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Discussion on Colic Resection Surgery-Special Feed
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Member:
Lampert
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 9, 2003 - 2:44 am:
 My gelding recently had colic
surgery with a resection. I presently have him
on grass hay, but would like to add alfalfa pellets and maybe reconstituted beet pulp. Would
this be safe or should I stay with just the grass
hay?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 9, 2003 - 8:45 am:
Hello Joanne,
A lot depends on what "recently" means and what was resected and other factors we do not have access to. These are questions that should be asked of your vet and surgeon. Let us know when, what type surgery, and what your surgeon says.
DrO
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Member:
Lampert
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 9, 2003 - 12:13 pm:
Thanks for the quick response. First the surgery
was 4 weeks ago. I'll list the surgical procedures
as shown on the report. Exploratory celiotomy,
pelvic flexure enterotomy followed resection of the pelvic flexure at the level of the diaphragmatic flexure and the left ventral colon,
and an end-to-end anastomosis between left ventral and left dorsal colons. The surgeon
said that alfalfa may have been a factor in the
forming of the two enteroliths that were found.
However the horse would not eat the school's
grass hay (poor quality), so they were feeding
him alfalfa. I have found a better quality hay
and he is eating okay, but still very thin. If
offered both grass & alfalfa hay, will only eat
the alfalfa. I thought, if safe, feeding the
pellets would avoid that situation. Would perhaps alfalfa cubes be better than pellets?
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New Member:
Deggert
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 9, 2003 - 12:52 pm:
We have a 13yo gelding who had surgery 5 months ago. He had 180 degree volvulus ?(flip over of the small intestine right before the colon)and on exploratory they found a baseball size stone. At the surgical facility they fed him a smorgasbord because at this point eating was very important and he was used to alfalfa and bermuda. He would not eat orchard which is their feed of choice. Once we got him beyond the 6-8 weeks we kept adding the orchard till he is on 90% orchard and 10% alfalfa if that. We also soaked grass- alf pellets. Gave him some senior, basically, I believe you have to get him strong and give him the nutrients to heal then slowly chang the diet to what is required. By the way, The hospital did not even have Bermunda on the property as they do alot of small colon impactions due to Bermuda. I have completely eliminated it from the diet of my 4 horses. Orchard is very expensive here in So. Calif but I have easy keepers thank goodness.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 9, 2003 - 6:19 pm:
These are all important factors but I am not sure they are all. What does your surgeon say you should feed jonanne? HIs instructions should be followed.
As to the formation of stones I do not think the form of alfalfa will make a difference though it is said CA alfalfa may contain increase amounts of enterolith forming minerals. Cubes would be a better choice than pellets from several prespectives but mainly the longer fibers help promote more normal motility.
DrO
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