Say Whoa for colic-- anyone heard of/used this product

[vxf111]

Got an email from Jeffers today and saw a product I’ve never heard of before, “Say Whoa”…

Say Whoa! For Colic and Digestive Problems

Touted to treat colic. Description includes the following (bolding mine)…

<<“For horses in distress, it’s what you do first.”
Colic is the #1 killer of horses and far too often it starts with a simple fecal impaction. Use to maintain a healthy gastric system and support normal digestive function. Safe for horses of all sizes and weight, mares, lactating and foals. After your horse swallows the formula, it’s quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.

All you have to do is squeeze in the mouth of the horse with the oral dosage syringe (included).

These ingredients assist in working with the horse’s body through osmosis to help draw fluids back into the intestine, thereby softening the impaction and assisting to stimulate bowel movements. In 30 minutes you will hear returning bowel sounds which is a sign to knowing your horse is getting better and back to normal!

Ingredients: Calcium, Vit D, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Peppermint Oil, Irish Sea Moss, Vegetable Glycerin, Purified Water, Sorbitol and Molasses for flavor.

(This product cannot treat bowels that are twisted, torsion, knotted, ruptured, blocked by objects, excessive sand, gravel, stones or tumors, are experiencing heavy spasms or infected. The product cannot always help a horse who remains symptomatic 1-2 days after a vet diagnosed and treated them conventionally.)>>

So it’s what you do first… if by first you mean 2 days after the vet came out and treated the colic?! I’m totally perplexed. Who would expect something like this to work AFTER conventional vet treatment fails?! Who lets their horse be colicy for 2 days post-vet treatment and then thinks “aw heck, let’s not take him to the clinic, let’s try this paste from Jeffers!?”

Bizarre way of phrasing the ad.

But, has anyone used this product? Good to have on hand? Something to give at the same time as Banamine while waiting for the vet?

[Laurierace]

It isn’t something I personally would spend my money on and agree that their ad makes no sense. I think a tube of gastrogard would be better to keep on hand along with banamine and maybe gas-x.

[DoubleDown]

FWIW- I’m a buyer for a farm store chain, and they really tried hard to get me to bring this in. I couldn’t get past the thought that if you give this and wait two hours (their directions) only to find that it didn’t work THEN call the vet, you’ve lost precious time and could possibly lose the horse depending on severity.

With people being as sue happy as they are, I wouldn’t put it past people to try and recoup vet bills/cost of horse in the event the product didn’t work. I mentioned this to them, and her reply was that they have $2 Million worth of insurance for that specific potential problem.

[findeight]

Sounds like a waste of money with a dose of bad advice and a dash of bad science thrown in.

[merrygoround]

This is something designed to put money in the advertisers pocket.

Sadly some people will read it, buy it, and use it. And not call the vet.

[onthebit]

[QUOTE=findeight;8128563]
Sounds like a waste of money with a dose of bad advice and a dash of bad science thrown in.[/QUOTE]

Worth repeating

[walktrot]

[QUOTE=Laurierace;8128125]
It isn’t something I personally would spend my money on and agree that their ad makes no sense. I think a tube of gastrogard would be better to keep on hand along with banamine and maybe gas-x.[/QUOTE]

Yes to the Gax-x. We’ve used it at our barn, on advice from the vet, for years (like over 15).

[eclipse]

I too agree it sounds like a way to line advertisers pockets and possibly loose a horse while not calling the vet to colic! It’s never a bad decision to call the vet and can save your horses life… Ask me how I know!!

[roamingnome]

[QUOTE=DoubleDown;8128459]

With people being as sue happy as they are, I wouldn’t put it past people to try and recoup vet bills/cost of horse in the event the product didn’t work. I mentioned this to them, and her reply was that they have $2 Million worth of insurance for that specific potential problem.[/QUOTE]

That seems low… I’ve got $2 million of liability and that’s a whopping $170/year.

I feel bad for those who may buy this and lose precious time waiting the 2 hours… even if the company is able to reimburse in the event of a horse dying while using their product/not calling a vet, I don’t like that they’re morally ok with that.
Good for you for not putting in in your stores!!

[vxf111]

I find the product incredibly bizarre. It’s mainly calcium. Is that even called for for an impaction?

[Laurierace]

I think they are banking on most colics being gas colics that resolve on their own with or without their a TUMS in a tube.

[mountainhorse]

Curious (off topic, sorry) about the Gas-X some are mentioning. Never heard of using it with a colic? I would love to hear what you’ve been told or explained regarding giving Gas-x to horses. Interesting!

[FLeventer]

I saw this as well and scratched my head. It seemed ridiculous and misleading. Banamime is cheap, easy and proven. Plus I call my vet asap.

[bigolebay]

@vxf111;8128115

Got an email from Jeffers today and saw a product I’ve never heard of before, “Say Whoa”…

http://www.jefferspet.com/products/say-whoa?trk_msg=EN5CS0VBMICKT8EEODNAIBVR24&trk_contact=2IRF0MG6KE4JH08BCDASVLU6TS&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Say+Whoa!&utm_campaign=04%2F29%2F2015+EQU+New+Arrivals&utm_content=04%2F29%2F2015+EQU+New+Arrivals

Touted to treat colic. Description includes the following (bolding mine)…

These ingredients assist in working with the horse’s body through osmosis to help draw fluids back into the intestine, thereby softening the impaction and assisting to stimulate bowel movements. In 30 minutes you will hear returning bowel sounds which is a sign to knowing your horse is getting better and back to normal!

Ingredients: Calcium, Vit D, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Peppermint Oil, Irish Sea Moss, Vegetable Glycerin, Purified Water, Sorbitol and Molasses for flavor.

(This product cannot treat bowels that are twisted, torsion, knotted, ruptured, blocked by objects, excessive sand, gravel, stones or tumors, are experiencing heavy spasms or infected. The product cannot always help a horse who remains symptomatic 1-2 days after a vet diagnosed and treated them conventionally.)>>

I noticed they specifically mention that it is for impaction colic rather than gas colic
From the ingredient list it looks like mostly electrolytes, which maybe could help with smooth muscle contractions? and depending on the mag used, along with glycerne would have a laxative effect, Sorbitol is in the product Biotene, for mouth dryness. The other ingredients are maybe for inflammation.

I suppose it could work, but they are making some very bold claims especially for an impaction colic. Gas colic-- agree, banamine is quick and effective, as long as you have it on hand. With my horse, some of those ingredients would make him more gassy! If I thought my horse was working on an impaction I would definitely contact a vet first before giving anything.

[Winding_Down]

PLACEBO PLACEBO !!!

[QUOTE=Laurierace;8129371]
I think they are banking on most colics being gas colics that resolve on their own with or without their a TUMS in a tube.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely! Most colics are just brief tummy aches.

I call PLACEBO PLACEBO!!!

[Lmabernathy]

I think its a nice idea to try while waiting on the vet Most times I’ve had to call a vet even in an emergency colic situation I had to wait 1-4 hours. I do not have a large animal vet in my home county so the driving distance alone is 30-45 mins or more. The vets (Everyone in 3 counties) were either on field calls or in surgery one morning when I had a horse laid out colicing. I couldn’t even haul him there because the vet still wasn’t available to see him. I started calling around 7am and finally got one to come out at 12 noon. He ended up having to go to a breeding facility they worked closely with and was 5 mins from their office. Tubed him 5 times in 2 days plus IV fluids and he made it through. Anything I could have done while waiting would at least made me feel better. I remember sitting there thinking I was watching him die and there was nothing I could do about it. I do agree they should change the wording, they are making some awfully strong claims and maybe setting themselves up for a lawsuit

[walktrot]

[QUOTE=mountainhorse;8129466]
Curious (off topic, sorry) about the Gas-X some are mentioning. Never heard of using it with a colic? I would love to hear what you’ve been told or explained regarding giving Gas-x to horses. Interesting![/QUOTE]

Our vet was recommending Gas-X when I first met the b/o which was in 1999 He’s still our vet. 1 tab per 100 lbs, take the vitals, and then do the banamine is the routine in our barn. It will do the same thing in a horse it does in a human, but will not cause any issues if it is not a gas colic.

I’ve seen it used successfully on a gelding who had regular issues with gas colic, and it served him well as his symptoms would resolve before the vet got here. We keep Gas-x on the shelf with the other first aid supplies.

[DoubleDown]

The other thought I had when listening to the reps spiel was- how is Joe-Blow horse owner going to know that their horse is impacted and not twisted without a vet or psychic? I know I wouldn’t be comfortable making that diagnosis! AND what if Joe-Blow thought it was impacted, gave the magic potion, waited and lost the horse because it really was twisted?!

Just blew my mind when I was talking to her. It was kind of funny too, because she wasn’t a horse person; those are the worse kind of reps!