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Post by tina on Mar 4, 2003 7:50:45 GMT -5
I brought my old guy his hot mash this am like I always do and he refused to touch it no mater what I did. I crumbled up a bunch of his hay cubes and he didnt want those either both of which he has never refused either. Since he has no teeth I thought maybe his mouth was bothering him again so I tried to check it out but it was to dark yet to see anything, I felt around his gums thou and he didnt flinch or seem sore. Its very cold out and he does have a very warm blanket w/hood(that some sweet soul here gave him) but I threw another blanket on him in case he is ust to chilled. I offered him some warmer water(I bring hot jugs with me in the am) but he refused that also. I checked his heart rate and resps but they seem normal, normal for him anyway. Im going back over in a lil while to check on him againand if he is still not eating I am calling the vet out, I cant stand the thought that he might be in pain or sick. I have noticed the past 3 days he seems almost depressed in a way, standing with his head in the stall conner and not caring much about whats going on, very NOT normal for him. I left him in with Tango since thats always the high light of his day being in her stall with her, maybe that will cheer him up.
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Post by Smay on Mar 4, 2003 9:24:28 GMT -5
...gut sounds? How is his manure? He sounds like he MAY have an impaction of some sort....they kind of quit eating slowly and get depressed. I hope he doesn't but the vet could probably tell...and maybe they could him cleared out with oil and stuff....gosh I hope he's OK. The poor old thing.
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Post by Skye Pilot on Mar 4, 2003 9:56:15 GMT -5
I would be checking gut sounds..... When I read your note, I was thinking colic in this cold weather. Not to scare you, but to look for signs of. Sometimes they will reach around to touch their nose to belly to say it hurts here.
Diego is such a cribber without a collar that we were always having tummy problems and he wouldn't eat. I have learned a lot of home remedies to help with colic and I keep meds at hand to help them.
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Post by chrisnstar on Mar 4, 2003 10:06:40 GMT -5
Not to scare you, but I had an old mare who died of colic.. once they get to a certain age, their guts just don't work as well as they used to. My mare was fine in the morning. 24 hours later, she was dead from impaction colic... Get a vet out. Also, invest in a $10 stethoscope. You can hear gut sounds with it and learn to take pulses. that is vital information to tell the vet... hang in there. good luck with the old guy.
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Post by Skye Pilot on Mar 4, 2003 10:15:32 GMT -5
A couple of years ago, I lost my gelding I had for 24 years to heat colic....  he was 28 years old. They just don't bounce back like young horses. |
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Post by tina on Mar 4, 2003 10:58:36 GMT -5
Im not thinking colic, gut sounds are fine, his gums are a normal pink and pretty much normal amount of poops in his stall from over night. I didnt see any signs of him acting ike he had a belly ache either. That was my first thought also and scared the jeeves outa me. I do have a stethoscope and all those kinda goodies since I was a nurse, Im going to put it into my car trunk so I have it if I do need it at thebarn for him, he is so thin thou its pretty easy to hear heart and gut sounds just leaning myhead on him but I would be able to get a much better sound with my stethes. With age approaching 57, I believe thats it, I worry about him so much and have been dreading something happening to him. Im on my way over now and if there is no improvement I am calling the vet to come check himout. Hopefully he is just depressed over this long cold winter and spring will come soon, I have him inside a lot lately cause I am so afraid he is going to fall on all the ice. He does love being let out inside the barn thou so I will let him out while I get my chores done and work on Tangos legs, maybe that will cheer him up some. Thanks everyone and please keep him in your thoughts today....
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Post by LynnC on Mar 4, 2003 12:03:11 GMT -5
Maybe you should have your vet out to take a look. We had a gelding at our barn that had impaction colic. The vet was out and tubed him. Later that day she told us to make him a bran mash. He ate a little but seemed very depressed. He pooped a little too. He still seemed depressed when the owner came back and the vet said to take him to Cornell, luckily they did because he did have an impaction.
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