This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Reproductive Diseases » Birthing Problems » Colic in Pregnant and Post Foaling Mares »
  Discussion on Serious colic in 7-months pregnant mare
Author Message

Posted on Sunday, Jul 9, 2000 - 12:47 am:

My 10-year-old mare is due to foal mid-November. On Wednesday night she showed symptoms of mild colic. Vet administered something to relax her gut and a painkiller and the following day she appeared to be better and was eating normally. But Friday afternoon/evening her condition deteriorated dramatically.
She was in severe pain and started DrOpping as soon as her walker stopped moving even for a few seconds. Vet came twice Friday night and administered painkiller, sedative, drench and a drip. I don't think he thought she was going to last the night, although her colour remained good in spite of the severity of the attack and her heartbeat within the normal range. She was still severe pain yesterday morning and he drenched her again. She passed one runny stool a while later(lots of oil down her back legs also) but nothing since then. She slowly rallied during the day, nibbled on a bit of hay, and when I checked in the middle of the night was munching on her haynet. She finished about 2/3 of it, but still no manure.
Vet thinks it's a partial obstruction of the intestine. He's coming back to check on her this morning and will drench again if necessary.
Is there anything else we should be doing and how long could it take for the obstruction to be resolved? Is there a chance the foal will be ok after all this stress and should I have her scanned?
Any advice on preventing a reocurrance would be appreciated.
Thanks
Karen

Posted on Sunday, Jul 9, 2000 - 7:42 am:

Hello Karen,
If it is a food impaction I would recommed a lot more water being given by naso gastric tube than it sounds like is being given and discontinue feeding until it has passed. For details on how I treat impactions and also information on your question about management factors see: The Horseman's Advisor: Equine Diseases: Colic and GI Diseases: Colic in Horses: Diagnosis and Treatment of Colic.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 10, 2000 - 7:56 am:

We lost her last night. She went into toxic shock and the vet said there was nothing more he could do. Still trying to deal with it, but I'll have some questions in a couple of days.
Karen

Posted on Monday, Jul 10, 2000 - 2:33 pm:

Karen,
My most heartfelt sympathies are with you.
Alexa

Posted on Monday, Jul 10, 2000 - 7:33 pm:

Karen: My deepest sympathies are with you as you deal with your loss. Dr. Woodworth

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 11, 2000 - 5:40 am:

Karen, My sincere sympathies.
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 16, 2000 - 3:09 am:

Thanks to everyone for the kind words. The loss is great, especially when it's a horse who is special to you, and when it's a mare in foal - it's like losing two at the same time. But I'm trying to focus on the good things. She had fairly aggressive melanoma, which cemetadine didn't control, and might have suffered more in the end than going this way.
I think some mistakes were made in the way the colic was handled, but that's not to say the outcome would necessarily have been any different. The first vet I called (the one on call the first night, partner of my regular vet)was reluctant to come out and told me to give her bute and call him in the morning. I gave her the bute, but wasn't happy so I called another vet. He came but of course didn't see an accurate picture because of the bute.
The following morning she was bleeding from the mouth and when he came back he discovered a top tooth had broken off and become wedged in her gum at the bottom, which was causing the bleeding. He gave her another painkiller and she started eating and we all heaved a sigh of relief, thinking it wasn't colic after all but merely pain from the tooth which had caused the original discomfit.
BUT I should have been paying more attention, because although there were some stools, it was not the usual quantity and in retrospect, the tooth was a red herring and might even have broken off by her grinding her teeth from the colic pain.
And I know now that she shouldn't have been given access to any hay and should have been tubed more frequently, and with water rather than oil. How do you suggest to the vet than his treatment is perhaps not the best option?
The new vet wondered if the melanoma had anything to do with causing the colic. My regular vet didn't think it had yet spread that far and wasn't at all uncomfortable with the idea of breeding with her, but those are questions without answers now.
I'm grateful for the five years of joy she gave me and while I really wanted a foal from this special mare so that her spirit could live on, it wasn't to be. That's life.
Karen

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 18, 2000 - 9:40 am:

Karen-
I'm truly sorry for you, I hope your doing ok.

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 18, 2000 - 1:46 pm:

Karen,
Accept my condolences. Her spirit will live on, in your memories.
Lilo
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC