Thank you all! He went out on grass this morning in a muzzle for 1 1/2 hours and ate with gusto. He passed manure when he came in. I called the vet hospital and asked for the internal medicine people to help w re-feeding, so am awaiting a call back. I’ve also called Triple Crown to ask if TC Senior Active can be used as a complete feed (bag says it can’t). Thank you for continued jingles and prayers, especially w all the terrible weather some are experiencing.
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I commented earlier and I wish I could remember all the specifics, but my guy post op was eating hay before they gave him any grain. Rood and Riddle fed him alfalfa – well about 2 days later because he was refluxing initially post-op and developed post-op ileus. I do know I kept him on an alfalfa blend when he was at the rehab barn and then the rehab slowly transitioned to regular grass hay.
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Good update- I will continue jingling!
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I remember that… which is part of the reason increasing the Unbeetable so drastically gave me pause. I know is isn’t grain, but it’s still a lump of stuff in the stomach, at least to me.
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I don’t think Sr Active can be, but the regular Senior and Senior Gold can. They both soak very well, too. Add me to the list of confused why they want grain but not forage. I would think a soft, chopped forage like Triple Crown Safe Starch (grass based) or even Stress Free (alfalfa based, plus probiotics, designed to help prevent ulcers and irritation) would be ideal in the situation.
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The Well Gel can be used as a top dressing too fyi. I have used it here that way with elderly very hard keepers. Sending you and Seven jingles and healthy vibes!
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@SMF11, where does one purchase Well Gell??
@JBCool, I called TC and the customer service from Stacy was wonderful. Senior Active can be used as a complete feed. I also asked about the Stress Free. She thought it might be too steamy at this stage of the game.
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I got mine from my vet’s office, but I’ve read you can buy it online. I fed (I think, it was a few years ago) a cup AM and PM and the big tub lasted a month or two.
Here are a couple of links:
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I don’t have access to Senior Active so thanks for letting me know. I think Stress Free is usually pretty soft, but being alfalfa based I guess it depends on the crop.
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So……he’s REALLY hungry. I’ve asked about hay in a net (we have very nice, soft grass hay) and get a fairly definitive no. But he’s hungry…chewing on walls, snuffling through his sawdust bedding looking for scraps of hay…calling anytime he sees someone. He’s getting all the complete feed he’s supposed to.
I’m wondering if I get a very small hole haynet if he could have soft, soaked hay tonight to entertain himself. Does anyone have thoughts???
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I’ve never had a horse go through colic surgery but my pony almost didn’t make it through a bad colic that was medical managed at home. While bringing her back my vet told me you’ll never kill her by not feeding her but you can kill her from feeding her too much. He had me hand graze on grass 15minutes for every poop pile. Small soaked grain meals. No hay for a few weeks and when introducing hay it was a single handful of hay every 2-3 hours. It sucked to see her hungry but she’s still here.
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It’s so hard not to feel guilty but you’re doing a great job 
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I especially love this!
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Why not follow your vet’s instructions? I am sure this is not the first horse they have treated for this.
If you do not trust what they are telling you to do, maybe you need to find another vet.
I certainly would not trust what strangers on the internet are telling you over what your chosen vet is telling you.
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Gosh I think we would all feel that way! It’s our instinct to feed animals and giving food is equated to showing love. It’s understandably hard.
So glad he is home and doing better though. 
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And to clarity, when he first got out of surgery, they hung a “tease” net to stimulate his appetite. He played w it all the time but couldn’t eat out of it. That’s more what I had in mind…so he doesn’t feel left out when others get hay. I have a very small net we don’t use because horses can’t get hay. I guess I need to clarify w the surgeon I asked, as well. I understand why he isn’t getting hay right now.
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No, we do not all feel that way. I follow the advice my very well educated and trained veterinarian gives because they know much more than I ever will. That is why I have them. To give me the best advice in my horse’s best interest.
I have lost a horse to a strangulating lipoma and would have stood on my head if my vet told me that it would help my horse.
There are very specific reasons to follow the vet’s advice concerning refeeding. Those reasons can be the difference between the horse surviving or not.
This is not about showing love through feeding. Show your horse you love it by following the vet’s instructions.
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Oh geez calm down. I was empathizing with how OP felt. Stop implying something that wasn’t there.
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Well, bless your heart @TWH_Girl!
I did not imply anything. If you cannot clearly read what I plainly stated, that is on you.
I pay my vet good money from excellent advice. I follow it. Why should someone think they know better than a veterinarian unless they are one?
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