First let me clarify that I am not a veterinarian. I do know from having animals that there are occasions when you can not get a hold of your vet and you need to make decisions regarding your animals based on knowledge, experience, and even the internet. I have a really good vet, but he’s entitled to time off every now and then. It seems like nights, weekends, and holidays are prime times for animals to get ill or injured. This is why it is important to educate yourself, talk with your vet ahead of time, and seek out reputable sources on the internet before you need to treat your animal. Be prepared! I recently read on an animal Facebook group about a person looking for help with a sick dog, and holy cow, the suggestions for possible treatments ran the gamut. There was one suggestion to give the dog nighttime Tylenol, that made me cringe. Sometimes we think that if it’s ok for people, it’s ok for animals. And that is just not true!
Read more about what pain-killers pets can haveA Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Colic
Colic in a horse is a pretty scary thing to witness. The first time I saw a horse experiencing severe colic was when we had taken our horse to the vet for a different health issue. As the vet was treating our horse, this colicky mare was brought in. The owners tried to keep her up and walking until the vet could attend to her and boy did she look like she was hurting and miserable. I felt so bad for her. I later heard that her colic was due to impaction and that she made it through and was doing fine. I think that my heart skips a little beat whenever I go out to the pasture and see a horse enjoying a little nap in the sunshine, or scratching a back itch with a roll in the grass. Laying down and rolling can also be signs of colic along with pawing, restlessness and stretching. We have been very lucky (knock on wood) with our horses. We have experienced some unusual things, but so far, no serious bouts with colic.
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