Little Whisper had a bit of a fever today, and a little bit of snotty nose and a goopy eye. Hopefully its just a little viral thing with being in such compromised condition she is succeptible to, we will keep an eye on her and make sure it doesn't get worse. However, she continues to be very bright and happy to see us and LOVES her food.
I wanted to clarify that I originally posted misinformation - the owner of the horses did call a vet out for Whisper but put the other three horses in the neighbor's pasture and told the vet they were not hers when asked about them.
Whisper gave me a big scare this morning. She was down when I went out to feed this morning and appeared to have been down for a while. Her temp was 97.2. I tried to get her up but she wouldn't budge, her gum color was poor, and she appeared to be checked out...dying. I started making phone calls - Hannah and Brad were snowed in and trying to dig their car out of their mile-long driveway (literally). Lisa was able to dig up Valerie, and Daphne and her friend Jesse, and Kier and Kendra who work at Dr Brad Evergreen's clinic to come out and help. I called Pilchuck and they sent Dr. Miller out, and also the animal control officer from the city of Snohomish that was involved in Whisper's case came out with another officer. With all of us, plus a reporter from the Everett Herald who happened to come out this morning to do a story on Whisper that then stayed and helped, we literally lifted Whisper to her feet and held her up until she decided to stand on her own. By this time her temp had dropped to a very alarming 95.5. But once she was up, she immediately perked up again. She wanted food and Valerie got her a hot grain mash which she started eating voraciously. Within minutes her temp was reading at 97.7 and rising. and the rest of her vitals were good.
For now, she is ok, but we are very, very worried about keeping her warm with the coming storm. My stalls are not wind-proof, unfortunately, and they are expecting up to 90 mph wind and where I am at is notorious for very very strong winds. We nailed some pieces of plywood to the front of her stall. What we really need is a place for her in a heated, enclosed barn. I don't know if any even exist around here, but if we could find one, that would help. We are also on the hunt for a bucket heater or two - every place in Monroe is sold out of them. If anyone has an extra they are willing to lend, and can get it here, please let me know.
In the meantime, please continue to jingle for Whisper. She's really struggling.
Last Edit: Dec 19, 2008 16:38:22 GMT -5 by schwung
If you have a microwave, Jaime, and maybe a carafe or thermos to transport boiling water to the buckets (and maybe add a little salt?), I think it would help keep her warmer, at least when you were awake and could do it.
But I really hope someone has a better facility where she could go for the next few days.
I worry about all the horses out there who aren't being fed enough and/or are without blankets or shelter. This storm is going to result in some real tragedy, I think.
We are also on the hunt for a bucket heater or two - every place in Monroe is sold out of them. If anyone has an extra they are willing to lend, and can get it here, please let me know.
I am on my way out there, and i just called bothell feed, and they have 3 in stock...i'll pick at least one up on the way.
What we really need is a place for her in a heated, enclosed barn. I don't know if any even exist around here, but if we could find one, that would help.
Okay, I have a couple thoughts if a warm[er] barn can't be found for Whisper.
I emailed Julie about it, and she told me "Another thought - for Earl's back he recommended a warmed rice bag for necks... about half the size of a pillow case. He said to tuck it under his blanket on his withers." I am taking three tube-sock rice bags out tomorrow, but the problem with them is they only hold heat for 30-40 minutes and then have to go back in the microwave.
But what about Thermacare wraps? They shouldn't irritate since there is a hair coat (or maybe they could be put in a pillowcase to be sure), come in fairly large sizes, and put out heat for about 8-10 hours. I know, I have used them when I get "wry neck", gone to bed with one and it's still putting out heat in the morning.
Post by ladyrider748 on Dec 19, 2008 20:34:47 GMT -5
I am so happy to see she is doing better but let us not forget she has a long road ahead of her as well. As for keeping her warm during this horrible weather they are predicting, the THERMACARE heat wraps would be wonderful. They will not burn her and a couple made for use on a back taped to her blanket on either side of her back running head to tail would be very beneficial as would boarding up her stall front to keep the wind out. The stall we have waiting for her is wind proof and inside the barn I can tell you I await her arrival and if she was strong enough (and the roads were not so bad) I would come get her today!!! Hang in there cutie girl we love you Sharyl O'Danne, Morningstar Ranch, Winlock. Wa.
I am so sorry to hear Whisper is struggling. On Wednesday Jaime told me that Whisper was even thinner than Phoenix and Sinatra, who both also had trouble maintaining their body temperature in the weeks after the Carnation seizure. I felt under her blanket for the bony points of her shoulders, and didn't dare reach any further back. Between her hind legs there was only negative space, hollows and receding spaces. The sores were everywhere, until I stopped looking.
I held her for Dr. Hannah - the halter I had grabbed was way too big, so I held it together under her chin, and realized that after a while I was holding the whole weight of her head in my arms. She was giving her neck muscles a much-needed break.
Its not just insulating her from the outside, it's building her back up from the inside as well that's the challenge. I'm jingling for her too.