Horse has seen 2 different equine vets since symptoms started 1 week ago and will be seeing again. Looking for guidance on what I should be asking them about and for, stories, suggestions on how to make my horse feel better in the meantime.
Horse: 24 year old Thoroughbred gelding, retired pasture puff that is normally outside most (if not all)the time. Was being fed a diet of hay, soaked alfalfa pellets, and senior feed 2x a day. Normally very energetic/active, albeit anxious horse.
Symptoms: extreme gut sounds in the upper right hind belly (constant, can hear them from the aisleway, lots of bubbling, gurgling) that are very abnormal for horse, gas, occasional burping (smells like broccoli), water intake is scarily low (1-2 gallons/day), appetite for pasture grass is good, limited/no interest in senior feed and alfalfa mash, limited interest in hay. Normally a big eater. “Depressed,” low energy, laying down to sleep (not rolling at all, but lays flat out and will do it in the stall with you there, which is not normal behavior for him). No fever, no increase in respiration, no lameness. Still pooping regular poops a few times a day. During gassy periods, he is resistant to move around in the stall and will look back at his gut, but doesn’t have any other colic symptoms. He has colicked maybe 3 times in his life before- twice tubing some oil and water into him resolved the issue within hours, another time we thought he was going to die but before the vet could even drive here he passed gas and went back to normal. No extra sensitivity to his stomach being touched/rubbed.
Treatment so far: both vets spent a significant amount of time doing a full body external exam. He was tubed 2x. First time with oil and then water, 2nd time (2 days ago) several gallons of water, electrolytes, and silium (to aide if he had partial obstruction). Given injection of banamine. Bute and acid reducer given orally daily for 1 week now. Has 24/7 access to hay, alfalfa senior feed mash, warm water. Also had a blood test done- WBC high normal.
He’s very lethargic and under the weather. Vets were not sure on a diagnosis, but wanted to start with the acid reducer and see how he did. Does anyone have any similar stories? Suggestions for what I should be inquiring with the vet? I’ve been doing a lot of reading and it seems like his symptoms may potentially indicate ulcers, and that the vets can do a scope to look at those. Anything I can get him in the meantime to relieve gas or soothe his stomach?
