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COL I C
Home care following
medical treatment
Specific home care instructions will depend
on the condition treated but the main
considerations are usually diet and
exercise. Feeding small frequent amounts
of fibre may be required as well as
walking out to grass progressing to
turnout. Feeds should be well wetted and
hay soaked or steamed as well as free
access to fresh clean water. Monitoring
should include appetite, the amount of
food eaten and dropping production.
Water intake should also be monitored
and if insufficient amounts are being taken
then the horse will need encouragement to
drink. This can be done by flavouring the
water with fruit juice, the addition of salt in
feed or a salt lick. A clean deep bed is a
good idea both for comfort and in case
of recurrence of colic episodes. Bedding
should not be edible, so shavings or paper
would be preferable.
Home care following
surgery
Once the horse is at a suitable point to
be discharged aftercare will be continued
at home. A long period of box rest,
possibly one to two months, may be
required as well as in-hand walking.
Careful monitoring of the surgical incision
is important and any sign of wound
breakdown, discharge, heat or swelling
should be mentioned to your vet. Staples
or stitches are usually removed around
two weeks after surgery if there are
no complications.
Your horse will have received post-operative
antibiotics however a potential complication
of abdominal surgery is peritonitis and
endotoxaemia which can lead to laminitis.
Monitoring for an increase in temperature
and heart rate and the presence of strong
digital pulses can help detect these
potential problems.
Feeding may involve a laxative diet of
grass, hay and fibre with a feed balancer
in small frequent amounts.
Faecal output should be closely monitored
to ensure a sufficient amount is being
passed. Consistency should also be
noted as a change can indicate problems
for example diarrhoea may be an
indicator of colitis triggered by antibiotic
administration. Remember when caring
for your horse following colic surgery
if you have any concerns contact your
vet or nurse, there’s no harm in
being cautious.
SUMMER 2013 ISSUE
EQUINE MATTERS
6
Emphasis is placed on TLC for colic cases
as being in an unfamiliar environment feeling
unwell is obviously not pleasant. Regular
grooming as well as walks outside (if not
contra-indicated) can really help a patient’s
mental wellbeing. For patient’s not receiving
food or water by mouth, it is a good idea to
periodically rinse the horse’s mouth out to
make it more comfortable.
Prevention
It’s worth mentioning some measures
which may help prevent some cases
of colic.
These include:
l
making any changes in diet or
management as gradually as possible;
l
ensuring free access to water and
feeding a moist diet;
l
regular worming and/or worm
egg counts;
l
having dental checks/teeth rasping
every 6 -12 months;
l
preventing your horse from eating
its bedding;
l
avoiding grazing on sandy soil or if
this is not possible feeding a psyllium
husk supplement to aid passage
of sand;
l
if your horse is prescribed box rest
ensure hay and feed is soaked and
ensure adequate water intake;
l
following sedation or anaesthesia follow
your vets feeding recommendations.
l
feeding plenty of fibre;
Free access to water can help prevent colic