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[Joan Deutsch]

Kriss, Has Scooter had his operation yet? Is it brain surgery?

[Joan Deutsch]

Unfortunately, Cody colicked last night but is doing well this morning. I'm so grateful this wasn't a super bad episode. However, I hate having to wake up a vet in the middle of the night -- but it was such a relief to get him treated. When I got home from work, Cody was trotting back and forth wildly and then lying down and moaning. I gave him Banamine and walked him. It took about 45 mins. to get the vet here from my initial call. He tubed him and gave him a muscle relaxer. Cody colicks about once a year. The last time was exactly a year ago and I thought it was because I switched him from the previous year's hay to the new fairly quickly over a few days. So this year, I took 2 weeks to slowly transition him to the new timothy. The vet thinks it's really about lack of water consumption. This makes me realize we should have put the water-tank heaters in before now. We were planning to install them this weekend but will make sure next year to do that before the weather cools. I've even been making a watery soup out of his LMF Super Supplement, but I guess one bowl of soup a day isn't enough to prevent colic. I hope nobody else has to deal with this. Have folks installed tank heaters yet?

[kriss10]

Kriss, Has Scooter had his operation yet? Is it brain surgery?

No he hasn't. I had to come to Albuquerque right after we found out he is a cryptorchid. Since the procedure is so invasive and his post-op will require very strict confinement, I did not want to leave Andrew to deal with that alone. I will get home on 2 November, and his surgery is scheduled for the 3rd. I'm planning to take pictures if anyone is interested in seeing them.

Sorry to hear about Cody, but glad it was not "as severe" this time. He is getting pretty regular with his colic episodes, isn't he? We have not put in tank heaters yet, but I will mention it to Andrew. We bought the temperature cubes last year so putting them in this early should be a big deal.

[Joan Deutsch]

Kriss, That would be great if you could post surgery pictures! Have you been around any horses in New Mexico? I spent a lot of time in N.M. in the 80s and had planned to move there. I trust the Southwest forecast is better than the Northwest -- we're due for rain soon.

[kriss10]

Kriss, That would be great if you could post surgery pictures! Have you been around any horses in New Mexico? I spent a lot of time in N.M. in the 80s and had planned to move there. I trust the Southwest forecast is better than the Northwest -- we're due for rain soon.

We are having beautiful and uncharacteristic warm weather here in New Mexico! Next weekend I am heading up to Farmington in the NW Corner of the state, where my sister lives. I haven't seen her in years, and I am sure we will get to go for a ride since the weather is supposed to hold clear.

[Joan Deutsch]

Years ago, I saw a house in Farmington I wanted to buy. Of course, I didn't have any money! Does your sister have horses?

[Joan Deutsch]

Cody is doing well after his colic and I've been riding him on the trails everyday. I started putting a couple of teaspoons of salt on his grain. Sure enough, he's drinking more.

[kriss10]

Years ago, I saw a house in Farmington I wanted to buy. Of course, I didn't have any money! Does your sister have horses?

She does - she barrel races and she and her husband team rope, together. They also raise cattle. I am sure we will get in a ride or 2. The weather is supposed to be great

She told me about a "free" horse they received that came to them with West Nile virus. They were able to save him, but it just goes to prove there is no such thing as a "free pet".

[Joan Deutsch]

Cody has colicked the last two years in October so I've been on alert for signs. Today, he didn't seem right although he was fairly perky when I put him on pasture so I brought him back to his paddock, walked him and didn't feed him. Finally, he just passed some manure which seems dry. He's looking very good and seems extremely hungry so I just soaked hay in water and gave him a handful. I'm afraid to feed him anything else until he passes more manure. Guess I better spike a bucket of water with apple juice to encourage him to drink.

[Joan Deutsch]

We made it through October without Cody colicking this year -- knock on wood! Wish I knew what made the difference but I'll keep offering EquiTea to get him to drink. Here's a story on "Tips for managing horses in winter to avoid colic":

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/30900/tips-for-managing-horses-in-winter-to-avoid-colic