[gallop4life]

I think that there is a big problem with some threads in the health forum. It's not that common, but it has been getting worse.

If you horse is seriously hurt or ill, or experiencing a lot of pain then you need to CALL THE VET!

This horse forum is great for a lot of advice, but when it comes down to your horses health; the vet should be your first call.

I'm not talking about when your horse has a little cut and you are wondering what is the best ointment for it. Then, a forum is great.

If your horse is in the middle of FULL-BLOWN COLIC then CALL THE VET!
Writing a thread will not help your horse. No one sitting behind their computer can perform a rectal exam and noone can administer a sedative.

You can't even diagnose what kind of colic it is from hundreds of miles away. What may work for one type of colic may be fatal in another. We can't determine how serious it is. Maybe your horse is too far gone and walking it may only prolonge it's pain.

I was talking to a vet yesterday (horse colicking) and she has been hours (or even days) late in emergencies because people are treating severe injuries and illnesses based on a forum rather than calling her immediatly.

Gaping legwounds get infected, Foals are suffocating, and colicking horses displace and twist because people are following advice on forums rather than calling the VET.

I am not blaming anyone, but I find this new trend alarming. A vet has been certified to do their job. You don't know the backround of someone on a forum. There are many contradictions here, and a person just trying to help may offer an incorrect remedy out of pure inexperience.

SO PLEASE , if your horse is seriously unwell CALL THE VET IMMEDIATELY! It will save you a lot of heartache and expence in the long run. Sometimes it can even save a life.

[TB Jumpers]

good thread. i read all of it lol.

[Jenje!]

Absolutely right.

I'm okay with everyone trying to help out when a person is stuck without a vet/waiting on one and really worried about their horse... no problem!

But people have to understand that coming here first is NOT a good idea.

We can arm-chair quarterback the situation all day, but nothing helps like a set of eyes and hands on the horse... not to mention a head full of vet college!

Not to mention that people lie about their experience and knowledge all the time. I would really hate to see someone take "emergency" advice from someone on a forum and wind up losing their horse because the only horse the would-be helper has ever laid hands on has a stick up its butt.

[Spotted Mustang]

Originally Posted by Jenje!

Absolutely right.

I'm okay with everyone trying to help out when a person is stuck without a vet/waiting on one and really worried about their horse... no problem!

But people have to understand that coming here first is NOT a good idea.

We can arm-chair quarterback the situation all day, but nothing helps like a set of eyes and hands on the horse... not to mention a head full of vet college!

Not to mention that people lie about their experience and knowledge all the time. I would really hate to see someone take "emergency" advice from someone on a forum and wind up losing their horse because the only horse the would-be helper has ever laid hands on has a stick up its butt.

I agree 110%.

[idlewild]

I totally agree.

My horses have been injured a few times, and I can tell you this, HGS is the LAST thing on my mind!! The first is to get out there and see them (if I'm not at the barn already) and then secondly call the vet as soon as I find out what symptoms are being shown.

Only after the vet has come and gone and things are settling down do I think about HGS. Even then, that thought normally comes much much later when the horse is taken care of and I am home and trying to unwind after a stressful day.

[GingerSnap]

Originally Posted by Jenje!

Absolutely right.

I'm okay with everyone trying to help out when a person is stuck without a vet/waiting on one and really worried about their horse... no problem!

But people have to understand that coming here first is NOT a good idea.

We can arm-chair quarterback the situation all day, but nothing helps like a set of eyes and hands on the horse... not to mention a head full of vet college!

Not to mention that people lie about their experience and knowledge all the time. I would really hate to see someone take "emergency" advice from someone on a forum and wind up losing their horse because the only horse the would-be helper has ever laid hands on has a stick up its butt.

I know serious business, but that analogy was just to funny, I had all kinds of images.

But your right on the net you don't really know who you are dealing with behind that screen.

Originally Posted by idlewild

I totally agree.

My horses have been injured a few times, and I can tell you this, HGS is the LAST thing on my mind!! The first is to get out there and see them (if I'm not at the barn already) and then secondly call the vet as soon as I find out what symptoms are being shown.

Only after the vet has come and gone and things are settling down do I think about HGS. Even then, that thought normally comes much much later when the horse is taken care of and I am home and trying to unwind after a stressful day.

I agree too. When we had a colic case last year I called the vet got the horse comfy and then posted on a thread, the whole while my horse was right out my window (just like I did with Annie) I could, see, hear and touch him at any moment just had to lean out the window.

[Jenje!]

Yay! Always glad to give a laugh!

[minilove]

Its sad that calling the vet first isn't common sense

[Arabians4ME]

I agree with majority of whats said and I think it's a good thread but so many times we get new or young members on here that will never see this thread before they create this. I couldn't count on my fingers and toes how many times I have seen threads that all say call the vet which is what needs to be done but just sometimes I think it takes someone telling some people that they need to call the vet, that they honestly don't know to.

That's my opinion from all the threads I have seen on here that needed vets, most anyway.

[Xiphias]

Good thread, I felt bad about the horse that was colicing for two days, and the vet got there finally, and could do nothing....not even put the horse down...and it died....the first thing I do, if the colic is bad, is call the vet...if it is mild, I might make a thread, then watch my horse....and if it don't seem to get better in an hour, or it seems to get worst, I wll CALL MY VET, or ANY VET! I will not keep hoping that my horse will get better by walking her or him all night for two days.....

Cathy