Horse Colic, UPDATE I lost him tonight

[texasgal]

I can totally relate ..

 

[EweSheep]

You have done Mr a right thing to bring him back home. I would have kicked a$$ with this guy that neglected him! That being said and done, all you can do is to hope to have Mr recovering and with the damage being done, in short of having surgery to remove "an ulcer" a diet recommend by a specialist would be a good shot to head for. Even your vet has done everything he possibly can do but he can only do so much out on the field. If you spare no expense on Mr's health, taking him to an equine specialist or university would be the BEST option for him. Even my own U of I equine program is the BEST you can ask for any problem horses.

Wish you and Mr the BEST! I am glad you stood behind your word on buying him back. Was Mr "ruined" physcologically? I hope not! Any breeding plans for him? Maybe a Mr Jr. would be a good replacement if something should happen to Mr.

 

[hen-thusiast]

Hard to believe that's even the same horse. Good luck, I agree with Cetawin there is probably a feed that might make digestion easier.
How on earth can somebody do that to a horse?!?

 

[Skyesrocket]

What a good friend you have been to Mr.! I'm glad he is back with you now. As much as that guy deserves to have his butt rearranged, please don't be the one to do it. You will end up in jail and won't be able to care for the horse. Karma will have it's way with him eventually. The longer I live the more times I see karma in action.
I'm just so touched by the devotion you have had for this horse. He truely must be a special horse.

 

[jmhappycowboy]

Thanks everyone for your kind words. Mr is doing great this morning back to his old self and acting as frisky as a colt, but thats the way it normally is the day after a bout with the colic. I have been on the phone with specialists and they are looking into a feeding program for me to put him on.

Hen-thusiast it is hard to believe that it is the same horse isn't it. When I first saw him looking so bad you can imagine my shock but I am just glad that I could pull him out of it and get him back to looking like he does.

 

[Ashmeade]

Definitely looks like you did a great job with him. From his neglect, what kind of deworming program do you have him on. Worm infestation can cause colic (along with ulcers, etc. often tied to neglect).

Has your vet checked him out in that area?

 

[jmhappycowboy]

Quote:
Thanks for your kind words and Mr is a special horse to me he is and has been one of my best friends for some time now, he's the one that if it seems no one else will listen to you or cares I can go to the pasture and he's right there with his head over my shoulder leaning into me letting me know that he's my buddy. And your right the guy that did this to Mr will pay and pay dearly, I told a friend of mine this morning that would like to believe there is a special place in hell for this guy for not only did he do this to Mr but to quite a few other horses also.

 

[jmhappycowboy]

Quote:
Ewesheep, thanks for the kind words, I have been on the phone with a specialist this morning concerning his diet and am about to call MSU vet college and see if they can offer any suggestions or help. He's doing ok this morning but I know its only a matter of time before it happens again.

Thanks for the well wishes and as for being ruined physocologically no he is still the same gentle soul he was beforehand. As for breeding him I have 1 mare in with him now that has been in there for about a year and she hasn't had a foal yet, so I don't know if the problem is hers or him. I am getting her checked tomorrow to see if she is in foal, I want to think it might be the mare as she will cycle and he breeds her and then almost to the day 3 months later she will cycle again, but this time its been closer to 4 or 5 months and no cycles so i've got my fingers crossed. I am thinking of looking for another mare to breed just so I can get a Mr Jr. But I am really hoping with food changes and care I will have him around for awhile yet.

 

[jmhappycowboy]

Quote:
Thanks you. I worm him with paste wormer every 3 months and rotate the brand. This was set up by the vet. The vet has checked him out in this area and he recommended yesterday that we change his wormer to a 5 day dose pack from now on, so I will be going to pick that up shortly.

 

[ducks4you]

I agree about asking your vet for a special diet. Purina's new Senior recipe can be moistened into a pulp and is now used to feed Seniors without teeth. I'm sure it's gentle, like a mash, and you can use it safely when/if you need to grain him. This would have made my blow a gasket, too, but there was a reason that you finally have him back. I know that one colic leads to more. I also know that any changes in diet can trigger them. If you can keep a constant supply of the same hay for him, that will really help. Are you on BackYardHerds yet? Here's a thread that you'll want to read:
http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2425
Congratulations that you have your old friend back!