages helped. Have changed a couple of things. More pasture time/hay fed prior to grain...Thanks

Posted on Monday, Jun 5, 2000 - 9:07 am:

Hello All,
As per the Johnson's request I have written an article on the special conditions that result in colic around birthing time see:
The Horseman's Advisor: Equine Diseases: Reproductive Diseases: Birthing Problems: Colic in Pregnant and Post Foaling Mares
DrO
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