How LONG?! UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PasoPerson38]

How long does it take for a horse to fully digest something???

[ErinC]

:shock:

o no , what did he eat?

:shock:

not a squirrel?
http://www.allfantasyart.com/photomanipulation/super_squirrel.jpg

JK, why, whats the matter?

[Carol Nelson]

why ...what happened Steph??? :shock:

[PasoPerson38]

http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/scared/scared0005.gif (http://www.videowhip.co.uk)

Um well....

Today ,out of very odd circumstances, my horse ate a cable cord!
It looks like one of these...
http://www.indigoshop.co.uk/ccp51/media/images/category/coloured-cable-ties.jpg

Could something like this block an intestine????
How long does it take for a horses system to digest??

[Carol Nelson]

Yes, Steph...it could block an intestine. I suggest you call your vet pronto. Perhaps they can follow it through with x-ray...I don't know what they do about that.

[Heidi]

How long was the zip-tie?
The problem with the longer ones is they are stiffer and won't bend through the turns of the gut very well. Best case scenario: It could get pushed through by fecal matter and may only lightly scrape the walls of the intestines. Worst case scenario: It could stop fecal matter at a turn and back it up.

I would call your vet, ask if there is anything special you should do. Feed him stemmy hay to help move it through? Maybe the vet could come out and oil him? Then you'll be on poop-watch until he shows signs of discomfort or it passes. I would think, for a normal horse, that it would take between 12-18 hours from mouth to stall floor...

Overall, I would expect him to pass this fairly easily...but you'll be a nervous wreck until you see the zip-tie again.
h

[Pinto Paso]

Good lord, why do they need to stress us like this???

[Cam]

My horse ate the plug off the end of a fan cord once. I don't think he ever passed it though cuz he's still pretty wired most of the time ;-)

[Pinto Paso]

:lmao

[CarolU]

My horse ate the plug off the end of a fan cord once. I don't think he ever passed it though cuz he's still pretty wired most of the time ;-)
:rofl Good one CAM.

Steph, those are pretty stiff and it could also perforate the gut. So, there is that to worry about too (sorry! :-? ). I doubt it would show up on x-rays, but I would definately watch him closely until he passes it, and maybe a few days afterwards. Keep your list of phone numbers handy. Chances are he'll pass it with no problem, but it always pays to be prepared.

I'll be praying for a 'cable tie' poop in the pile in the morning.

[Brigitte]

Horses :roll: , hope it passes without incident

[PasoVicki]

Heidi asked an important question: how long was it? Also, do you know which end went in first? Those things are fairly stiff, so a short one has a better chance of passing through than a long one. And if the "square" end went down first, there's probably less chance of it perforating the intestine than if the pointed end went down first.

Good luck. I hope it passes without any problem. Let us know how your horse is in the morning.

[PasoPerson38]

Thanks guys for all the info and encouraging words.
The tie was no longer then 6 inches.

If you look in this pic. it would be comparable to the green one,
http://jwproducts.co.uk/ties.gif

The worst part is that I don't REALLY know it if was ingested.
At one point there were 2 and when I looked again their was only one, that was "re-opened". So it could be on the floor somewhere and I am stressing over nothing. But I looked good and couldn't find it.

[PasoVicki]

I have some that size, and they're much thinner, lighter, & more flexible than the long ones. I'd guess a horse would be able to pass one, and it probably couldn't perforate tissue. One could easily "hide" on the floor, too -- so maybe he didn't even eat it. How is he today??

[Mrs. E.]

Hummm "how long" For some reason I seen to remember that the time is like 72 hrs. Don't remember been so long ago I asked the same question.
Short story. A few years back a friend told me that she noticed something hanging out of her mares behind. She pulled on it and a tee shirt came out. Yes! A whole shirt. She said she remembered putting it on the fence in the paddock about a week before and then could not fine it, thought she must of put it somewhere else. Needless to say, that was a happy ending :D
Hope everything turn out fine and keep looking for the thingy. It probably is just lost in the dirt or grass.

[Carol Nelson]

YUCK!!! :shock:

[PasoPerson38]

WOW an entire shirt!!!!! Thats one tough mare!

Well I would like to announce!!!!!!

I FOUND THE CABLE TIE!!! http://www.smileyacademy.com/smilies/happy0005.gif
And NO it was not in his poo poo. It was on the floor of his stall.
WAHOO!!! NOW I CAN GET SLEEP TONIGHT!!! http://www.smileyacademy.com/smilies/party0010.gif
Thank you again everyone for your good thoughts, prayer, and knowledge!!!

[ErinC]

Awesome!

[Carol Nelson]

GOD BLESS!!!! And now I'm gonna spank you, Stephanie, for getting all of us in a tussle!!!! ;-) :D :lol:

[PasoVicki]

Great news!

Now he's plotting what he can do next to get extra attention . . . .

[Mrs. E.]

:confused Should I tell him the story about the tee shirt? :roll: :D

[PasoPerson38]

NO!!! :shock: Tell him the story of the good little boy who did only good!!! :lol: