Matt is in desperate need of jingles - he’s currently in route to OVC.
Luckily I was already at the barn when he started to colic. He had just had a chiro adjustment, just a regular maintenence, and when I was watching a couple other adjustments, I heard a horse rolling. I didn’t think it was Matt, so I thought nothing of it. I was getting ready to leave and going to give him a treat when I noticed he had shavings on his blanket. I offered him a carrot, he wouldn’t take it, but did reluctantly take a stud muffin. I watched him for a bit and he seemed a little uncomfortable, occasionally circling and looking at his sides. Then he went down again, and that’s when I thought ‘oh shit’. The manager was with the chiro group and I let her know what was happening, and she immediatly called the vet. I started hand walking.
Unfortunitely the vet was an hour away. He pooped twice in that time, but his discomfort grew and in the final 10 minutes before the vet arrived, Matt was trying to go down as he was walking.
Vet arrived at immediatly gave sedation and banamine. There were no gut sounds and a rectal exam revealed A LOT of gas. The colon was pushed far to the side and the vet was worried a twist was next. That’s when the decision was made to send him to OVC. The trailer was a half hour away, and in the mean time, Matt was tubed to get some fluids in him. That’s when another problem arose. He had reflux, but instead of grain from his dinner, the fluid coming out was sour and rancid. The vet was worried about enteritis. Fluid kept pouring out, even after the tube was pulled, so the vet decided to ship him with a tube in place. A glove was placed over the tip with a hole in the finger so fluid could come out, but not much air could get in. The trailer arrived a couple minutes later and a top up was sedation with a pain killer was given, to keep him comfortable for the trip. Matt loaded up easily and away he went.
The vet filled me in on the next steps, but I was getting emotional at this point and what he was saying barely sunk in. Luckily other boarders and the manager were around who had been through this before were able to fill in the gaps.
I’m so grateful for being surrounded by such supportive fellow borders, a couple who even took over hand walking when I needed a break, and an incredible manager who took care of all the phone calls. The vet was thorough and honest, and quick to get Matt feeling comfortable and quiet. After he left, the trailer was gone, I went into the tackroom and broke down, surrounding by the amazing boarders and manager. Matt is in the best possible place, and while I haven’t gotten a phone call, I’m praying hard that my feisty little horse pulls through.
