Letting nature take its course?

I think you are being very brave posting all this online, but again to reiterate ...only you know buzz and you will know when it is time. My guess is that in your shoes with him looking so well I would finish the course of injections then turn him out to try Dr green but monitor on a daily/weekly basis and condition score/weightape and if necessary photo and video so that any good or bad changes are immediately noted. Any significant loss of condition I would call it a day and pts with hopefully sun on his back.

Fingers crossed the injections do the job and you will see him blossom in the field.
 
If you remember my story with my horse, there would have been many who would have given up on him so i am with you on trying what you can to help Buzz. As you say its so rare and each case different it is hard for anyone to judge from the outside i just hope for the best outcome for you.
 
Having had my vet out with needle and syringe in hand full of somulase and stopping him at the very last minute to give P one last final chance I'd say give the field option a go. I just felt if I hadn't given him that last chance I'd regret it. I also knew that if things hadn't changed within the timescale we agreed I would go ahead and pts.
There is no easy answer to this and I do agree with the others re vets in general but you sound like you have an excellent relationship with yours.
Just want to give you a big hug really xx
 
Fingers crossed for you, Twiglet. I'm another one who has been quietly following your story and, based on what you've told us, I'd be doing what you're doing right now. Hugs and biscuits to Buzz x
 
All I can contribute are huge (((vibes))) for a successful outcome.

You are approaching this in a clear-headed way, with as much information as you can amass, and with his well-being always at the forefront of your thoughts. That's all anyone can ask.
 
Thinking of you, hope the jabs are working as the weather is warming up and the grass is coming through.
Hope dr green can do his job for you
 
wyrdsister said:
Fingers crossed for you, Twiglet. I'm another one who has been quietly following your story and, based on what you've told us, I'd be doing what you're doing right now. Hugs and biscuits to Buzz x
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This ^^^ from me too. However good horses are at hiding their pain, we can see it, and if you can't, then it's definitely worth trying this. Everything crossed for a successful outcome for you both, I remember how excited you were when you first got him and was so happy for you (even if it meant you deserted us in the Club House for the more exciting world of C&T :tongue3: )
 
JennBags said:
This ^^^ from me too. However good horses are at hiding their pain, we can see it, and if you can't, then it's definitely worth trying this. Everything crossed for a successful outcome for you both, I remember how excited you were when you first got him and was so happy for you (even if it meant you deserted us in the Club House for the more exciting world of C&T :tongue3: )
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Which is ironic as even before he was ill we weren't exactly setting the world alight :p

This weekend has been more positive - aided no doubt by the sunshine. Vet is pleased with his weight and eating, although have yet to see results from the muscle treatment. But his face is starting to 'fill out' on the poor side, and he's grazing well, or well compared to how he has been. It's still using his incisors to rip the grass but he barely looked up in the 5 hours he was out yday. Very dull vid of eating. http://youtu.be/HvXa4QzUy-c

And even more dull but just showing him being quite cheeky and happy to be out http://youtu.be/hANz2oBa0ck.

This morning we walked to the downs and I watched the racehorses training over hurdles (jealous!) while he got to eat good hedgerow grass and play in puddles.

Have also managed to find - thanks to lovely forum contact - a nice nearby field with a great herd for him to potentially go on holiday for a while :)
 
Has put on approx 5kg this week :) :D

DCDC58A9-2B07-4830-92E5-878357CE9514_zpsl2sivl9j.jpg


And gained a French bulldog stalker (she's worked out he sometimes drops treats from his mouth so is on hand to 'clean up')
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Twiglet said:
Thanks all. Mattydog, the turning away would be post muscle relaxant treatment, providing it worked to the extent he was back to where he was a few weeks ago - able to graze and eat hard feed but not hay.
In reality that treatment starts tomorrow and I'll be going ahead with it - I'm not near ready to make a decision in the next 24 hours.

Tarrsteps - thank you, I hear where you're coming from. In reality there is no precedent here - it's an incredibly rare cancer with a very uncertain outcome with this treatment.
Best case scenario, he'll improve day to day and in 5 months time I'll take him back to the RVC for a CT and he'll be clear of cancer, requiring only ongoing check ups, but be otherwise a normal horse with every chance of a normal life.

Otherwise, I'm going to spend the next 5 months treating all these set backs, asking more and more of his poor battered body, and having to let him go at the end of it when the CT shows the cancer hasn't responded to it.
If I had a crystal ball and it showed that he was still going to poorly, I'd make the decision today.

But in the meantime he is SO chirpy and happy in himself. He schooled himself over trotting poles on Friday night for his own entertainment. I brought him from the field on Sunday and he emptied a bucket over me, smashed a grooming kit, untied himself and walked off (not all at the same time). To look at him, other than his poor face and his ribs, you'd think he was a relatively healthy happy horse. At no point has he spent a sustained period looking blue or sorry for himself.
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Your poor things. This last post answers a lot of questions for me - he is chirpy and happy at the moment so keep going with your plan and don't make any decisions just yet. You know your horse best but personally i would only turn him out full time when he is eating really well and stronger in himself, as to do it now would be quite a big change. Good luck with it all. Thinking of you both.
 
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