So happy for good news!
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Excellent news!! Look forward to that picture if you can get one.
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I haven’t gotten a picture outside yet, but today is his first day w a hay net and a bit of hay in it. His face truly lit up when he saw it. Wish I’d captured that!! He’s still thin…. But happy and buckling in his stall today.
What I’m not clear on is whether the concern is about his ability to physically handle long stem forage or if it’s the hind gut biome that needs to get on board. He’s on grass 1 1/2 hours a day without a muzzle, 2 1/2 w a muzzle. My home vet who sent him to the hospital feels he can have hay. The hospital vets want to go slower. He’s hungry but just won’t eat more cubes and concentrate. If anyone has thoughts, please share them and the why behind it please.
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Would steaming his hay make it better for him? When looking online, I saw some claims that it increases intake, that it’s better for the hindgut, easier to eat, etc. I don’t have any personal experience, though.
Examples of claims:
Steaming increased DMI [Dry Matter Intake] of low mold hay. Horses ate 1.4 pounds of unsteamed and 4.4 pounds of steamed low mold hay
and (different source):
Steaming hay reduces bacterial counts almost entirely. This benefits horses with respiratory compromise and may also support a healthier hindgut. “The health of the horse depends largely on the health of the intestinal microbiome. Microbial contamination in a horse’s feed could upset the delicate balance of microbes in the hindgut, leading to dysbiosis and related conditions such as colic and colitis,”
fixed typo
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It’s certainly something to explore. Thank you! Our hay is second cutting, very soft grass hay. It’s low NSC as well. I bought a leaf mulcher and was going to do that until someone expressed concern he could choke on that.
Could you steam chopped hay? I’ve never steamed or chopped hay, but I would think that the added moisture content would greatly reduce or the risk of choke.
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That’s also a good question/idea. I looked at a steamer at one point to reduce sugar (it does take out a bit) but wound up not needing it. He doesn’t like commercial chopped hay and it has much sharper pieces than our hay.
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Maybe if you don’t want to buy a steamer, could you try soaking it? I think you have him at home, correct? Maybe you could feed him smaller amounts throughout the day that are soaked that would reduce his ability to choke?
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I think I will give that a try tomorrow. Thank you for the suggestion.
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I was thinking soaked hay, as well. Softens the hay a bit and increases water intake, so things keep “sliding” through so to speak.
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Could the vets think that long stem hay might irritate the incision or cause adhesions while the intestine is healing? And may not be worrying about impactions but irritating healing tissue at this point. If he will eat soaked hay that might help.
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Thank you, everyone, for your ideas. I’m not really clear…his wonderful veterinarian was here last week. She thinks he looks even better than he did last year at this time (so do I)!!! Silver lining to colic surgery- change his diet😀. He is getting handfuls of hay throughout the day and a small amount in a hay net mid afternoon. His hay net is 2 inches; I just ordered a 1” and a 1 1/2” net. I think because he landed back in the hospital, she is being extra careful and conservative. I forgot to ask about soaking. I had a list of questions but neglected to add that one.
He eats very slowly and is a methodical chewer. I’m inclined to agree w the hospital doctors who thought he may have had an adhesion, but just in case, I will feed at her pace.
She did not seem to think chopping was necessary.
Thank you for your continued interest and support. I cry tears of joy and gratefulness every night I still have him.
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You know, I always thought the horse I did colic surgery on did better gut-wise after surgery, as well. I can’t say for sure bc I got to do the surgery just two months after buying him, but it sure seemed like it. I do think he was more food-protective in a turnout situation afterward, too, though. At one location I boarded, we called him his turnout partner’s diet plan 
Maybe just FYI to think about.
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Happy Thanksgiving to you & Seven !
Thanks for sharing ! Looking very comfortable & happy !
Be proud of all your work ensuring his recovery !
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Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support💗
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Happy Thanksgiving to you and Seven!!! 
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So glad Seven is home with you and doing well.
Happy Turkey day to you both.
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Happy Thanksgiving to you and Seven!
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