According to GD's vet he's lucky to be alive!

PolarSkye

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There was major sepsis in that hock joint when we took him in . . . white cell count in a healthy joint is 1 or below . . . 5 or above indicates sepsis . . . Kal's count was 25.

Vet reckons if we'd left it until the next morning (which was never an option), the infection would have taken hold and we would probably have lost him.

Surgeon tapped the joint this morning and the white cell count is 2 . . . hurrah! He's coming off the intravenous antibios today and going onto oral ABs, they'll change his dressing tomorrow and reassess on Wednesday and if he's still sound (which remarkably he is) and the wound sites all look good he can come home.

From there, it's two weeks box rest until a couple of days after the stitches come out . . . two weeks or so in a postage stamp-sized pen and then he can go out into his new field. Ridden work can start in three to four weeks.

I am doing such a happy dance right now.

Thank you for all your vibes and good wishes - they worked!

P
 
I'm so glad Kali is going the right way! And pleased he will have better company! Will keep up the healing thoughts too!

Terri

Thank you Terri . . . and, yes, I've not stopped worrying completely just yet . . . he needs to stay infection free over the next three or four days . . . but I'm much more optimistic now. Also ecstatic that he won't be going back into that field . . . although not for another month or so.

P
 
Missed your original post.

Phew!!!!

Thank you :). Phew indeed! I'm still crossing my fingers b/c he's coming off two separate intravenous ABs and going onto oral . . . but I am much more relaxed than I was. Going to see him tomorrow with loads of carrots :).

P
 
Blimey, thank goodness you realised it was joint fluid.

I have no idea how I knew . . . I guess I just figured it couldn't be anything else given where the wound was . . . sheer fluke. But very glad he's recovering and really hope it continues.

P
 
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