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Post by michellep on Dec 5, 2007 11:54:52 GMT -5
Hi Jaimie, I am new to this board, and just wanted to let you know that I am very happy that you get to spend more time with your beautiful horse. I just recently had to make that tough decision, my wonderful appy gelding that I had for 25 years had what I believe was a stroke. We had been on vacation some 2300 miles from home when he had the first stroke. He made it through and recovered okay, but just a short 3 weeks later had the stroke. My husband and I were home to witness this and although he was alert and eating and drinking fine, it was clear he had massive neurological problems in his hind end. It was the toughest decision I have ever made but in the end I couldnt bear the thought of him going down at night and not being able to get back up. Looking back I was glad I was there, and made the decision that I did. I hope that you have a long time with Crafty, enjoy your time.
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Post by schwung on Dec 6, 2007 11:37:50 GMT -5
I think today is going to be the day. Last night he and Vanna wouldn't come in from the back pasture, and this time I was remembering the last time I was so worried when this happened, and how it ended up Vanna was the one in trouble (she had an abcess) and Crafty was just fine. This time though, it was not the case. I went out there with a flashlight looking for them and found Vanna but she would not come to me, and did not see Crafty. I finally found him down, stretched out on his side, completely still. I thought for sure he was dead. He wasn't, but he didn't look good, and didn't want to get up. The tips of his ears were cold. I put a halter on him and finally got him up, but he was very weak at first and didn't want to walk. I got a few steps and then he would stop, a few steps more. Finally about halfway back to the barn he perked up and started walking normally, and seemed fine when we got to the barn. But then I heard these weird sounds and couldn't figure out where they were coming from, and realized it was gas, coming from him. I put him in a stall and watched him for a while. He seemed alert and mostly normal, but the excessive gas continued. He had a flake of hay but ignored it, and instead was foraging through the shavings picking out little pieces of hay. I called Hannah and talked to her a while, but decided not to have her come out as he seemed ok other than the gas, and figured he had a tummy ache and hopefully he is feeling better with the release of all that gas. I checked on him at midnight and 3am and he was up and about the same, did not seem in any distress, ate his carrots and a little grain but not much, still gassy. But at 7:30 this morning, he was down again, not wanting to get up. I turned the other horses out and by the time I was finished he was up, but not wanting to move, pawing the ground, acting colicky, still very gassy, and pretty miserable. Today is the day it seems....obviously I am not going to any heroic efforts to save him. I am going to have Hannah's assistant out to just assess him and take his heart rate. She is nearby, so if he gets worse, or when I feel I am ready to let him go, she will come. I'm off to the barn now.
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Buena
SAFE Volunteer
No horse will ever teach you as much as your first horse.
Posts: 1,929
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Post by Buena on Dec 6, 2007 11:57:30 GMT -5
Hang in there Jaime...
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Post by cardicorgi on Dec 6, 2007 13:09:26 GMT -5
((hug))
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Post by safehorses on Dec 6, 2007 15:06:45 GMT -5
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Post by schwung on Dec 6, 2007 15:16:23 GMT -5
Well he seems to be holding his own. Once I had him up and he had passed some gas he seemed mostly normal. Lisa and Kelsey helped me check his vitals, his heart rate was very slightly elevated so we gave him a 1/2 dose of Banamine, and it came back down. I am home and checking on him every hour or two.
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Post by safehorses on Dec 6, 2007 15:33:01 GMT -5
I've got all my fingers and toes crossed and jingling like mad for you both.
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Post by pdevlieg on Dec 6, 2007 18:33:23 GMT -5
Best wishes to you.
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Post by trillium on Dec 6, 2007 22:08:15 GMT -5
I am sorry to hear about what is going on with Crafty. We send our best to you in this difficult time.
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Post by schwung on Dec 7, 2007 3:06:29 GMT -5
He's gone. All day I watched him, and he would go from acting normal to acting uncomfortable, lethargic, and just not himself. Each time he would start to look sad I would think "just 5 more minutes and I will go call Hannah", and then he would perk up and start eating or mugging me for treats. But as the day wore on, overall he did not improve. He had horrible gas, and spent most of the day either sleeping or pawing and burying his nose in his stall like he was looking for something he could not find. The worst was when he would stand with his nose on the ground and flap his lips - the way he did when he wanted a treat - like he was begging for something but he didn't know what it was...relief from the misery he felt, I think. I took it as a sign as he was begging to be let go, and finally at 8:30 I mustered up the courage to call Dr. Hannah out, knowing I needed to be sure this time. He was well-sedated when he went and Hannah did a wonderful job making it a peaceful and easy passing for him. It was hard, I cried long and hard and horribly over his body...and felt like a piece of me was going with him, but when it was over, I had no regrets. It was time, and he has no more pain or discomfort now, and I take comfort in that.
I am incredibly grateful to Mike, Allison, Mara, Dr. Hannah, Lisa, Kelsey, Bonnie who all were so helpful through all of this. Mara was with me when he went and we held each other as we cried for him. Afterwards, Hannah stayed and listened to some of our stories of Crafty. After she left we went inside and did more reminiscing, and watched videos of a couple of Crafty's races and his first dressage show, looked through pictures, and talked.
I know I will continue to ache and grieve for him for a long time. He was a piece of my soul - a piece of who I was for the last 15 years - all of my adult life. I will miss him so terribly.
RIP my beautiful boy. I will never forget you.
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Buena
SAFE Volunteer
No horse will ever teach you as much as your first horse.
Posts: 1,929
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Post by Buena on Dec 7, 2007 3:11:38 GMT -5
Oh Jaime. Take comfort within yourself that you listened to what he was telling you. He knows how much he meant to you and he tried to make it as easy on you as he possibly could. He will live on in the many lives you will touch from this point forward.
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Post by leahlady on Dec 7, 2007 3:14:32 GMT -5
Oh, this is so sad. You really did the right thing. He is running pain free in horse heaven now, thanks to you!
I have tears in my eyes.
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bsnlark
Junior BB Member
SAFE Adopter
SAFE's Larkspur and Ishmeal n Buckwheat, too
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Post by bsnlark on Dec 7, 2007 4:59:06 GMT -5
When you feel the breezes next spring, it will be Crafty running along side of you.........
Horsey hugs from the group.. P
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Post by Angel62197 on Dec 7, 2007 7:27:23 GMT -5
I'm in tears right now! I'm so sorry for your loss Jamie. You did the right thing, but no doubt that doesn't make it feel any better... he's in a blissful, pain free place now... that's the image to hold on to.
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Post by pdevlieg on Dec 7, 2007 10:22:14 GMT -5
I am so sorry for your loss Jaime. That is the most difficult decision to make. You gave Crafty the best life he could have had, looking for and finding his health condition, then managing it to give him a much longer and healthier life. He was lucky to have you in his life.
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