Point of no return
EDWARD, an eight-year-old show cob gelding, was stabled every night in a small, private yard and turned out during the day with four other geldings.
On a late autumn day he was fed as usual in the morning before being turned out. He appeared completely healthy, but by the time his owner returned in the late afternoon he was lying down in the field. When encouraged to stand he appeared quiet and was shaking, and his ears were cold to the touch.
While his owner was waiting for the vet to arrive, Edward passed profuse, bloody diarrhoea and began to show signs of colic. He was immediately referred for emergency intensive care treatment at a specialist equine hospital.
Initial investigation showed that Edward’s large colon was badly damaged. He received intensive treatment for 18 hours, but his condition deteriorated. When he started showing signs of organ failure, as well as further deterioration in his level of comfort, it was apparent that Edward was suffering and had a very poor chance of survival. After a long discussion between the specialists and his owner, it was decided, sadly, that he should be put to sleep.
A post-mortem examination confirmed severe damage to Edward’s large colon and kidneys from which he would not have recovered, as well as acorn fragments within his intestine.
His paddock-mates were immediately moved to a different pasture while the acorn tree was fenced off. All four geldings remain fit and healthy.