Colicky Baby

[Bondama]

My colt, Noah, going on 3 mos. old started showing signs of colic yesterday....lots of pawing and not pooping, although he was trying. He was up and about, however, and nursing, and interested in food oddly enough. I could just tell he was uncomfortable. Gave him an enema last night, but he only passed the water back out with no stool. Gave him some mineral oil around midnight, and he was nibbling hay with mom. This morning, he was on the ground at breakfast time. He tried to get up, but fell back over a couple of times - was very scary. Ran in and summoned the vet. She hurried out and by that time, I had managed to get him up and walking by walking mama away from him, which he didn't like. He nursed some more. Vet checked his rectum, which was clean as a whistle! Then, she sedated him a little bit, and gave him a naso-gastric tubing which yielded up his stomach contents but it wasn't as much as she thought it might be, although she did comment that the hay inside his tummy smelled sourish. Gave him mineral oil & water through same tube, and removed it. He was soooooo good for all of this. Very little struggle even before the happy juice. Vet seemed to think he'd be okay, just not to allow him to eat any more til he poops (only nursing) and watch him for any further lying down/pawing, etc. No more enemas, he's too old for that to help. Call her later on and update her - she may have to come back out and pump more water and mineral oil in again.

Does that sound about right to any of you who may have experienced this before?

[LKR]

Well, what happened? Is the baby better? When we have a baby show colic like that or any horse for that matter, we don't hesitate. We give gas-x and banamine immediately. If the horse doesn't improve within a half hour, we haul to the vet or have them come out. Usually, if they get loaded into the trailer they will pass something by the time they get to the vet.

[Bondama]

I thought I did write what happened....the vet did come out and did a naso-gastric tubing, etc. The baby is okay. He's been on only water, Gatorade and nursing, and he's now had a number of bowel movements....things seem to have loosened up. I still don't think he feels 100% though....he just seems off. I am wondering if he misses the company of his sister and is just mopey. I had to separate them to keep him someplace he couldn't eat hay, as per the vet's instructions.

[Bedouwia]

Glad the colt is doing better. Just curious.... has the vet tested a fecal sample (now that there is one) for any possibility of parasites? Just a thought. Expect that all is well. The little ones usually bounce back quickly.

Bedouwia