Post by jaybird on Jan 12, 2008 11:41:08 GMT -5
Hello all, here is the next installment from “The Equine Health Spa”
Big Red, who is now officially named "Pie", as in, "Sweetie pie", and Isabella, have continued to blossom and are beginning to settle into a happy routine of eating, resting, eating , napping, and eating....well, you get the idea. Isabella likes to spend more time in her stall and have lots of attention, but Pie is more of an outdoorsy kind of guy. Melanie thinks Isabella wants to belong to someone, perhaps a nine year old girl, who will fuss with her mane and put glitter on her hooves, and maybe let her wear pink fuzzy leg wraps and saddle pads. Pie just is happy to be able to graze with a pal, and entertain people with comical faces, and, oh yeah, get lots of carrots! He is a good conservationist, too.
On Wednesday, they had their first doctor exam. The vet was appalled by the condition of both horses, and examined them with gentleness and compassion. Isabella and Pie were very well-mannered & polite, and seemed to understand that we were going to help them. In fact, at one point during the exam, Isabella reached over and nuzzled my face gently, and then playfully flipped my hat off! She touched it where it lay on the ground, and then looked at me, as if to say, "well, don't you know how to play this game?" She was totally gentle and careful, but she reached out to me....I was honored to be accepted into her trust. (She is a VERY intelligent mare, already showing great curiosity and interest in everything going on around her, and we believe she is has also had some very good training.)
So what was found, (to no one’s surprise) is both she and Pie have nasty pointy hooks on their teeth, and the mare has sores in her mouth from both the sharp edges...and possibly from trying to live off tree branches and twigs. She is healing quickly enough, though, and thank heavens for the mushed, pelleted feeds to give them easy to eat nutrition! Neither horse is having any problem chewing up their hay. Even at his advanced age, Pie has sufficient teeth and will power to get the job done. It was determined that at this point they are still much too weak and fragile to go thru the stress of getting their teeth floated... they are able to live and thrive on the mush & soaked hay just fine for now. Pie also has fairly limited vision in both eyes, although when he is introduced carefully into a new area, he is able to adapt well enough, but worries a lot if his pasture pal leaves him. Neither horse has lice, and we have already started treatment for the rain rot, and it has improved already. Their feet are pretty good, all things considered. In fact, on the plus side for Pie, there is no evidence of any current or previous founder.. But, the vet did notice that Pie had yellow gums and his eyes were quite yellow, too, which was very bad sign, and he was pretty concerned that both horses had compromised immune systems due to malnutrition, so he did a blood draw on both, to screen for infections and see what they have to face next. We all fretted thru the night, worrying about “what ifs”.
The results came back from the lab today and it was much more positive than we dared hope...Pie has a probable urinary tract infection and some inflammation, but his liver and kidney functions are normal...what a relief! (He has already won all our hearts with his personality...he is such a clown! And to lose him now would be wretched.) And Isabella needs antibiotics to help clear up the mouth sores. So the treatment at this point is that both Pie and Isabella have been started on sulfa drugs , and we have upped the probios to help offset any problems. Since Pie also needs to be on bute for a brief period, we decided to add an herbal ulcer preventative. So, the GREAT news is that they have both made it over another big hurdle on the way to wellness....so far every problem we have found is very treatable, and while the long term prognosis remains guarded, life is very good today, and that is enough for now. Both horses are improving hourly, physically and emotionally. The vet confirmed what we all suspected..there is little wrong with these horses other than sheer starvation and neglect. I suspect Karma will have its way with the people who did this to these two fine souls!
Today, Melanie and I took the red guys out in the pasture for a lovely turnout in the (brief) sunshine we had here. Isabella never lifted her head from grazing, she is serious about her food, but Pie promptly found the best sunbathing spot and snoozed, soaking up the warm, with his hip cocked, eyes closed, lip hanging down...the picture of pure relaxation and contentment.
Which brings up a funny story that I must tell on myself. Of course, we horse people are always panicked by any sign of colic, so when I checked on Isabella in her stall Wednesday afternoon and found her laying down, with uneaten hay strewn about, I was immediately concerned & made her get right up. I did the usual checks and we walked a bit....she seemed o.k. and started to eat again. So I left her in peace. A little while later, I looked in again, and she was down, and stretched out like death...I PANICKED, BIG TIME! “Up mare”, sez I, loudly, and checked her all over again......WHAT WAS wrong?? Should I call the vet?? She looked over at me, gave a big sigh, & started to nibble her hay again, all the while keeping her ear cocked toward me, just in case I had another fit, I suppose. It took me a while to realize that she was finally strong enough to be able to get down and back up again without struggling, and felt safe enough in her new environment, that she just wanted to lie down for a nap instead of having to nap while standing. If I would just leave her in peace!! A real DUH! moment for me. :>)
Update on the little Grey Lady in Onterio, oregon. If the plan all falls together the way it is supposed to, Grey Lady will arrive at the “Spa” much sooner than we expected...this Sunday, to be precise. I will be overjoyed if it works out that way! Grey Lady will need a lot of time & work to repair the damage from her leg wounds....we don’t know yet if the injuries are more superficial, or more challenging. We will hope for the best.
Luckily, we are not stressed for space & it will all fit together fine for the time being. My husband has done the “boy bonding” thing with Pie, and is happy to let both of the reds continue to hang out here for another week or two, until they are a over the infections and a bit stronger, so no worries there. Melanie has been donating her time helping care for the reds, and she deserves a lot of credit for her special TLC. She is also the master stage director responsible for the video & music arrangements on youtube . We will keep everyone updated with new pics & video as things progress.
Well, that’s all for now, cheers, from “The Equine Spa”
Big Red, who is now officially named "Pie", as in, "Sweetie pie", and Isabella, have continued to blossom and are beginning to settle into a happy routine of eating, resting, eating , napping, and eating....well, you get the idea. Isabella likes to spend more time in her stall and have lots of attention, but Pie is more of an outdoorsy kind of guy. Melanie thinks Isabella wants to belong to someone, perhaps a nine year old girl, who will fuss with her mane and put glitter on her hooves, and maybe let her wear pink fuzzy leg wraps and saddle pads. Pie just is happy to be able to graze with a pal, and entertain people with comical faces, and, oh yeah, get lots of carrots! He is a good conservationist, too.
On Wednesday, they had their first doctor exam. The vet was appalled by the condition of both horses, and examined them with gentleness and compassion. Isabella and Pie were very well-mannered & polite, and seemed to understand that we were going to help them. In fact, at one point during the exam, Isabella reached over and nuzzled my face gently, and then playfully flipped my hat off! She touched it where it lay on the ground, and then looked at me, as if to say, "well, don't you know how to play this game?" She was totally gentle and careful, but she reached out to me....I was honored to be accepted into her trust. (She is a VERY intelligent mare, already showing great curiosity and interest in everything going on around her, and we believe she is has also had some very good training.)
So what was found, (to no one’s surprise) is both she and Pie have nasty pointy hooks on their teeth, and the mare has sores in her mouth from both the sharp edges...and possibly from trying to live off tree branches and twigs. She is healing quickly enough, though, and thank heavens for the mushed, pelleted feeds to give them easy to eat nutrition! Neither horse is having any problem chewing up their hay. Even at his advanced age, Pie has sufficient teeth and will power to get the job done. It was determined that at this point they are still much too weak and fragile to go thru the stress of getting their teeth floated... they are able to live and thrive on the mush & soaked hay just fine for now. Pie also has fairly limited vision in both eyes, although when he is introduced carefully into a new area, he is able to adapt well enough, but worries a lot if his pasture pal leaves him. Neither horse has lice, and we have already started treatment for the rain rot, and it has improved already. Their feet are pretty good, all things considered. In fact, on the plus side for Pie, there is no evidence of any current or previous founder.. But, the vet did notice that Pie had yellow gums and his eyes were quite yellow, too, which was very bad sign, and he was pretty concerned that both horses had compromised immune systems due to malnutrition, so he did a blood draw on both, to screen for infections and see what they have to face next. We all fretted thru the night, worrying about “what ifs”.
The results came back from the lab today and it was much more positive than we dared hope...Pie has a probable urinary tract infection and some inflammation, but his liver and kidney functions are normal...what a relief! (He has already won all our hearts with his personality...he is such a clown! And to lose him now would be wretched.) And Isabella needs antibiotics to help clear up the mouth sores. So the treatment at this point is that both Pie and Isabella have been started on sulfa drugs , and we have upped the probios to help offset any problems. Since Pie also needs to be on bute for a brief period, we decided to add an herbal ulcer preventative. So, the GREAT news is that they have both made it over another big hurdle on the way to wellness....so far every problem we have found is very treatable, and while the long term prognosis remains guarded, life is very good today, and that is enough for now. Both horses are improving hourly, physically and emotionally. The vet confirmed what we all suspected..there is little wrong with these horses other than sheer starvation and neglect. I suspect Karma will have its way with the people who did this to these two fine souls!
Today, Melanie and I took the red guys out in the pasture for a lovely turnout in the (brief) sunshine we had here. Isabella never lifted her head from grazing, she is serious about her food, but Pie promptly found the best sunbathing spot and snoozed, soaking up the warm, with his hip cocked, eyes closed, lip hanging down...the picture of pure relaxation and contentment.
Which brings up a funny story that I must tell on myself. Of course, we horse people are always panicked by any sign of colic, so when I checked on Isabella in her stall Wednesday afternoon and found her laying down, with uneaten hay strewn about, I was immediately concerned & made her get right up. I did the usual checks and we walked a bit....she seemed o.k. and started to eat again. So I left her in peace. A little while later, I looked in again, and she was down, and stretched out like death...I PANICKED, BIG TIME! “Up mare”, sez I, loudly, and checked her all over again......WHAT WAS wrong?? Should I call the vet?? She looked over at me, gave a big sigh, & started to nibble her hay again, all the while keeping her ear cocked toward me, just in case I had another fit, I suppose. It took me a while to realize that she was finally strong enough to be able to get down and back up again without struggling, and felt safe enough in her new environment, that she just wanted to lie down for a nap instead of having to nap while standing. If I would just leave her in peace!! A real DUH! moment for me. :>)
Update on the little Grey Lady in Onterio, oregon. If the plan all falls together the way it is supposed to, Grey Lady will arrive at the “Spa” much sooner than we expected...this Sunday, to be precise. I will be overjoyed if it works out that way! Grey Lady will need a lot of time & work to repair the damage from her leg wounds....we don’t know yet if the injuries are more superficial, or more challenging. We will hope for the best.
Luckily, we are not stressed for space & it will all fit together fine for the time being. My husband has done the “boy bonding” thing with Pie, and is happy to let both of the reds continue to hang out here for another week or two, until they are a over the infections and a bit stronger, so no worries there. Melanie has been donating her time helping care for the reds, and she deserves a lot of credit for her special TLC. She is also the master stage director responsible for the video & music arrangements on youtube . We will keep everyone updated with new pics & video as things progress.
Well, that’s all for now, cheers, from “The Equine Spa”