[Xiphias]

Poor fella, being that age, he probably has more sand in his gut than you thought, I will pray that everything passes and I think your idea of rubber matting is a good one, to keep him from injesting sand...Cathy

[bnttyra]

Well, after 2 1/2 days at the vet there still is no change. So now I keep thinking we need to decide if we want to keep doing this. Knowing he is closer to 20 plus years and has been suffering with this bout of colic for almost 2 weeks, is it fair to him to keep him alive any longer? But, is it not fair to still give him time if the vet says there still is a chance? It is not about $ or being so attached to him that we just don't want to let go. It is about being fair to him and either giving him the chance to get better or just making the suffering end. Hopefully the vet will call later this morning with something definite, I know, wishfull thinking. If anyone has advice on this I would really appreciate it.

[pantha11]

Your horse is going through so much at the moment, I am concerned with a number of things...Lack of weight, colicy, anemic, sand in the gut.

I can suggest a few thing to help.

"Digest Aid"
Mix together (in dried herb form), Meadowsweet, Marshmallow, Peppermint and Chamomile, give a generous handful 2 times a day.....These can be given to horses on medication, but it is more benificial if they are not, it will clean there system out, and help them absorb/digest vitamins mineral etc, more effectively.

Meadowsweet-anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and diuretic properties. It will sooth the gastric mucosa. It is a good digestive herb that helps with scours...(the runs)....but do not give to pegnant mares.

Marshmallow: has expectorant, relaxing and mucilaginous properties which make it valuable for use in herbal mixtures designed for horses with coughs and respiratory congestion.

Peppermint is extremely well known as a remedy for stomach and intestinal disorders. The essential oils present in peppermint normalize digestive tract function. The oils also have antiulcer and anti-inflammatory activity. It has been shown to have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties.

Chamomile: is used as a sedative for horses that are high strung due to nervousness and stress.

"Echinacea"...1 handful twice daily.
Excellent for weak immune systems as well as bacterial and viral infections. Can be used as a preventative for infection, and used for treating infections.
It has so many healing properties, and very good for horses that are anemic...it increases and improves the body's red blood count.
I would suggest you surf the net to get more info as there is to much to give you on here.

Would suggest you have your horse on these for about 5 to 6 weeks.

Let me know how your horse is doing after 5-6 weeks....there may be other things I can suggest....

You can get these from most health food shops.

Hope these can help you.

[bnttyra]

Thanks for the suggestions! If he pulls through I will definitely give some of those a try. We live in pretty sandy area and he is one of those that "eats" the dirt if you let him. We have been keeping him in the pasture but will need to keep him in a stall with flooring from now on because all else we tried has not work. Phsyllium daily not just 1 time a month is now a must with him.

Thanks again.

T

[pantha11]

If you can, start him on these herbs ASAP....I treaed my mare for an illness that the vets could not help me with...she had lost so much weight, colicy, amenic etc, and I was feeding her what you would feed an endurance horse on, within 2 days of starting this treatment she improved, after 2 months I had to watch her weight as she was to fat....I am not saying to stop what the vet have suggested, just start her on these.....they will make a huge difference.

[BettyBootsy]

With the anemia and low weight on top of it all makes me think you dealing with a ulcer as well. When was the last time you wormed this horse with a good everything wormer? Gastro Guard daily but thats a tube a day and runs 30 ish bucks a tube but well worth it. 20 isn't that old actually. Horses live well into there 30's and some 40's its all about how there kept up. Alfalfa is like a antiacid but ask your vet about it. Theres tons of things you can do you say it's not money but then someone offers you advice but your going to wait and do nothing too see if the horse pulls thru! Do you have any pics? I would also find another vet! True anemia in horses is actually rare. High worm load for long periods of time poor nutrition can cause anemia but fixes with proper care in a short time. Do you have a neg. coggins on this horse?

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

Originally Posted by bnttyra

Well, after 2 1/2 days at the vet there still is no change. So now I keep thinking we need to decide if we want to keep doing this. Knowing he is closer to 20 plus years and has been suffering with this bout of colic for almost 2 weeks, is it fair to him to keep him alive any longer? But, is it not fair to still give him time if the vet says there still is a chance? It is not about $ or being so attached to him that we just don't want to let go. It is about being fair to him and either giving him the chance to get better or just making the suffering end. Hopefully the vet will call later this morning with something definite, I know, wishfull thinking. If anyone has advice on this I would really appreciate it.

Personally, I would wait for the spark to leave his eyes. When he doesn't "fight" to get better anymore and he just seems sad and eyes look dull...My mini kept the spark so long. Her last day it finally left...

I truly hope your boy pulls through and lives many more years. I'm rooting for him!

Do you know his Calcium and Potassium levels?

[bnttyra]

Originally Posted by BettyBootsy

With the anemia and low weight on top of it all makes me think you dealing with a ulcer as well. When was the last time you wormed this horse with a good everything wormer? Gastro Guard daily but thats a tube a day and runs 30 ish bucks a tube but well worth it. 20 isn't that old actually. Horses live well into there 30's and some 40's its all about how there kept up. Alfalfa is like a antiacid but ask your vet about it. Theres tons of things you can do you say it's not money but then someone offers you advice but your going to wait and do nothing too see if the horse pulls thru! Do you have any pics? I would also find another vet! True anemia in horses is actually rare. High worm load for long periods of time poor nutrition can cause anemia but fixes with proper care in a short time. Do you have a neg. coggins on this horse?

First of all, it is not anemia, we ruled that out late Tueday night, it is from not eating due to the sand colic for about 2 1/2 weeks now. Not to mention because we could not get him to drink so IV fluids were necessary to rehydrate him. (that too makes them look supper skinny when dehydrated) We have him on Gastro Guard since we assumed the sand was irritating his stomach and possibly causing ulcers. And yes, 20 in ponies is not old but he has to want to live and up until this morning we were seeing very little signs from him that he did want to live. He was wormed about 1 1/2 ago, that is not the problem.

Second, I trully appreciate all the advice and have made several suggestions to the vet that she agrees might help, including yours about the possible anemia of which we did the blood panel. But to even suggest that I am doing nothing but waiting for him to get better or die is rude. We have spent 3 whole days at the vet's, with IVs, tubing, mineral oil, etc. and plenty of money to save this pony. Not to mention getting up every couple of hours to give him shots and check on him. Does that sound like I am doing nothing? Sorry, but you post something like that after what I have been doing to save him and it ****** me off! I have not been able to post hardly anything over the last week because of taking care of him. If we can not get the impaction to pass, he will need to be put down. I don't want him to suffer. And this is a very good vet, she is doing all she can and I will not find another vet, there is no need.

Thirdly, this pony was fat and happy up until about 2 1/2 weeks ago. He is very well taken care of, wormed regularly, shots, etc. I don't want him to die but there comes a time in all horses lives that they need to be allowed to die, especially if they are ready. Even if it is when they are still somewhat young. I would have never posted anything if I didn't care, and want the advice. There are many these that I am going to start with him after he is better and off the current medication. The vet said herbs could help but that we need to wait until he is off the gut simulate and banamine, simply because she is not certain how they may react together.

Finally, the update is that he seems to be better this morning. Drank lots of water, wanted to eat and seemed more alert. And with that, I need to go and take him for a walk and give him some more banamine, basically, go do more of "nothing".

[BettyBootsy]

Hey sorry didn't mean to sound rude but you were the one that said you were going to wait too see if he pulled thru so maybe you should of been more specific. Were only trying to help you too! In one sentence you say hes at the vets on IV's and the next you got to go take care of him. Well makes me wonder. You never said anything about Gastro Gaurd before. Glad theres no aniema and you wormed 6 weeks ago doesn't mean you don't have a worm load. Liqui Lytes are pretty good too! And there is always surgery. Good luck didn't mean to ruffle your feathers!

[bnttyra]

Originally Posted by BettyBootsy

Hey sorry didn't mean to sound rude but you were the one that said you were going to wait too see if he pulled thru so maybe you should of been more specific. Were only trying to help you too! In one sentence you say hes at the vets on IV's and the next you got to go take care of him. Well makes me wonder. You never said anything about Gastro Gaurd before. Glad theres no aniema and you wormed 6 weeks ago doesn't mean you don't have a worm load. Liqui Lytes are pretty good too! And there is always surgery. Good luck didn't mean to ruffle your feathers!

He was spending the day at the vets, and we would pick him up and have him home in the evening and over night and then back to the vet in the morning. As for not being specific enough, well I have been a bit busy and only posted anything in an attempt to get some more ideas and details were put down quickly and things may have been missed. We have done so much to the little guy it is easy to forget a couple of things. The vet says it is not a worm problem but strickly sand colic that resulted in an impaction, partly because he didn't want to drink. The other reason some of the suggestions had to do with getting him to eat things and he has not been wanting to eat anything. The IVs have been what is keeping him alive. So I really can't try any of the herbs due in part to that as well as the vet wanting to wait. Surgery is an option that even the vet said is not that great. The reason is because he is so weak right now that she is not certain he would survive the surgery. I do appreciate the advice and I am probably just over stressed right now and took what was posted personally. Sorry.

He has definitly perked up over the last 24 hours and has even passed alittle manure. He ate some grass yesterday and even nickered at me several times. Hopefully we will start to see more manure on the ground and he will want to eat more than just the carrots which is the only thing I have been able to get him to touch other than the little bit of grass.