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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25 September 2016 THE HORSE TheHorse.com take a horse into surgery when a simple dewormer (effective against tapeworms) could have prevented this," she says. Free access to fresh palatable water is also important, says Archer. Make sure it's clean and not iced over, because dehydra- tion can cause impaction colic. So can sudden stall rest, since exercise keeps the gut moving. And if you've got a colic- sensitive horse (and some just are), make management and feeding changes slowly and with caution. "We're not talking about hours or days, but something like two to three weeks for feed and management changes with these horses," Archer says. Generally speaking, keep horses that have colicked on their normal routine as much as possible as soon as it's permitted by their vet, says Scantlebury. Communicate, Communicate Good care for your horse includes good communication with your veterinarian. "It's really important to keep an open dialogue," says Archer. "Knowing how things are going, getting questions an- swered, making sure we're following the right care plan as things progress for each horse. And also keeping up with the bill (see sidebar), which is really necessary." She encourages owners of hospital- ized horses to visit frequently, which also helps with communication between the owner and veterinary staff (although she cautions that lengthy visits can interrupt regular clinic workflow). Owners should refrain from get- ting too wrapped up in the dialogue on internet forums or getting information online from unreliable sources, she adds. "People can feel really overwhelmed and might be tempted to go to the internet, but there are endless websites out there with ridiculous, unscientific advice and lots of anecdotes," she says. "The best information will come from your vet, so don't hesitate to pick up the phone." When All We Do Just Isn't Enough Despite our best efforts and care, some- times horses just can't beat the challenges of colic. Some horses, like Ouragan, de- velop postoperative reflux, which can lead to serious complications and a vicious cycle that often (but not always) requires a second surgery. Others develop a second bout of colic requiring additional surgery. Some can have serious wound infections or painful intestinal adhesions. When the suffering goes on too long, or when the bills get too high, euthanasia can be an ethical ending. "It's okay to say it's time to stop trying," says Archer. Southwood agrees. "Sometimes things don't work out, and it's entirely acceptable to make that decision, even for finan- cial reasons," she says. "No veterinarian would pass judgment on owners for such a decision." Take-Home Message Colic can be taxing on the horse's body, as can the recovery process. But with good after-colic care—whether the horse has had surgery or not—and preventive measures to ward off recurrence, we can help our horses safely transition back to their healthy and active lives, minimizing stressors along the way. h The Cost of Colic No doubt about it, colic surgery is expensive. A basic, complication-free surgery can cost around $5,000 depending on the clinic, while an extensive resection (removing part of the intestine), for instance, can cost double that. To keep you from colicking over the expenses you're running up, keep an open dialogue with your veterinarian and remain realistic. "We want to save them all, and that's why we do what we do. But that doesn't mean all we do is within everyone's budget," says Louise Southwood, BVSc, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, ACVECC, associate professor of emergency medicine and critical care at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square. Be sure you discuss costs with veterinarians, even before going to the clinic. "If you can't spend a thousand dollars for a nonsurgery hospital stay, it's okay to say so," Southwood says. "If you can get the horse to the hospital but can't spend $10,000 if he develops postoperative reflux and needs a second surgery, it's okay to say so." You can also inquire about therapy options to keep costs down, she adds, as possible nonsurgical treatments are often available.—Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA 1952 Castle Rock Rd., Afton, VA 22920 USA + Tel: 540-456-6767, Fax 540-456-6700 Email: info@equustherapeutics.com