pippixox
Well-Known Member
sorry, I hate posting negative things, but I've had some bad news this morning and just need to get it off my chest to understanding horsey people (other non-horsey/animal people will say kind things but don't really get it)
10 days ago my boy came in with a nose bleed, and slightly puffy nose. but not unhappy- eating and grooming his friends in the barn. vet came and said it may be a reaction to something like a bite or inhaling grass seed, so gave steroid and other than a gross nose he happily went back out grazing.
yesterday morning he was fast asleep on his side in the field when i arrived, but when i brought breakfasts out my other 3 zoomed over and he did not. walked over (well tried to run, but I am nearly 7 months pregnant) and he was breathing and then looked up at me and over the next couple of minutes he slowly got up and wandered over to his friends and breakfast. his nose was running- blood and mucus and his nose was swollen. so i slowly brought him into the barn. by this morning hole face was swollen and one eye almost shut. he had barely eaten or pooed all night and was even more lethargic.
so I tried to remain positive while waiting for the vet- maybe he has suddenly developed a pollen allergy, or sinusitis. just needs some medication and management, but my gut told me otherwise and sadly I was right. scoped and x-rayed and it appears he must have a brain cyst or tumor
He is 18 but was still full of life until the last few days, and not long ago I was cantering him across the common. I have had him 10 years, he was my first horse. spent his hole time since being a race horse with me. I am absolutely devastated. I thought he would have many more years with me. He is the sweetest horse, who I hoped my baby would meet and even sit on as he is so safe. sadly I now don't know how long he has
I don't know if anyone has any experience of this? Vet completely agrees that (regardless of massive cost) doing a CT is a waste of time as I would not want to operate, and the likelihood of a positive outcome is so slim anyway. so he has given me antibiotics and pain killers to reduce swelling and make him comfortable, and I will put him back out with his friends tonight. Then in 2 weeks we will reassess, unless he goes downhill. But ultimately I know PTS is inevitable and probably quite soon. just feel helpless right now and although he has had a great life, 18 is still young to me. just such a sudden shock.
not really after much advise (although welcome to share similar experiences) just had to write it down to help process the situation.
10 days ago my boy came in with a nose bleed, and slightly puffy nose. but not unhappy- eating and grooming his friends in the barn. vet came and said it may be a reaction to something like a bite or inhaling grass seed, so gave steroid and other than a gross nose he happily went back out grazing.
yesterday morning he was fast asleep on his side in the field when i arrived, but when i brought breakfasts out my other 3 zoomed over and he did not. walked over (well tried to run, but I am nearly 7 months pregnant) and he was breathing and then looked up at me and over the next couple of minutes he slowly got up and wandered over to his friends and breakfast. his nose was running- blood and mucus and his nose was swollen. so i slowly brought him into the barn. by this morning hole face was swollen and one eye almost shut. he had barely eaten or pooed all night and was even more lethargic.
so I tried to remain positive while waiting for the vet- maybe he has suddenly developed a pollen allergy, or sinusitis. just needs some medication and management, but my gut told me otherwise and sadly I was right. scoped and x-rayed and it appears he must have a brain cyst or tumor
He is 18 but was still full of life until the last few days, and not long ago I was cantering him across the common. I have had him 10 years, he was my first horse. spent his hole time since being a race horse with me. I am absolutely devastated. I thought he would have many more years with me. He is the sweetest horse, who I hoped my baby would meet and even sit on as he is so safe. sadly I now don't know how long he has
I don't know if anyone has any experience of this? Vet completely agrees that (regardless of massive cost) doing a CT is a waste of time as I would not want to operate, and the likelihood of a positive outcome is so slim anyway. so he has given me antibiotics and pain killers to reduce swelling and make him comfortable, and I will put him back out with his friends tonight. Then in 2 weeks we will reassess, unless he goes downhill. But ultimately I know PTS is inevitable and probably quite soon. just feel helpless right now and although he has had a great life, 18 is still young to me. just such a sudden shock.
not really after much advise (although welcome to share similar experiences) just had to write it down to help process the situation.
