Boggle- USA bound!

[Honey08]

Oh my goodness!! I’ve been awol for a couple of days and can’t believe the rollercoaster he’s taken you on (again!). Really hoping things stay stable/improve again over the next few days. Stay strong. You must be exhausted.

 

[Nicnac]

Bar through HHO I don't know you or Boggle but my goodness I've had so many emotions through this thread as I guess many others have. Elation, despair, sadness, hope, I could go on but the stress is quite something - I have no idea how you have coped.

Fingers and everything crossed once again for you both. Boggle - you are something else!

 

[SO1]

This is amazing news but you must be getting grey hair, wrinkles and dependency issues with alcohol and ice cream after everything he's put you through!!

I have an ongoing problem with my neck and it's excruciating when it plays up - but it does get better with drugs, rest and my physio. I'm very much hoping Bog tweaked something painful and it'll fix.

Who needs holidays anyway?!

I have had neck problems too in part related to TMJ disorder and it can excruciatingly painful but then feel better. In fact on Monday I had really bad neck pain went to accupunture at lunch time and chi gong class in the evening by the next day pain was gone. I find NSAIDs not very effective but accupunture seems to work well.

Hopefully Boggle continues to improve.

 

[I'm Dun]

Has he seen a physio or similar? A friends horse presented like this, but it was 25yrs ago so diagnostics and treatment were more limited. I messaged her to find out what it was and what they did. Apparently they never got to the bottom of it. Like Bog, she was fine one day and severely ataxic the next. They had a bodyworker out in the end, and the mare slowly got better and returned to normal. I only remembered it as I saw her being practically carried across the yard barely able to stand on the day it started, and when I read about Bog it reminded me.

 

[Michen]

And here’s the emotional post visit crash. Not sure what I was expecting but he’s clearly still a very neuro challenged horse, saw him wobbly in stable and buckle a foreleg when grazing.

It’s insane how quick he’s lost condition and muscle, already a dip in his neck again and a bump in his bum.

Argh. One step at a time I guess.

 

[HorseyTee]

Well bloody hell, that was a roller coaster of a read.
I think your next holiday will be to a mental facility for therapy
Hope he continues to improve and this will be the end of your run of bad luck.

 

[clairebearnz]

I've been following your story a bit - one of my horses came in from the paddock very lame and quiet having looked like he'd had a run in with yhe temp fencing. The next day, I realised he wasn't just lame (both knees had blown up so he was also lame!), he was quite ataxic in behind. He had a week of supportive IV DMSO as well as high dose anti-inflammatories and returned 100% to normal function. That was about 5 years ago - he is now retired but that is because he had other issues that predated this particular one.

Hopefully Boggle shows the same improvement, bless him.

 

[Jenko109]

We are all rooting for you and Bog.

I don't think I've ever been so invested in a horse that I've never ever met!

 

[Sandstone1]

We are all rooting for you and Bog.

I don't think I've ever been so invested in a horse that I've never ever met!

Me too. Really hope he improves. He looks such a lovely boy and its such a shame hes having such problems. You seem such a good owner and it seems so unfair. Really hope he gets through this.

 

[Titchy Pony]

I'm so glad Boggle has shown some improvement, fingers crossed for more.

 

[Red-1]

He looks better than I expected on that video. Being as he is improving, I have hopes for him!

 

[scats]

Sounds like things are moving in a positive direction.

 

[mustardsmum]

So relieved to read your latest posts! Sound like time, and maybe steroids, are the way forward. Keeping everything crossed for him!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Not a horse but a dog. I was watching the new series on channel 5 about a local very big vet hospital. A pup was brought in, French Bulldog or similar and that had fallen/jumped off a wall in the garden before the owner could get to it. Basically paralysed, hind legs useless. That had swelling on the spinal cord, treatment was conservative and involved drugs and physio/hydrotherapy. He was in hospital for around two weeks being treated and finally went home still slightly wobbly but running around as usual and on course to make a full recovery. Amazing how animals can come back from what looks hopeless.
I have every faith that Boggle will make an equally miraculous recovery, he is a very special being.

 

[splashgirl45]

This is the first thread I check in the mornings , so glad there is another improvement , look after yourself M. and lots of good vibes for continuing improvement. xx

 

[Widgeon]

He has improved today! Almost a whole grade of ataxia. Yesterday he was still so bad they couldn’t safely do all the neuro tests. Today he is very close to being safe to go in a field.

I was so relieved to see this I actually cried! I know you say he's still wobbly but it's improvement that you're looking for - he's going in the right direction. I so hope that continues. All the best for today (when you wake up!), I hope you have a good day at work despite the worry and lack of sleep - or are you on leave for the sadly cancelled dive trip? It's so clear from your posts how much you love him, I was shocked and upset to see you were going through another medical emergency with him.

 

[Haniki]

(((Sending healing vibes Boggle’s way))) and a hug to you Michen.xx

 

[Trouper]

If advancing years have taught me anything it is always to start simply, start slowly with any medical condition which is not clear cut. So glad you are leaving Bog with the vets to start the steroids and see how you go and sometimes Nature defeats any medical expertise we think is superior. Also nerves are the very devil to take their time to heal/recover compared with muscles etc so we all need lots of patience to see how he deals with this.
Keeping everything crossed for both of you.

 

[equinerebel]

Has there ever been a horse more genuinely universally loved than Bog?

I’m a relatively new member, but have read this whole thread over time, and like everyone else, I’m invested in his recovery. Come on, Bog!

 

[Sealine]

I'm another who is very invested in Boggle and coming on here virtually hourly to check up on him. It's great to hear the positive news that he's improved.

Let's hope this is the start of another amazing bounce back for Boggle so that the 'Boggle Bounce' can become a Thing

 

[Dixiegirl]

Fingers crossed and good vibes for you both Michen. (I'd thought it was going to be another beautiful photo of Bog in fantastic scenery.) Chin up x

 

[Asha]

Just catching up on this. So sorry you and Boggle are going through this .
I will keep everything crossed it’s not neuro and that the steroids work their magic .
If it helps at all , one of our foals was really poorly . Vets had to rule out all sorts including neuro/ wobblers . Turned out to be some random virus and after lots of antibiotics he’s now absolutely fine and cantering around the field . Sending hugs x

 

[Ceriann]

Positive is positive and an indication some inflammatory/acute response could be reducing. He looks very bright eyed in the video. As so many have said here time could well be your friend here and if he’s stable and bright you have that time.

 

[Michen]

It’s a horrible roller coaster. Obviously yesterday I was just delighted there was some improvement so I’m on a huge high. Then I see him and the reality hits that the chances of him being normal again feel very slim.

I am shocked at the condition loss.

Also feeling terrible for leaving him at the vets, he refused to go back in his stable someone had to help me. He’s never done that. I had every intention of taking him home when it all seemed pretty hopeless but given he’s improving I just think it’s worth him staying there a few more days so he can get all the drugs and treatment in the world for a little bit longer but god, I feel bad. I am going to spend as much time with him over the next few days as possible.

Widgeon, I was meant to fly Monday night for dive trip but my company are very understanding so I’ve just cancelled the leave. And obviously didn’t have any work trips scheduled so that means I’ll be here all next week and the week after for Boggle nursing.

 

[Michen]

I've been following your story a bit - one of my horses came in from the paddock very lame and quiet having looked like he'd had a run in with yhe temp fencing. The next day, I realised he wasn't just lame (both knees had blown up so he was also lame!), he was quite ataxic in behind. He had a week of supportive IV DMSO as well as high dose anti-inflammatories and returned 100% to normal function. That was about 5 years ago - he is now retired but that is because he had other issues that predated this particular one.

Hopefully Boggle shows the same improvement, bless him.

Thank you for this!! Is DMSO the drug that makes them absolutely stink? I think that’s what they said it was. I’ve never smelt anything like it!

 

[Northern Hare]

I personally think you did the right thing leaving him at the vets, they can monitor him so much more easily whilst he's there - I can understand why he wasn't so that enamered at the prospect, but that might be due to his long stay there earlier this year?

Also, ref his condition, I would say don't worry too much about that, he recovered his condition quickly after his pneumonia, so fingers crossed it will be the same this time.

 

[paddy555]

On another note the vets are exploring the option of this being a vaccine reaction from his jabs last week. It seems a little far fetched given this has happened a whole week later

I am editing my original post as it gives details of my OH's health which is irrelevant to anyone else. I posted it originally for Michen in the hope it would give a different suggestion for Bog.

 

[Michen]

human not horse. My OH had a couple of routine vaccinations. (before Covid) he was healthy and appeared fine afterwards. A week later he totally crashed and hadn't even the strength to get out of bed. He basically collapsed. Total muscle loss and total lack of muscle strength. That basically happened overnight from healthy active person to crash. Could barely move from a lying to sitting up position in bed.
Really difficult to describe the level of muscle weakness. Took 15 minutes for him to be able to even put his legs over the bedside and sit up. 2 months later he was able to get out of bed on his own.

The "loss of condition" in him was so quick and so severe. It was weird as it moved from one thing to another, started with a bad back, next day it had moved to something else. All the time with the muscles giving up. We started off thinking we needed the chiro, then the hospital for the chest pain, then something else.

Tried to put it down to everything else but there was just nothing. After a couple of years we simply had to put it down to the vaccs. Seemed too far fetched at the time to even consider it but it was simply too much of a coincidence.

His muscle problems seemed very similar to Bog.

That’s very interesting. The vaccine company are communicating with the vets about paying some of the diagnostics- it seems odd to me they’d do that if they thought there was zero chance it could be related?

So glad your OH is ok now!

 

[Michen]

I personally think you did the right thing leaving him at the vets, they can monitor him so much more easily whilst he's there - I can understand why he wasn't so that enamered at the prospect, but that might be due to his long stay there earlier this year?

Also, ref his condition, I would say don't worry too much about that, he recovered his condition quickly after his pneumonia, so fingers crossed it will be the same this time.

I think so. I guess re condition that was expected with the pneumonia because his body was having to fight such a serious infection but I didn’t realise this would take it out of him so much.

Still he’s very bright and cheeky so that’s good!

 

[paddy555]

That’s very interesting. The vaccine company are communicating with the vets about paying some of the diagnostics- it seems odd to me they’d do that if they thought there was zero chance it could be related?

So glad your OH is ok now!

if there is any chance of Bog being affected by vacc in the same way OH was then I would tell you to give him a few days at the hospital to build him up, get him home and give him whatever drug support he really needed (rather than everything you would like due to steriods v lami) and give him 6 months at least to just recover. It will take time. Don't forget a bright cheerful horse who can't wait to ride etc again may be mentally able just not yet physically.
A horse keeps on his feet wherever possible, being down is not a good place for a flight animal. A human can reason to take it very easy lying down.
OH's recovery was VERY VERY long. However he is still alive (which at one stage we were seriously wondering) so I have everything crossed for Bog.

The mental toll on me was just as bad as the physical one on OH so I know what you are going throw staring into the abyss trying to make any sense of it.