Feeling beaten

[doodle]

Robin now has a swollen front leg. It’s warm, as is the foot. I would love an abscess but looks more tendon/ligament to me. He also has a sore poll. He whacked it on stable door a few days ago but seems to be getting sorer. I think back foot on same leg warm too so maybe some odd thing. I tried to hose but everything now swollen. Tried to trot up the yard but there is very little space and he didn’t want to.

Vet again tomorrow but I just feel we have reached end of the line.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

That's a bummer for sure! But my horse's neighbor had an absess recently (never had one before) and his leg was quite swollen. The vet dug it out and the swelling was gone quite quickly. I saw his leg when I didn't know what his issue was, and also suspected a soft tissue injury. So really hoping it's the same for Robin.

 

[[59668]]

I have nothing to say other than I feel your heart breaking pain.

 

[doodle]

I can deal with an abscess. I cannot deal with an injury. He will not box rest. It feels like his body is failing.

 

[Flame_]

Where you're dealing with anything mysterious and ongoing, one problem will often just keep leading onto more problems.

There's never any shame in deciding to stop struggling on. All he'd know is that he's suffering, then he's not any more.

Saying that, if you just need a shot of positivity... He's probably now got an abscess, a pita especially on top of everything else, but might be over and done with within a week. Just an extra bit of drama but really not a big problem.

He banged his head - what a muppet. I banged my head the other day - I'm also a muppet . It hurts but gets better and life goes on.

No trotting up - well never mind, you can't tell much in the great scheme of things from a quick trot up anyway. Let things all settle down and try again when it's not freezing and February and you aren't dealing with a shedload of other stuff.

Keep going, you're doing great, I'm still hoping, realistically I think, that this has a good outcome

 

[eggs]

One of mine had an abscess and it looked as though he had blown a tendon. Even after it was drained he still walked dog lame which gave the vet a few nervous moments. Fortunately he was sound later in the day.

Another once had a tiny spot of mud fever and his leg blew up so much that it was more than twice the size of his other front leg.

 

[splashgirl45]

its just another little problem to solve, hope for abscess and wish you lots of luck, hugs xxxx

 

[vmac66]

You're doing so well with him, you will get this sorted I'm sure. Fingers crossed for an abscess. Sending virtual hug x

 

[Sandstone1]

I hope he feels better soon and its not too serious, What does your vet think? Please Please dont take this the wrong way but do you think that some of your health issues could be effecting your views and judgement on his problems? I could be completely wrong here and I apologise if I am but sometimes if we dont feel great ourselves we can make smaller issues in to big problems, I know I do it. Your vet will be the best person to advise you on your next steps. I dont mean to offend you but its just a thought.

 

[doodle]

I hope he feels better soon and its not too serious, What does your vet think? Please Please dont take this the wrong way but do you think that some of your health issues could be effecting your views and judgement on his problems? I could be completely wrong here and I apologise if I am but sometimes if we dont feel great ourselves we can make smaller issues in to big problems, I know I do it. Your vet will be the best person to advise you on your next steps. I dont mean to offend you but its just a thought.

I haven’t spoken to vet as I found it at 6.30 pm. I will ring tomorrow.

I wish it was just me being over sensitive but when the vet tells you your horse is very ill, too ill to travel for more tests, and that he is concerned, I tend to listen. And when the tests come back as “severe” I also tend to listen. And when you ask how much more a horse can take and they also agree with your concerns about that. (I was hoping to anything for vet to say “no no we are nowhere near that yet”). We know he has bad arthritis as we have xrays. We know he had ulcers as we scoped. We know he has issue with lungs as we scoped and took samples which were grown. We know he has anaemia as we have the blood results. We can also see his breathing rate, which vet has seen and seen videos of. Along with the vet nurse seeing him at home and commenting how that horse over there didn’t look well, and that was before she even knew who he was. I REALLY wish I was making it up.

 

[racebuddy]

Keeo ur chin up. Xx

 

[TPO]

Sorry to hear this. I hope that the vet has some positive news in the morning.

Easy to say but try to get a good sleep tonight and make sure are as well rested as you can be. Take care x

 

[Caol Ila]

I haven’t spoken to vet as I found it at 6.30 pm. I will ring tomorrow.

I wish it was just me being over sensitive but when the vet tells you your horse is very ill, too ill to travel for more tests, and that he is concerned, I tend to listen. And when the tests come back as “severe” I also tend to listen. And when you ask how much more a horse can take and they also agree with your concerns about that. (I was hoping to anything for vet to say “no no we are nowhere near that yet”). We know he has bad arthritis as we have xrays. We know he had ulcers as we scoped. We know he has issue with lungs as we scoped and took samples which were grown. We know he has anaemia as we have the blood results. We can also see his breathing rate, which vet has seen and seen videos of. Along with the vet nurse seeing him at home and commenting how that horse over there didn’t look well, and that was before she even knew who he was. I REALLY wish I was making it up.

Yeah, I know the feeling. I've had the same vet for nearly a decade, and he's not a box-rest-as-SOP kind of guy. He is a great advocate of keeping horses ridden, moving, active, so when he's telling you NOT to ride and only handwalk for 10-15 minutes, this is a bad sign. I'm feeling a bit lonely, because my yard-mates don't know my vet (most of them use other practices, because geography), and when THIS vet is talking about "handwalking" and hedging his bets on whether you can ever ride her again, or talking about quality of life sh1t, you know he's fcuking worried, and you should be too. They think I'm being overdramatic. But I'm not.

 

[doodle]

My vet is brilliant. He is very down to earth and realistic about what is possible. He was amazing with Minto too. It is Robin that won’t do box rest rather than the vet saying no. We have tried box rest (a different vet practise which just said “but he needs to stay in his stable) and had to give up before Robin killed himself or me (and I have never seen yo move so quick to shut a window as robin was half out of it). it also took 18months before he would come in at all alone.

I got very sick of people on yard saying “but he will be fine, he is quite
”. He would manage a couple of days if I borrowed some friends for him but decided then he either took his chances in field or would be pts as it was so stressful (acp dosnt work either).
Being told I am over dramatic is not helpful.
Also fed up of people moaning they can’t ride because of the weather. I have long given up the hope to ride him again, I just want him well.

 

[millikins]

Poor you, it's awful. Your vet sounds pragmatic and someone who will be honest with you which is good. I really hope that there is a good outcome for Robin, I spent much of last year from Feb onwards trying to get my little driving mare through laminitis and like your situation, treating one problem led to issues elsewhere. Eventually I called it a day as I felt I could never offer her a reasonable quality of life, I sincerely hope you can get your boy through this but if you feel he's had enough then nobody could criticise you for it.

 

[Caol Ila]

I get that too. All the optimists on the yard can be annoying. Well-intentioned, but annoying.

 

[Winters100]

Just to say that I am sorry, I hope to read good news tomorrow, and am thinking of you x

 

[COldNag]

Sending a hug. Hopefully an access, and also hope that Robin is feeling his old self soon x

 

[doodle]

I get that too. All the optimists on the yard can be annoying. Well-intentioned, but annoying.

The people who have never actually seen him on box rest and feel they know everything!!

 

[timefort]

Very sorry to hear this - pony and I are sending virtual hugs. I mostly lurk but I've read many of your posts and Robin clearly couldn't wish for a more caring and considerate owner. Your love for him shines through and I sincerely hope this is just a set-back, maybe if his immune system is struggling due to his lungs then other niggles that he'd normally fight off are coming to the surface. Very best of luck for your chat with the vet tomorrow.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

So sorry to hear this. Sending good wishes for better news very soon.

 

[KEK]

So sorry to hear this, you have been through so much with him. I hope he improves for you.

 

[doodle]

Thank you everyone. Really thankyou

 

[atropa]

There is nothing worse than positive yardies who keep telling you that everything is going to be fine, or try to cheer you up. Sometimes, you just need people to commiserate with you at how shit of a time you are having.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Nothing to add but sending a huge hug. I really hope something can be done for him...so frustrating and upsetting for you xx

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Thank you everyone. Really thankyou

Bless you. You couldn't have done more for this horse. Hoping its mudfever or an abscess. When we and horses are feeling low what would usually not affect them much can blow up into something a lot bigger as they are unable to fight it. I feel your pain re the box rest though mine is turnout. Until you see your horse actually turn itself inside out and try and kill itself no one else understands. My horse will turn himself inside out in the field in winter. O just leave him he will settle!! No he doesn't, he gets worse! You have come such a long way, keep fighting. You must be stronger than you think!! All my love xx

 

[little_critter]

I’m sorry to hear about Robin. Fingers crossed for something simple today.
However, I won’t add the pressure of ”keep going, you can get through this etc”
Only you know what is the right thing to do. If you feel you and Robin can’t keep going through this, and the vet isn’t optimistic, then there is no shame in discussing options with the vet.
You said in a previous post that Robin is miserable, I know what that’s like. It’s horrible to not be able to hug and comfort your horse because they don’t want you to touch them. We eventually diagnosed my mares problem and I felt there was no option other than PTS. I couldn’t give her a nice final groom and pamper session because it would have been torture for her.

So I wish you and Robin well, I hope you can get through this, but if you can’t I send hugs.

 

[Sandstone1]

I haven’t spoken to vet as I found it at 6.30 pm. I will ring tomorrow.

I wish it was just me being over sensitive but when the vet tells you your horse is very ill, too ill to travel for more tests, and that he is concerned, I tend to listen. And when the tests come back as “severe” I also tend to listen. And when you ask how much more a horse can take and they also agree with your concerns about that. (I was hoping to anything for vet to say “no no we are nowhere near that yet”). We know he has bad arthritis as we have xrays. We know he had ulcers as we scoped. We know he has issue with lungs as we scoped and took samples which were grown. We know he has anaemia as we have the blood results. We can also see his breathing rate, which vet has seen and seen videos of. Along with the vet nurse seeing him at home and commenting how that horse over there didn’t look well, and that was before she even knew who he was. I REALLY wish I was making it up.

I didnt say you were making it up, Im sure your horse is ill and im also sure you are doing all you can for him. I just meant that sometimes when we dont feel great ourselves we can think things are worse than they are, it can make us look on the worst side. Your post about his tests the other day seemed more positive I know there were lung problems going on though. I mean no offence and I hope for all concerned that your horse and yourself feel better soon.

 

[Callieann]

I am so sorry to hear about Robin. I can't begin to imagine how you must feel right now. Sending you lots of good hope and hugs

 

[Trouper]

I'm so sorry to read this. I'm with Robin on box rest - OK for immediate post-op but then I think they need to get out and at least move around gently. After all, we are made to get out of bed by the physios asap after ops!!
I am just hoping that this is one of those "darkest before the dawn" moments and he turns a corner soon.