Mid-Week Chatter

It is scary, Cathy.  Colic happens because horses lack a gag reflex, therefore are unable to vomit.  When their tummies are upset, they roll around to try and relieve the pain, and their intestines can get twisted.  That's what can kill them.  I've seen it happen, unfortunately.  Very, very sad.

Interesting. I didn't know that but realize I've never seen or heard of a horse vomitting. I wonder if it's a bit like bloat in dogs? I did read that it's the rolling around on the ground and being unable to get them back up that is usually fatal. Is that true?

cakana

I did read that it's the rolling around on the ground and being unable to get them back up that is usually fatal. Is that true?

Yes.  If they do it in a stall, they can get trapped on the ground with their legs up against the wall.  It's called "getting cast."  They struggle, and the more they struggle, the more their intestines can get all twisted up.  I once found a cast horse at the stable where I was boarding.  A friend of mine & I were there late, and we heard commotion in one of the stalls, saw this poor girl cast in her stall, but we were able to flip her over and get her up and walking.  We had to go wake up the stable owners, and they called the vet.  While we were walking her around, she tried to go down on us twice.  We had to literally kick and beat her to get her to come back up.  The vet gave her a drug called banamine to try and ease the symptoms, but she ended up having to be put down a couple hours later.

A common cause of colic in horses is not cooling them down properly after a hard workout, or feeding them too much of a very rich feed.

I'm so sad to hear about momma horse, but I hope baby is able to make it okay.

Cathy, here is more info than you probably wanted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_colic

So sad for the filly, hopefully she survives. 

I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to watch your horse suffering like that. One time would be enough for me. I'm way to big of a wimp for that.

We have Corky videos!!!  Once I removed my head from my butt & thought about it for a minute, it was amazingly easy to do.

I think that I made a census worker poop her pants.  Cher & I were hunting snakes around the pond, when I heard someone honking.  We walked back up to see who it was to find a census worker.  Cher stayed alongside me, & she didn't look worried about Cher, but she looked very, VERY concerned with the shotgun that I was carrying.  I thought that she was going to cry.  It was quite funny.

BEVOLASVEGAS

We have Corky videos!!!  Once I removed my head from my butt & thought about it for a minute, it was amazingly easy to do.

Well, I guess we know where that leaves my head.   Thanks, Amanda.  :)

edited to say that my 'thanks' is sincere and not meant to be sarcastic.

cakana

I found out that the mare on one of the ustream cams died very shortly after foaling from post-partum colic. Her filly is healthy so far but they've had to bring in a surrogate mare and the mare isn't thrilled with the concept. It's sad to see this little filly all alone in a big stall. I wonder what her odds are of surviving. I didn't realize how deadly colic can be in a horse. Very scary.

Orphan foals almost always survive, in fact very nicely, if a nurse mare will accept them.  Otherwise, it's quite an undertaking, because they need to be fed every two hours for the first week or so.  You have to be careful about the angle at which you bottle feed foals, or they can get milk down the trachea.  Not good.  Some people actually withhold formula for several hours and then try to teach the foal to drink from a hog pan or bucket - then they aren't in danger of aspirating.  Sometimes it works, sometimes not.  As soon as the foal will take solids, there are milk replacement pellets available.

Over the past two days, I've shredded 3 shopping bags full of documents, including paystubs from my job back in NH.  Talk about feeling like total crap to see how much you made in 2 weeks exceeded the most recent month's worth of fulltime work.  Tough to feel positive right now.  Sorry, I know I'll get it back together at some point, I just am feeling down.  Still nothing on the interview, still no award letter from the school. Nearing 3 weeks of no work = suckorama.

spiritdogs

As soon as the foal will take solids, there are milk replacement pellets available.

She is eating some mush out of a bowl - slop? So, I guess that is a good sign. She's a big girl and looks healthy, so I'm hoping for the best for her.

Paige - I'm sorry you're feeling down and I'm even more sorry that you haven't heard anything from the interview. I remember how frustrating that is. When I was feeling the most defeated was when I finally got the call for a job and it was better than any others I'd interviewed for. I hope something like that happens for you.

 .....lol still ebaying, selling a milan book, seriously thinking bout listing it under 'fiction' LOL!!

Paige, I'm sorry things are looking so crappy on the job front but I don't have any doubts at all that all of that will be turning around soon ... for both you and Glenda. Glenda, Corky is adorable!  I finally got my yard cushions out and umbrella up and Max is a happy camper.  He loves to go outside and just snooze on one of the lounge cushions. He's like"Where has this  been for the last six months?"

Joyce

 Wednesday's are busy days in here!

my neighbor just rang and asked if I or my hubby could clear a snake.  Her husband travels and is away.  I went over for fear that DH would kill it.  It was a beautiful black snake with a full belly - about 3 feet long.  I diverted their attention while the beauty wandered off.  I explained to the kids that she was good and got them to name her, Mabel. I also requested that if they harm her not to tell me.

I made some awesome meatballs tonight for dinner.  I used to make them more often, been too long, num, num. '

And I just had my first watermelon of the summer and last weekend I got local strawberries - food is clearly on my mind!

Thor decided to eat our dinner.  Stinker.  I had drumsticks out and put them on a large platter to thaw evenly.  This I put on top of the toaster oven way at the back of the counter.  A few minutes later I heard crunching, and he had finished all but TWO of the drumsticks.  Arrrrrgggghhhh!!!!

Paige, no one knows as well as I do how much this sux.  Hang in there and try to focus on the little positives that happen each day.  No matter HOW little.

Thank you all for your compliments on Corky.  I can't take much credit for her, but we sure do love her!

JackieG

BEVOLASVEGAS

We have Corky videos!!!  Once I removed my head from my butt & thought about it for a minute, it was amazingly easy to do.

Well, I guess we know where that leaves my head.   Thanks, Amanda.  :)

edited to say that my 'thanks' is sincere and not meant to be sarcastic.

No worries, I didn't think that you were being sarcastic.  And, no worries Jackie, I know that your head isn't up your butt.....it's in the gutter!