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Devon Mickelson
| | Posted on Wednesday, Apr 27, 2005 - 12:02 pm: |   |
I have a 25 year old Arabian gelding that has been exhibiting puzzling colic / ulcer symptoms for the past three weeks. To start at the beginning:
7 years ago, the gelding had a sudden onset of severly painful colic and underwent colic surgery for what turned out to be a spindle-cell myeloma that had wrapped around the intestine cutting off blood flow and killing a 3 foot portion of the intestine. The tumor was diagnosed as a form of human intestinal cancer by the University of Wisconsin Medical School and at the time it was believed to be the first time this type of tumor had ever been found in a horse. He had a very easy recovery with no relapses. 6 weeks later he did have one minor colic episode caused by lack of water intake. After IV fluids he was fine. Since that time, he has had no colic episodes. He returned to the show ring and won several national top ten awards.
Three weeks ago he appeared to have a gas colic that exhibited odd symptoms. He was obviously uncomfortable and wanted to lay down but was not rolling or thrashing. His heartrate and respiration were normal, he was not sweating or shaking. He seemed uncomfortable but not in a great deal of pain. His eyes were bright and his ears were up, he was very alert through the whole episode. He was bloated and had an extremely gassy, rumbly tummy. He was belching as well. He was given 10 ccs of Banamine. The episode lasted approximately 2 hours, he passed manure througout. The pain seemed to resolve itself when he urinated.
Last Friday he had another episode. Again, he was very gassy and rumbly. The vet was called this time. He was a bit dehydrated so was given oil and fluids. A rectal exam showed no impactions. Again, he was given Banamine. At this time, the vet did pull bloodwork to see if anything else was going on. We are awaiting the results.
He was wormed on Monday evening. Then on Tuesday he was colicy in the afternoon, was again given 10cc's of Banamine and the pain seemed to resolve. However, the symptoms reoccured last night, almost identical to the first incident. Again, he had a very gurgly stomach and was belching. He passed manure in small amounts throughout the attack. He was not given any more Banamine and the pain again resolved with him urinating at the end. He again remained bright and alert throughout. While he was clearly uncomfortable, he did not appear to be in great pain. His respiration and pulse were normal and he did not sweat or exhibit shivering.
In the last three weeks since these episodes started, he has been eating fairly normally - grain and an alfalfa/timothy mix hay. He has never been a big drinker, and this has not changed. His body condition is wonderful: short, shiny dappled coat, still being ridden 3-4 times a week, good weight (ribs felt but not visible).
At this point, we have come up with the following possibilites:
- Recurrence of the intestinal tumor or formation of a new tumor that is strangulating or putting pressure on the intestines. The vet has recommended that we try him on dexamethasone to control any possible tumor growth.
- Ulcer: The vet does not think this is a strong possibility but we are wondering if it would be worth treating with Gastrogard to see if it causes improvement.
- Possible issue with the urinary tract that is making urination painful and exhibiting as colic symptoms. However, this would not seem to explain the gassy symptoms. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 12700
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 - 8:03 am: | |
Is he on grass pasture and can you describe the condition of the pasture and turn out?
DrO |
Devon Shuster
New Member
Username: Garimico
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 - 9:25 am: | |
He is stalled, gets daily exercise and indoor turnout and pasture turnout for an hour or two weather permitting several times a week. He truly prefers to be inside in his stall, having been a show horse for the first 21 years of his life. Turnout longer than two hours results in pacing the fence and screaming to be brought in - actions that continue despite an adjustment period or being left out longer.
I am located in Minnesota, so the grass has just turned green. His colic episodes have not correlated with turnout or lack thereof so far.
He is fed one to two flakes of a grass /alfalfa mix and sweet feed twice daily.
His teeth are examined regularly (twice yearly) by an equine dentist. He was last examined in January. I believe he had slight hooks that were removed at that time. The vet did check his teeth last week and said that they looked good. However, it seems to me that he is chewing a bit strangely and I will have the vet re-check this week.
Also, all of his bloodwork came back normal. The vets at this point are recommending that (1) we scope him to check for ulcers and (2) we do a belly tap. He will be going into the clinic this week, any other suggestions? |
Nancy S. Kaplan
Member
Username: Redalert
Post Number: 97
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 - 9:43 am: | |
Devon,
I am following your posts,and I wish the best for you and your friend with your tests at the clinic. I'll be thinking of y'all. Hope all goes well!
Nancy |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 12707
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 - 10:52 am: | |
Your clinical signs suggest indigestion and this time of year would be commonly associated with turn out on rapidly growing grass that he had not adapted to. But your history does not support this. Most of these type cases settle down on their own eventually but without a diagnosis I cannot be sure of it.
DrO |
