The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.
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24 TheHorse.com THE HORSE September 2016 Unfortunately, that incision site can get infected, even if you've been careful about keeping it clean and protected. Infections can delay wound healing and postpone return to work, Southwood says. They can also lead to hernias, in which the intestines protrude through the inci- sion, which can reduce athletic potential, says Debra Archer, BVMS, PhD, CertES (soft tissue), Dipl. ECVS, FHEA, MRCVS, of the University of Liverpool's School of Veterinary Science, in the U.K. "The vast majority of horses (around 86%) that are discharged home following colic surgery return to (or start) work, and one of the key factors that limits this is formation of an incisional hernia," she says. Veterinarians can sometimes repair a hernia via a second surgery, but it's best to try to prevent it from happening by adhering to the rest protocol and using a hernia belt if your veterinarian suspects any weakening of the body wall at the incision site, says Archer. Getting That Gut Moving Surgery or not, a critical aspect of re- turning to health post-colic is getting the intestines to work actively again. The two keys to gut motility? Exercise and eating. You can hand-walk and -graze your horse on the hospital lawn within hours of surgery, our sources say. "We like to get them out to grass after about 12 hours following uncomplicated surgery, just for five minutes at a time," Archer says. "That's what they're designed to eat, and it's a great way to get their guts moving again, eating little and often." Southwood adds that she likes to restart horses on complete senior feeds, an easily palatable source of nutrients that gets them chewing and salivating, which encourage intestinal movement. In some cases owners of nonsur- gical horses might need to withhold feed following the colic episode, says Archer. "If it's an impac- tion of the large colon, you don't want to add to that traffic jam of feed material … by bringing in more food to get stuck there," she explains. "These type of cases will need repeated tubing of fluids via the stomach until the impacted feed starts to move through." Even so, feeding a handful of hay or a few bites of grass might stimulate the gut to move that traffic jam along, she adds. But that decision should be made with a veterinarian's advice. Owners can also, in certain situations, feed their horses certain small treats, with veterinarian approval. The Isolation Blues Horses dealing with colic are in enough pain as it is. But when they recover, they often find themselves locked up— sometimes for weeks, sometimes in unfamiliar environments—and separated from herdmates. Such confinement and isolation can be hard on these social, mobile animals. Again, get the horse out and walking in hand and grazing as often as your v eterinarian recommends, our sources say. Nothing beats fresh air and open space for these animals. "Getting them out and moving a bit helps keep edema (fluid swelling) down and really brightens the horse up," Archer says. "That nursing care is really impor- tant for them." Not Again! Now that he's out of the woods, let's make sure your horse doesn't end up there again. Claire Scantlebury, BSc, BVSc, PhD, MRCVS, of the University of Liverpool, says as many as 30% of post-colic horses colic again within a year. While sometimes it's secondary to the first colic (such as adhesions in the intestines caused by scar tissue after sur- gery), a repeat colic might happen because whatever caused the first colic never resolved. To make sure you're reducing the risk of repeat colics, first look at some common culprits, says Archer. The exact cause of colic is complex and likely involves many factors. She says dental problems that prevent chewing properly are risk factors for colic, and horses should have good, regular dental care to prevent these from developing. Parasites, especially tapeworms, are still far too often a cause of colic, Archer adds. Not all dewormers target tapeworms, and it is difficult to know if they have built up high levels. "It's really disappointing when you Caring for the COLIC SURVIVOR You can (and should) hand-walk and -graze your horse within hours of a complication-free surgery to get his gut moving again. DUSTY PERIN Boillin made daily treks to the clinic to be with Ouragan after his colic surgery—an effort she believes helped save his life. COURTESY CLAIRE BOILLIN