|
Post by lizstabbertphoto on Mar 29, 2008 23:52:43 GMT -5
Hi Alyssa! Thanks for taking on Pie and Isabelle! I cant wait to see updates new photos ;D It will be exciting to watch these to continue to blossom in your care
|
|
|
Post by schwung on Apr 2, 2008 16:51:23 GMT -5
Pie and Isabelle were seen by Dr. Hannah today. It was a LONG appointment as there was much to be done with these two. Isabelle was first - she is looking much better weight-wise but her teeth needed desperately to be done. Inside her mouth were two of the most horrible teeth I have ever seen - both about 3-4 inches long with sharp points on the end. No wonder poor Izzy was quidding hay and had infection in her mouth - it was never going to clear up until the source of the ulceration was gone. She was a very good girl for getting her teeth done. She also had some spaces in her teeth where there was gunk embedded and periodontal disease had set in. She is back on antibiotics, but this should be the last time now that the source of the problem is gone. She is already feeling MUCH better and after her sedation wore off, she was more than ready to show us how much easier she could eat her hay! Pie was another story...his teeth were even worse than Izzy's. Pie has not gained weight like Izzy has - some but not nearly enough. Hannah had to be careful how much sedation she gave him due to the heart murmur he has, and he was a bit fussy while his teeth were done. He also doesn't have much incisors left on top so it was hard keeping him on the speculum. While Hannah wasn't able to do a perfect job, she was able to make him significantly more comfortable, as he had to have been in a lot of pain with his teeth as bad as they were. He doesn't have enough grinding surface to chew hay anymore, so he is basically going to be switched to a 100% mash diet, although he can have some hay to chew on as a filler. Pie also got his sheath done which was DISGUSTING! Pie also had lice which was why his skin was not clearing up and he was very itchy and rubbing himself raw in places. He showed a dramatic improvement after just one lice dusting two days ago. Yesterday he got a medicated bath (Alyssa is taking SUCH good care of him) and today his coat looked and felt SO much better! Pie also has a couple of lumps under his jawline and another on his side, and we reviewed the bloodwork taken in January with Dr. Hannah, and there were all the markers for lymphoma on that bloodwork. We took more blood, and if he is producing white blood cells we can rule it out, but if not, he probably does have lymphoma. We could biopsy the lumps to know for sure but it is probably not worth it. If he does have it, it would explain the lack of weight gain. In any case, lymphoma is quite an aggressive cancer and he would have, at best, 6-12 months left with us. We will have the bloodwork results back tomorrow or the next day. I held Pie's head in my arms and let the tears come, and promised him that we would take the very best care of him, and let him know to tell us when he doesn't feel good anymore, and we would set him free. Right now he is a happy, perky guy - despite his condition - so its not time yet. On a more positive note, while he does have cataracts, he passed a vision test well and seems to see well enough. He has had no problems finding his feed or water or bumping into anything. He is also in a stall separated from Izzy (although he can see her if she is in her stall) and he is totally fine with that. I forgot my camera but I think Alyssa has some pictures to post.
|
|
|
Post by Whitewolf821 on Apr 2, 2008 17:37:23 GMT -5
I want to thank SAFE for taking Pie in even due to his age. I'm sure he's had more joy in the last couple months than he has known for quite some time now. Even if he only has one week left, what's better than to have known all the love and wonderful care he has had?
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the old man. I hope he actually gets the chance to enjoy a kid of his own and a place to call home before it's time to go.
Thank you, SAFE
|
|
|
Post by cat67 on Apr 2, 2008 18:23:37 GMT -5
He is a very happy horse - he always was, even totally emaciated. I know that he has loved all the TLC he has received over the past months and I bet he will surprise you how long he lasts. There is nothing like the all-mush diet for the seniors. Dally, Clover, and Sarge are proof positive of how well it works!
Every time I think about him, I think about the crazy woman asking if her daughter should be there when I came out to ride him for me. Gah! Can you imagine? I was like, um, NO, I don't need to see him ridden, no problem! *smile causes face to crack open*
|
|
|
Post by Whitewolf821 on Apr 2, 2008 23:32:47 GMT -5
LOL..I do remember her asking me that. I had to try pretty hard to convince her that no, we didn't care if he was rideable or not. We would take him either way, and we would do our own assessment of his riding ability if possible. My jaw dropped when I saw how bad he actually was and that she said he was being ridden just a few months before!
|
|
|
Post by lizstabbertphoto on Apr 3, 2008 12:42:14 GMT -5
Oh no Give Pie extra hugs from me. Hopefully hes still got a long time more to be loved on
|
|
|
Post by Gingersmom-Tate on Apr 3, 2008 13:26:27 GMT -5
Pie is awesome older gentleman, his spirits are wonderful, despite everything, I'm so glad he's in a place where he's being taken great care of, Imagine what a horse he was in his younger days....The neglectful run them into the ground, and for the few lucky ones the compassionate step in and give them care and love and a happy ending, even if its a peaceful end.
|
|
|
Post by schwung on Apr 3, 2008 16:22:52 GMT -5
Pie's bloodwork came back and unfortunately, it is not good news at all. He is severely anemic, far worse than the bloodwork taken in January. He most likely has lymphoma that has progressed into his bone marrow, which has caused his body to no longer be able to produce red blood cells. Hannah has unfortunately had to revise her lifespan estimate, he most likely has very little time left. We probably should have done the bloodwork before doing his teeth yesterday, as if we had known we would not have put him through sedation, but amazingly he actually handled it pretty well and even fought it a bit. He is sore and a bit depressed today but is eating some. At this point it is just a wait and see situation - he could go quickly or he could slowly start to deteriorate, so we will be watching him carefully for any sign of pain or distress. At the first sign that he has lost his spark, we will let him go. Hopefully he will have a little time to enjoy the spring grass, grooming, and extra attention. He is a very special horse, and I can only hope that at some time in his life he was loved and doted on, as he certainly deserves it. Here are some photos Alyssa took the other day, after his bath: And one of Izzy's mouth. Note the very long sharp tooth in the front. She had another even longer one in the very back on the bottom that you can't see. Poor girl!
|
|
|
Post by cat67 on Apr 3, 2008 16:48:03 GMT -5
He has definitely gained weight substantially from when I saw him last - probably as much as he can gain, given his condition. I'm glad he's got a great place to live for the rest of his life, and that he hasn't had to be separated from his girlfriend Izzy.
|
|
|
Post by dancerskye on Apr 3, 2008 19:20:54 GMT -5
Alyssa - This is Melanie from Ginger's barn. I'm moving to Oklahoma in two weeks and would love to stop by your place and visit with Pie & Isabella before I go. Would you mind sending me an e-mail at DancerSkye@gmail.com to set up a possible day and time?
A couple questions / comments on Pie - in the post on his vet visit it mentions him not having enough grinding surface for hay. Was this pre or post getting his teeth done? I ask because he was eating 4 to 6 flakes of orchard grass hay a day at Ginger's. Some days he had left overs in his stall, but usually it was pretty cleaned out. And does Dr Hannah have the blood work that was done between January and now? Just want to make sure all the puzzle pieces are together, having that middle one might be helpful in looking at how he's progressed / deteriorated. This big guy captures your heart when you are around him and has been a gift to us all.
|
|
|
Post by schwung on Apr 3, 2008 19:45:38 GMT -5
Hi Melanie - to answer your questions, about the grinding surface, that was before having his teeth done. He has some teeth but also big gaps where teeth are missing so there are few areas where he has teeth that line up enough to process hay. That said, we did talk about the fact that he has been managing to eat hay despite his lack of teeth, and our vet said he can continue to have some as long as it wasn't very stemmy, but we should watch for signs that he is not fully chewing it in his manure, because we don't want him to get an impaction. Orchard grass tends to be pretty soft and easy to chew so I don't doubt he was eating that much hay with you, but our vet feels he should be getting most of his nutrition from mash at this time.
And yes, we were looking at his bloodwork report from January as well as today's. It was January's that caused us to take more bloodwork - as in addition to the anemia there were other signs of possible lymphoma going on. This second bloodwork pretty much confirmed it and shows that it is progressing, unfortunately.
**oops** just re-read your post. No, I do not have the second bloodwork that was taken on Pie, just the one in January. Can you please have your vet send it over to Dr. Hannah Evergreen? Or, if you have a copy of it, you could just mail or fax it to her.
|
|
|
Post by safehorses on Apr 4, 2008 14:43:15 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by alyssa on Apr 4, 2008 23:11:11 GMT -5
Hi there, I wanted to extend an invitation to anyone coming from near or far to stop by and visit these two wonderful horses before attending the vigil at Tye Park on Saturday night. Pie and Isabelle are now living in Sultan about 9 miles east of Tye Park. If you would like to stop by please email me at horsenhound@verizon.net for the address and directions. Pie and Isabelle look forward to having visitors, lets hope for better weather
|
|
|
Post by alyssa on Apr 5, 2008 11:48:59 GMT -5
Here is an update on Pie and Isabelle. Isabelle is doing great after her visit from Dr. Evergreen. She is getting much better at eating her hay without spitting it out and takes her antibiotics like she knows they are helping her. Hopefully the weather will stay nice enough to pull her blankets off today so she can get some sunshine Pie is also doing much better. I was a bit worried about him since the dental work that was done really hit him hard. He was pretty swollen and didn't want to move around much so he stocked up but he was eating like a champ and still nickering at me all the time when I was outside. Today he looks much brighter and his pasterns are back to normal so I think he is going to make it a bit longer. ;D He seems comfortable and as bright as he has been since he got here. He gets tons of love and rubs from everyone and he really is doing well considering his condition. He loves to eat especially his beet pulp and grain, I give it to him after I dump his soaked timothy pellets out and he won't even touch it until the beet pulp is added. He has so much personality, he definitely touches the heart of everyone he meets.
|
|
|
Post by jaybird on Apr 6, 2008 23:47:18 GMT -5
These are a few photos from a week ago when Allison, Jaime and I visited Pie and Isabelle at their new foster home. Relaxed and happy Isabelle: Alyssa's barn has a very open and warm atmosphere. Isabelle likes to peek over the wall of her stall to see what is happening in the aisleway. And Pie likes to do the same thing!
|
|