Boggle- USA bound!

[CanteringCarrot]

Yes, but there is nothing you can practically do that the vets cannot. And they will and are trying to head off anything at all that is incoming. They have it in hand and know how to deal with all of the possible scenarios so you may as well go, enjoy the holiday before you have to return to do the Bog-Convalescence!! The vets have got this and you need and deserve a break. Very, very mild pulses may never be anything than that. IF Bog had a laminitic moment, he is exactly where you would want him to be so you could not materially change things if you hang round lol!! Hope you have a lovely time and get a really decent change of scene.

Exactly this!

Bon voyage!

 

[Michen]

Thank you! Left just in time for the financial update. I think 25-30k is more realistic at this point haha. Time to drink

Will keep you all updated on him.

 

[Emilieu]

Pleased you are still getting away on your much anticipated trip. Not a thing you can do here but watch and worry- he will never be in safer hands! Enjoy enjoy enjoy

 

[View]

So pleased you are going on your trip. I will echo those saying he is in the best place, and that looking after you is looking after Boggle.

Relax, unwind - and most importantly enjoy!

 

[ycbm]

Thank you! Left just in time for the financial update. I think 25-30k is more realistic at this point haha. Time to drink

Will keep you all updated on him.

At least lack of insurance cover for 5 or 10k is looking less of an issue

Have a great time and plenty of dive pics on the photo thread please!
.

 

[Michen]

At least lack of insurance cover for 5 or 10k is looking less of an issue

Have a great time and plenty of dive pics on the photo thread please!
.

I have been thinking exactly that!!!!

 

[Michen]

Trying to enjoy it but tbh I think it was a mistake guys, I just feel completely on edge. . Not because I’m not there as I know there’s nothing I can do anyway. Been keeping in touch with the vet and his fever is down and all good but they can’t seem to get control of his cough. Didn’t eat up as well last night as normal. Waiting for the ultrasound results for the lungs but expecting bad news there now.

So he lives, but to what capacity?

I keep spontaneously needing to cry which I’m trying very hard to conceal!

 

[Emilieu]

Oh no this is such a horrible rollercoaster for you, no wonder you are feeling a bit overwhelmed. Don’t panic. How long until the ultrasound results?

 

[Michen]

Oh no this is such a horrible rollercoaster for you, no wonder you are feeling a bit overwhelmed. Don’t panic. How long until the ultrasound results?

Not sure tbh, just waiting by the phone

 

[palo1]

Trying to enjoy it but tbh I think it was a mistake guys, I just feel completely on edge. . Not because I’m not there as I know there’s nothing I can do anyway. Been keeping in touch with the vet and his fever is down and all good but they can’t seem to get control of his cough. Didn’t eat up as well last night as normal. Waiting for the ultrasound results for the lungs but expecting bad news there now.

So he lives, but to what capacity?

I keep spontaneously needing to cry which I’m trying very hard to conceal!

Aw, that is such a shame you feel so low but it's not totally unexpected. I am sure the cough will get better and I think it is too early days to decide Boggle is buggered tbh!! Lungs can take ages to heal and he wasn't left without treatment which is absolutely vital with respiratory things. It just takes time too and he may need other stuff but it's amazing how well they can and do recover from pneumonia. I think you have to give yourself time too, being away might feel wrong but it probably will do some good and you will be back with Boggle soon enough. Really sorry you are not having a completely lovely time. Hope you feel a bit better soon. x

 

[Emilieu]

Not sure tbh, just waiting by the phone

Well I will cross my fingers that they don’t take too long and are reassuring when they come in. My friend is a hypnotherapist and explained to me to expect my body to go into panic mode faster than usual for a while after a big scare- she said your reptilian brain takes longer to calm down and will fire up quickly at the smallest threat after surviving a big one. I found it very interesting and helpful to imagine my poor wee brain trying to protect me from further worries and I hope that’s all that is happening to you. I really don’t know enough about pneumonia to offer reassurance re Bog, but I’m sure others will be able to.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

@Michen although he’s been bright, he’s been through a hell of an ordeal. I wouldn’t be at all surprised with a slower recovery, and these things aren’t always linear. One step forward, two steps back is also fairly common with health recoveries. As long as the trajectory is correct, I’d take that.

 

[Cherryblossom]

Trying to enjoy it but tbh I think it was a mistake guys, I just feel completely on edge. . Not because I’m not there as I know there’s nothing I can do anyway. Been keeping in touch with the vet and his fever is down and all good but they can’t seem to get control of his cough. Didn’t eat up as well last night as normal. Waiting for the ultrasound results for the lungs but expecting bad news there now.

So he lives, but to what capacity?

I keep spontaneously needing to cry which I’m trying very hard to conceal!

For humans, we consider it normal to have a cough for up to 6 weeks after a bad infection, so I can’t imagine horses are any different. And with many of my patients the cough gets worse as they start to improve because the infection that was thick and solid is loosening up and starting to move and irritate more as they try to clear it. I can’t imagine it’s very different in horses, so try to wait on scan results before jumping into the future.

Also, you should go for a dive- all that controlled breathing will be good for your nervous system.

Hoping for continued improvement for Bog!

 

[Michen]

Just spoke to the vet. In short, what we are fighting for now is not really for him to survive (which is a likely outcome) but for him to have some quality of life after it. I’d type out all the science bits that are now gloomy but in his lungs are not good.

Her words were that the super star I had is unlikely to be what returns.

How can Bog operate at 50%? That does not sound fair. I can’t bear to see a Boggle that isn’t sparkly and himself and fit and well.

This is almost more nightmarish than it was.

 

[doodle]

I know it is a different case but my vet stressed he wouldn’t recover quickly. Lung infections take a long time. Once the infection was gone his breathing rate was still up. On the re scope his lungs were producing froth. The only thing that came back then was inflammation. He then got 2 courses of the equihaler. The drug is smaller particles and the way it is administered it gets futhur in to his lungs. This was literally what saved him. His breathing rate stubbornly stayed at 18 (at his worst it was 28) and we were concerned he would be left with a sort of dust sensitivity. However he still improved (although but this point physically he was well and starting in hand walking) and the breathing returned to normal (possibly coinciding with 24/7 turn out). I was worried that he would struggle with dusting environments after that but he hasn’t.

So take home message is that it is still very very early days and lungs are notoriously slow to improve.

 

[doodle]

Im trying to remember time scales. He was on abx for a month. The bronco dilators for 20 days ish. He then had 2 x 10 day courses of the inhaler. It was probably another month before his breathing was back to normal rate.

 

[Michen]

Im trying to remember time scales. He was on abx for a month. The bronco dilators for 20 days ish. He then had 2 x 10 day courses of the inhaler. It was probably another month before his breathing was back to normal rate.

It’s what they are seeing on his scans that is concerning. And the red snot coming out of his nose.

 

[doodle]

Ok. Sorry

 

[nagblagger]

He is still in an acute phase of infection, inflammation etc looks worse during this phase. Aim to bring him home and gentle rehab to improve lung function, maybe rescan in a few months time. I cannot understand how they could make such a prognosis while he is still recovering.
He is still Bog and except for a cough, is still pulling the staff around so he still has his Bog spirit, don't give up hope.

 

[Michen]

He is still in an acute phase of infection, inflammation etc looks worse during this phase. Aim to bring him home and gentle rehab to improve lung function, maybe rescan in a few months time. I cannot understand how they could make such a prognosis while he is still recovering.
He is still Bog and except for a cough, is still pulling the staff around so he still has his Bog spirit, don't give up hope.

He can’t come home. The infection is worsening, that’s the issue. He now has discharge (red) that he didn’t have before.

They are putting him back on IV antibiotics and she said she’s frankly amazed his temp has come down when it did, and not gone back up again.

 

[Debsflo1]

Oh no, do they think the lungs are showing more damage on the scans than expected ?
Is it possible to nebulise him to help with the cough
Thinking of you both, you must be emotionally exhausted

 

[Michen]

Yes they are worsening. Possibly the bacteria becoming resistant, they are sending off for another culture (anaerobic, different type).

He’s already being nebulized

 

[SEL]

I know a fair few people who had covid pre vaccinations and it really affected their lungs - including my neighbour who was ventilated for 3 months. You just can't tell how lungs will recover until they've had time to try and heal. I think your vet is trying to warn you that Bog isn't going to bounce back quickly and they're obviously worried about permanent damage but time is the best healer and only then will you know.

I was hoping you'd have better news while you were away xx

 

[SEL]

Yes they are worsening. Possibly the bacteria becoming resistant, they are sending off for another culture (anaerobic, different type).

He’s already being nebulized

I was just about to ask if they found out what it was?

 

[Michen]

I was just about to ask if they found out what it was?

Nope nothing showed up on the culture. They are re swabbing for a different type - anerobic.

Thank you. I’m just utterly, utterly heartbroken. I know I probably sound so whiny and pathetic, if this was an injury or something that would mean he couldn’t stand up to ridden work that would be one thing. But really, if his lungs are too weak to be ridden then he’s not going to be in a state to be retired in a field surely.

It was the none super star thing she said that ended me. Because that’s his personality.

 

[scats]

Try not to panic. It’s very early days and he is still only at the very beginning of this. It might take him a month to recover, or three, or a year. The thing is, right now you don’t know. All you can do is get though each stage and try not to get too far ahead of yourself. Focus on this bit now, of him getting fit enough to leave hospital, then you can focus on the next stage.
You might worry unnecessarily about a situation the never happens, or doesn’t happen to the extent you expect. Let him heal and see how he comes through the next few weeks, it’s still the earliest of days.

 

[Michen]

Thank you. Xx

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Thinking of you both. Please take care of yourself.

 

[ycbm]

But really, if his lungs are too weak to be ridden then he’s not going to be in a state to be retired in a field surely.

I understand your fears, but don't see why not, M. There's a world of difference between marching an extra 10 to 15% of your bodyweight around covering a minimum of 4 miles an hour and mooching round a field doing 5 miles in a day.

I know it's pointless advice but get on with the holiday and deal with things you can't change anyway when you get back.

We're all thinking of you, you're really going through the mill with this. I hope you can forget everything for a few moments at a time while you're under water or full of after-dive bloody Mary.
.

 

[palo1]

Try not to panic. It’s very early days and he is still only at the very beginning of this. It might take him a month to recover, or three, or a year. The thing is, right now you don’t know. All you can do is get though each stage and try not to get too far ahead of yourself. Focus on this bit now, of him getting fit enough to leave hospital, then you can focus on the next stage.
You might worry unnecessarily about a situation the never happens, or doesn’t happen to the extent you expect. Let him heal and see how he comes through the next few weeks, it’s still the earliest of days.

This. Take heart @Michen - vets have to give us the worse case scenario but horses don't read the books and respiratory issues can take ages to heal/sort out. Just one step at a time. I totally understand your heartbreak and despair but no one can know how Boggle will come back from this. It sounds like it might be a long haul and it is possible that difficult decisions have to be made at some point but you are not there yet. Just keep trying to go forward with positivity and keep doing whatever is right for you. Bog has come through this far too!!