Rectal Tears in the Horse

Your horse will probably spend at least 7 to 14 days in the hospital with each surgery. Optimal treatment requires a combination of home and professional veterinary care. Follow-up can be critical, especially if your horse appears to be worsening or is not improving as rapidly as expected.

After your horse is sent home, your veterinarian will probably plan to come by for a check on your horse every few days at first, and then every few weeks.

It may be necessary to perform multiple CBCs to evaluate the extent of inflammation in your horse's abdomen.

Any signs of straining while your horse is defecating should prompt an immediate call to your veterinarian. Any signs of colic should prompt an immediate call to your veterinarian. Observe your horse for normal manure production. Scant, dry manure is a signal that your horse is not drinking enough water.

You should call your veterinarian, and should do what you can to encourage your horse to drink. It is important to have fresh, clean water and a salt block available at all times.

Your veterinarian may need to give your horse mineral oil with a nasogastric tube on a frequent basis in order to keep the manure soft.

Your horse may be on antibiotics for quite a while even when he is back at the stable. It is very important to make sure that your horse receives all the recommended antibiotics, and that he gets them at the right frequency and in the right amount. The best antibiotic in the world will do no good at all if it is left as a heap of powder in the bottom of the feed bin. If your horse is a picky eater, it may be necessary to give the antibiotic as a paste. Alternatively, you may need to give your horse intramuscular injections.