Post by schwung on Nov 19, 2005 2:42:41 GMT -5
ERNIE - stud pony - Rest in Peace, Sweet Ernie
« Thread Started on Jul 28, 2005, 2:08pm »
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ERNIE - 13 - 15 year old, 13h, black stud pony. He is a little leary when you first approach him but once he knows you are nice he is trusting and willing. Did not act too stud like but he was not around mares when we handled him. He is very gentle in hand and willingly picks up all four feet.
Re: ERNIE - stud pony - located in Monroe WA
« Reply #1 on Aug 4, 2005, 3:16am »
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Jaybird had called me when she dropped off the horses and let me know that all went well but that Ernie had a bad wound on his back that needed attention, so I called Hannah and she was able to come out tonight. She was already there when I arrived and had gotten off the phone with Pilchuck.
Ernie is in very, very bad condition. He has a skin infection that is extensive - right now there is an open wound with a skin flap that is probably about 6x6....the skin below is one big pocket, you can lift the entire thing away from his body, and area of most of his entire ribcage. The skin is loose and sagging and filled with pus. Hannah had never seen anything like it...thus the phone call to Pilchuck. It took me a while to absorb the severity of his condition, so bear with me.
This infection has appeared to been going on for some time, months, maybe even years. There are areas on his body that appear to be healed, where the hair has grown in white. Other areas have lumpy scar tissue left, such as under his neck which you can even see from one of the photos. Most of his mane is gone, rubbed away and there is more scar tissue along his topline, and where there is mane left it is down to his shoulder but one big matt. There is another open oozing pocket on his shoulder.
He appeared to be severely dehydrated as well, his skin was tenting badly, which she took to be dehydration due to the oozing wounds. It may be, and we are still treating him as though he is, but it may be that most of his skin throughout his body is no longer attached, it is all loose and necrotic much like the area I described above. In areas where he still has hair on his back, it is covered with rain rot. Perhaps this was how the infection started, its impossible to say at the moment but Hannah did take blood which is a start to figuring out what is going on with him and if he has any chance of recovery.
Hannah made it clear that he was going to need immediate and drastic treatment. Honestly, I didn't know what to do, he needed IV antibiotics because he has no muscle, and he needed quick rehydration via IV. He has a long recovery ahead of him and needs a stall and frequent care. I ran through the options in my head and remembered that the woman we are moving the mares to has stalls that no one is using at the moment. I called her and asked, more like begged, to let him come even though I had promised her only quarantined healthy horses, thankfully she agreed and within minutes I was hitching up my trailer and loading Ernie up yet again, with Hannah following.
Tonight he got an IV catheter put in and a bag of fluid in him. We then had to go to Pilchuck at 9pm to pick up more antibiotics, and then he got his medications. She then went to work on cleaning up the wound some, installed a drain (which really wasn't hard, since you could lift up the entire patch of skin), and flushed the wound.
In addition to all of the above, his teeth are in such bad shape they need immediate work- but not until the infection is under control. So until then, mush diet. She did agree with the age assessment of 13-15. And the gelding will wait until after his teeth, its really the least of his concerns, and he's so weak and small he really doesn't seem much like a stallion at the moment.
I am exhausted, drained, and feeling so low right now. That poor little pony, so many times I would look at him and start to cry..actually I am crying now just thinking about him and how appalling humans are to let him get in this condition.
I need to warn you all that Ernie may not make it. His infection is extensive and has gone on for so very long. But, his attitude is bright and he is eating well - so as long as he tells us to try and the blood work indicates its a fight worth fighting we will fight for him.
Thank you for listening to me vent. Now we have a large logistical problem to work out - how to manage this horse and his treatments, he's no longer that convenient to either Geri or I, and Classy's twice daily treatments took a lot out of Geri as she bore most of the burden. Jaybird, I know you are close, so if you are willing to help, we need you. We may be able to pay the woman who owns the place to do some of it, but honestly I don't know how much she is willing or able to do. She offered to help, but she had said before they really prefer a self-care model and having to do as little as possible with the horses.
I just feel so defeated. I feel like we are fighting a losing battle. :cry:
Re: ERNIE - stud pony - located in Monroe WA
« Reply #2 on Aug 6, 2005, 1:48am »
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Ernie has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He went very peacefully and easily in a large grassy field, with grain to munch just before he went. He got lots of hugs and loves from Bonnie (Jaybird), Kim (SBHR) and myself before he went. There were many tears, and many of them were from the vets present and not just us. There is no doubt in my mind that Ernie felt our love and compassion in his final moments.
Ernie's memory will go on in so many ways. I took many more photos (which I will share shortly), as well as video to document his condition. Many vets came in to see him before he went, and more will be stopping by Pilchuck to see what an advanced HERDA horse looks like so that they can all be educated. Biopsy samples were taken after he was gone and will be sent to Cornell University with hopes that it will help them identify the fatal gene that causes this, leading to better testing methods and hopefully, strict regulations within the AQHA against the breeding of these animals. Finally, a long lock of his tail was taken upon Jan's (Akrogirl) request, which she plans to make into a bracelet in his memory.
As I was writing this (and sobbing still), a florist drove into my driveway and delivered me some beautiful flowers, from Amy (jonquilTN). Thank you Amy. You guys have been tremendously kind to me about the Ernie situation, but I want to say that the real hero in this story is Akrogirl, because she saw something in that poor little pony worth saving in the first place. I only did what any one of you would have done if he ended up in your backyard.
I am still crying but I want you to know that I feel a tremendous sense of relief for Ernie. I am picturing him running in a field of grass, his coat gleaming and perfect, with a field of mares and his favorite type of grain (he doesn't like treats). His suffering is finally over.
All the photos of Ernie are available here.
photobucket.com/albums/b144/schwung/Ernie/
RIP dear sweet Ernie. You will never, EVER be forgotten by the hundreds of people whose lives you touched.
« Thread Started on Jul 28, 2005, 2:08pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ERNIE - 13 - 15 year old, 13h, black stud pony. He is a little leary when you first approach him but once he knows you are nice he is trusting and willing. Did not act too stud like but he was not around mares when we handled him. He is very gentle in hand and willingly picks up all four feet.
Re: ERNIE - stud pony - located in Monroe WA
« Reply #1 on Aug 4, 2005, 3:16am »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jaybird had called me when she dropped off the horses and let me know that all went well but that Ernie had a bad wound on his back that needed attention, so I called Hannah and she was able to come out tonight. She was already there when I arrived and had gotten off the phone with Pilchuck.
Ernie is in very, very bad condition. He has a skin infection that is extensive - right now there is an open wound with a skin flap that is probably about 6x6....the skin below is one big pocket, you can lift the entire thing away from his body, and area of most of his entire ribcage. The skin is loose and sagging and filled with pus. Hannah had never seen anything like it...thus the phone call to Pilchuck. It took me a while to absorb the severity of his condition, so bear with me.
This infection has appeared to been going on for some time, months, maybe even years. There are areas on his body that appear to be healed, where the hair has grown in white. Other areas have lumpy scar tissue left, such as under his neck which you can even see from one of the photos. Most of his mane is gone, rubbed away and there is more scar tissue along his topline, and where there is mane left it is down to his shoulder but one big matt. There is another open oozing pocket on his shoulder.
He appeared to be severely dehydrated as well, his skin was tenting badly, which she took to be dehydration due to the oozing wounds. It may be, and we are still treating him as though he is, but it may be that most of his skin throughout his body is no longer attached, it is all loose and necrotic much like the area I described above. In areas where he still has hair on his back, it is covered with rain rot. Perhaps this was how the infection started, its impossible to say at the moment but Hannah did take blood which is a start to figuring out what is going on with him and if he has any chance of recovery.
Hannah made it clear that he was going to need immediate and drastic treatment. Honestly, I didn't know what to do, he needed IV antibiotics because he has no muscle, and he needed quick rehydration via IV. He has a long recovery ahead of him and needs a stall and frequent care. I ran through the options in my head and remembered that the woman we are moving the mares to has stalls that no one is using at the moment. I called her and asked, more like begged, to let him come even though I had promised her only quarantined healthy horses, thankfully she agreed and within minutes I was hitching up my trailer and loading Ernie up yet again, with Hannah following.
Tonight he got an IV catheter put in and a bag of fluid in him. We then had to go to Pilchuck at 9pm to pick up more antibiotics, and then he got his medications. She then went to work on cleaning up the wound some, installed a drain (which really wasn't hard, since you could lift up the entire patch of skin), and flushed the wound.
In addition to all of the above, his teeth are in such bad shape they need immediate work- but not until the infection is under control. So until then, mush diet. She did agree with the age assessment of 13-15. And the gelding will wait until after his teeth, its really the least of his concerns, and he's so weak and small he really doesn't seem much like a stallion at the moment.
I am exhausted, drained, and feeling so low right now. That poor little pony, so many times I would look at him and start to cry..actually I am crying now just thinking about him and how appalling humans are to let him get in this condition.
I need to warn you all that Ernie may not make it. His infection is extensive and has gone on for so very long. But, his attitude is bright and he is eating well - so as long as he tells us to try and the blood work indicates its a fight worth fighting we will fight for him.
Thank you for listening to me vent. Now we have a large logistical problem to work out - how to manage this horse and his treatments, he's no longer that convenient to either Geri or I, and Classy's twice daily treatments took a lot out of Geri as she bore most of the burden. Jaybird, I know you are close, so if you are willing to help, we need you. We may be able to pay the woman who owns the place to do some of it, but honestly I don't know how much she is willing or able to do. She offered to help, but she had said before they really prefer a self-care model and having to do as little as possible with the horses.
I just feel so defeated. I feel like we are fighting a losing battle. :cry:
Re: ERNIE - stud pony - located in Monroe WA
« Reply #2 on Aug 6, 2005, 1:48am »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ernie has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He went very peacefully and easily in a large grassy field, with grain to munch just before he went. He got lots of hugs and loves from Bonnie (Jaybird), Kim (SBHR) and myself before he went. There were many tears, and many of them were from the vets present and not just us. There is no doubt in my mind that Ernie felt our love and compassion in his final moments.
Ernie's memory will go on in so many ways. I took many more photos (which I will share shortly), as well as video to document his condition. Many vets came in to see him before he went, and more will be stopping by Pilchuck to see what an advanced HERDA horse looks like so that they can all be educated. Biopsy samples were taken after he was gone and will be sent to Cornell University with hopes that it will help them identify the fatal gene that causes this, leading to better testing methods and hopefully, strict regulations within the AQHA against the breeding of these animals. Finally, a long lock of his tail was taken upon Jan's (Akrogirl) request, which she plans to make into a bracelet in his memory.
As I was writing this (and sobbing still), a florist drove into my driveway and delivered me some beautiful flowers, from Amy (jonquilTN). Thank you Amy. You guys have been tremendously kind to me about the Ernie situation, but I want to say that the real hero in this story is Akrogirl, because she saw something in that poor little pony worth saving in the first place. I only did what any one of you would have done if he ended up in your backyard.
I am still crying but I want you to know that I feel a tremendous sense of relief for Ernie. I am picturing him running in a field of grass, his coat gleaming and perfect, with a field of mares and his favorite type of grain (he doesn't like treats). His suffering is finally over.
All the photos of Ernie are available here.
photobucket.com/albums/b144/schwung/Ernie/
RIP dear sweet Ernie. You will never, EVER be forgotten by the hundreds of people whose lives you touched.
(remember those punnett squares from Bio)
