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Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 04/26/2004 12:06:41 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?
A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. We may not ~always~ have a lot of activity, but when we do, it will be fun. I will put a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I will also develop a ping list for horse threads that are of interest. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
I am hoping this thread will be a fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Yes I did ride today for a couple of hours.
Hanging out here now waiting to hear about Hairs horse....
Becky
Vet's been and gone, Bay perked up at the sight of the vet, and tested fairly normal, vet said he's had a LOT of colic lately, he said, it's so hot and dry now that perhaps the pastures are all eaten down to dust, and the horses either eat too much dirt or, because he's back in the woods, maybe they resort to eating shrubberies that they shouldn't eat and normally wouldn't.
He gave him Banamine injection, I have moved him to the front pasture where I can watch him, maybe he is just a wee bit sick or he was really just looking for a comfortable spot to lay down and I overly panic, but trusting as he is, it was still odd for him to not get up when I nudged him. Put the halter on and really talked LOUD to him before he got up. I think he's got a belly ache, minor perhaps, but better to be on the safe side. He's grazing on the dry grass and dandelions in the front. I sure wish it would rain and get the dust down.
Pic of him before we got him up, but he's apparently fine and out in the pasture now.
I think you are right. Sounds like at least a mild colic. In the past one shot would always take care of the problem for me, so you're probably in the clear now.
Here's the other thing the vet said to do...
Wait until he poops and take several of the poops, put them in water and mash them up.... see if dirt sinks to the bottom. If it does, he's eating dirt, and there is a supplement I can buy (Psyllium) that will help clean that out and soothe the system.
Fun stuff huh!
I was here, my talkative neighbor called just as I was trying to answer your post.
I'm so glad he got over it quick.
What all did the vet check? Just curious about different vets procedures.
Becky
LOL. I've seen my vet do that. He puts a hand full of poop in a plastic bag with water shakes it up real hard till the poop all breaks up then lets it set for awhile. The poop will float, and the dirt will sink. Looks like they all check for the same stuff.
Becky
His nostrils look a bit distended in that picture. Was his respiration up? That's something you can check yourself if you wonder if your horse is colicky.
Becky
He checked temperature and listened to belly sounds all over, hydration by looking at his gums, watched him walk around, asked me about diet and wormer, and I led him to real good grass in the yard where Bay actually took some bites of that. He put a glove on to do a rectal exam but Bay wasn't going to stand for it, so he said he wouldn't risk it, with the other symptoms being pretty minor. If Bay jumps around for that, he could cause injury to himself or the vet and there didn't seem to be enough cause. If he has to return (the Banamine will wear off in 6-8 hours) he'd sedate him to try that again.
Wow, 6-8 hours. I wonder if Rusty just wasn't getting as much or he was that bad. His Banamine shots wore off after 30 minutes. She sedated him after the second banamine shot to do a rectal exam. I knew Rusty's was a bad one.
So glad Bay is OK:)
Becky
Just checked in. Is there a horse virus going on around this thread? :') Glad Bay (and Rusty) doing better. It's hot and dry here too but looks like raining coming in (as usual when I'm on the road :'(
I saw a horse at the stables a few weeks ago that was colicy. She kept trying to lay down. The poor little girl exhausted walking her and keeping her up.
I don't have a bill yet or the dosage... But that is a huge difference.
My vet was a little more hands-offish than that. He said if Bay lays down again now but is quiet, to let him be. If he is rolling, get him up and walk him.
His reasoning was that if he is feeling bad and just tired, that he may find comfort in laying down, if he is rolling, he can injure himself if he has a twist or a blockage, and that getting up and walking him will both get things shifting around a little more gently, and keep him from hurting himself.
Yeah, as long as they will lay quiet they can lay. Rusty kept rolling I was having to sit on him to hold him down, because he would stay on his feet.
Becky
The bill...shaking:)....I get mine today when I go get the antibiotics. I've heard she is very reasonable. I'm expecting at least $150.
Becky
I learn so much here that I don't find in my books. The first time I saw Okie rolling I couldn't believe it. It think he was just scratching caz he was fine and playful but he had his big body on the ground and just kicking those long legs up in the air and thrashing about. After a few minutes he got up and went looking for something to chase:')
It's OK for them to roll if their not colicky. If they have an impaction or gas build up and roll they are more likely to twist. It's only when they are colicing that you have to try to keep them from rolling.
Becky
Yeah - a good roll on any other day is a good thing. It's coupled with other symptoms, and when they won't ~stop~ that there's a reason to worry.
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