Help.....almost 3 year old qtr.arab filly just
coming off a strong cycle, started the day a bit off, yesterday....took her
vitals, and all were wnl....walked her down the dirt driveway where she could
munch on fresh grass....which she did...went all the way to the arena.. where
she played around, pooped twice and seemed herself again. By early
afternoon, she was wanting to lie down, so I brought her in her stall in the
barn where she tucked her butt real tight and laid down..took vitals
again....wnl....but very light gut sounds...when she got up, we walked her just
a little...as she kept wanting to go back down....not a throw down, just a
please let me lie down. Massaged her butt muscles (running down the hind
end ?biceps)....which she was tender to the touch....my theory on that is that
when she was in her cycle, she paced her turnout with her butt up in the air so
much, of course, it was tight...just my theory...Anyway by mid afternoon, her
owner came, and we discussed what to do since we live over an hour from
anywhere...we decided to call the owner of a large breeding facility just down
the road, that formerly boarded this horse, and he kindly agreed to come
up. Oh, back up....the filly wouldn't eat and wouldn't take bute in any
disguise....the owner asked for Banamine....which I had. The
neighbor/breeder.....came up and gave her 5 cc Banamine...vitals are again
wnl....
He said, walking a colicky horse is a myth, not
much good....so we let her hang out in the breezeway...and get up and down as
she determined....no thrashing, no biting at her side....no kicking out....just
clearly UNCOMFORTABLE..... the Banamine helped some, she perked up and was
noseying around the barn.....After everyone left, I walked her out to some fresh
grass, which she nibbled at and pooped...just a little. Within 2 hours after the
Banamine, she was wanting to lie down again, and looked sleepy...In the
meantime, I gave her loose salt, and encouraged drinking...which she did
do.
I let her lie and rest, checking every hour, and
she seemed the same. Around 10pm, she was clearly very uncomfortable
again...my bottle of Banamine said 10cc per 1000 lbs. and my neighbor/breeder
said to give her more later if needed. Since she hadn't pooped again since
sunset, and was acting so uncomfortable, I gave her 8cc
Banamine...estimating her to be around 800 lbs. ( vitals wnl) and watched
her until about midnight....pretty much the same....I went to bed until 3:30 and
woke up wondering....It is 4 am and I just checked her again....the
same....she was standing in her stall, but still no poop, and then laid down
after I checked her. She almost likes massage on her belly, but clearly
says that's where she hurts.
Neighbor/breed said it might be gas colic....and it
might be the EXTREME
weather here in California contributing to
it....Wednesday day was 80 degrees, Thursday am was probably 70 and by Thursday
sunset it was 34.....
I will call a vet at 7am but wondering if anyone
else has had similar experience with powerful strong spring menstrual
cycles actually causing a colic???and or the extreme weather changes????
and
what are your thoughts about the "walking" for
colic???? It appeared to me, she felt better being walked.......
As always, thank you for your thoughts, it helps to
share this.
