Page 6 - Equine Matters - Summer 2013

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COL I C
Nursing the
colic
case
Veterinary Nurse
Sarah Baillie
XLVets Equine Practice
Ardene House Vet
Practice Ltd
Sarah Baillie REVN MBVNA
Ardene House Vet Practice Ltd
Colic
is abdominal pain or discomfort and is one of the most common
medical conditions of the horse. For this reason it is sensible to think
about what may be required should your horse suffer from colic. It can
be distressing to see your horse in pain and fast decision making could
be important in obtaining vital treatment.
Consider these questions:
l
Can you easily contact your vet
from your yard?
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Does everyone who cares for
your horse know who to contact
in an emergency?
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Is your horse insured and does
the policy cover colic?
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Would you consider allowing your
horse to undergo colic surgery?
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How would you transport your
horse to a veterinary hospital
at very short notice (possibly
at night)?
5
EQUINE MATTERS
If your horse has colic
It is important to contact your vet if you
believe your horse is suffering from colic and
not administer any medications or home
remedies as they may be contra-indicated.
While waiting for the vet to arrive remove
any food and ensure the horse doesn’t eat
any bedding. Gentle walking can be helpful
but only if it is safe to do so. It may be safest
to walk the horse on a lunge line in a sand
school to allow them to roll without hurting
themselves or you. Never put yourself in a
situation where you could be trapped by a
violently rolling horse, in severe cases the
horse is often unaware of its surroundings
and can inadvertently injure someone.
Following assessment by your vet, the colic
will most commonly be treated medically but
severe cases may need to be moved to a
surgical facility for surgical treatment or in
some cases the decision may be made to
euthanase the horse on humane grounds.
Hospitalisation for colic
Colic surgery is a major operation and
several factors play a part in making the
decision to undertake this procedure.
Unfortunately cost often means surgery is
not an option. It is an expensive procedure
with long term intensive aftercare which
means costs can easily add up. Having
insurance does not necessarily mean the
insurance company will cover the full bill.
It’s a good idea to check your policy to see
if colic is excluded or if you have an injury
only policy. Different policies have varying
amounts of vets fee cover and so you may
end up covering some of the cost yourself.
It is important to remember that recovery from
colic surgery is a long process and there are
many potential complications which could
prolong recovery further.
It’s not only surgical colic cases which require
hospitalisation; medical cases may require a
stay in hospital too. It may be that frequency
of checks and medication dictate the need
for hospitalisation or it may be the type of
treatment required. Any patient with colic will
require regular observation. The vets and
nurses will check vital parameters as well
as listening to gut sounds, checking mucous
membranes and capillary refill time.
Signs of colic include:
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pawing at the ground and box walking;
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looking round at (or sometimes biting at)
the abdomen;
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rolling and getting up and down
frequently
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sweating
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breathing fast
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restlessness and general discomfort
Gastric ulcers can be a cause of colic
NURSING FEATURE...