Robin

[doodle]

Is worse. He is back to pre treatment. Miserable, grumpy as sin. This is not Robin. My lovely cheery horse is back to “**** off and leave me alone”. Then huge overreactions. When I asked him to not grump at me he flipped out, hit his head and stood trembling rather than let me touch him. He had 6 weeks ulcer treatment which has lasted him 8 days. Breathing up to 22 from 20. He perked up slightly when we went for a short in hand walk and then walked over a couple of poles. Then back to mr grumpy and miserable. Eating less hay. I just want to cuddle him better but as soon as I look at him it is ears back.

He is due for lung and gastro scope Thursday but we are forecast snow/sleet (depending on which forecast you look at) from now until then. Road to yard impossible for trailer with any ice/snow.
I can’t help feel we are getting to the end of the road. He has been unwell for 4 months and will have been in pain before that. I know he dosnt but he is back to the “I hate you” vibes and it is breaking my heart. How long can you allow your horse to be miserable for before calling it a day?

 

[fankino04]

I'm sorry I have nothing helpful to say but wanted to send s virtual hug, it's so hard without a diagnosis to know what to do for the best, hopefully the weather won't be as predicted and you get some answers on Thursday x

 

[splashgirl45]

so sorry to read this, agree with your thoughts about calling it a day if he doesnt improve. the trouble is they cant tell us which bit hurts but he is telling you he is not happy and unless you can find a solution calling it a day would be the kindest thing for him. i dont envy you as you have tried so hard to get him happy and he had improved.... hugs for you and hope you can solve this and can keep him happy

 

[Fjord]

I've nothing at all useful to add but I've been following your posts and just wanted to send you a virtual hug.

 

[misst]

Oh no how awful for you. And him. You are trying so hard. I don't know what more you can do.
I will keep my fingers crossed you can go and get some answers on Thursday.
So sorry you are even having to ask this question it is heartbreaking, the fact that you love him so much shows in every post xx hugs xx

 

[meleeka]

There’s nothing quite like a poorly horse to make you feel stressed and miserable. I think the best advice I can give is try not to think the worse until you have seen the vet again. The outcome will be the same whether you stress about it or not, so try and deal with the facts as they come.

Thinking of you and Robin and hoping for the next x

 

[Sandstone1]

I am sorry he is poorly again, can you have a good chat with a vet you trust? It sounds like you are doing your best for him.

 

[Trouper]

Don't give up until you have done every test that you can for him. Is there any way you can bring these forward to try and avoid the weather if you explain to your vet that he is going downhill again?

 

[Sandstone1]

Don't give up until you have done every test that you can for him. Is there any way you can bring these forward to try and avoid the weather if you explain to your vet that he is going downhill again?

Thats what I would do as well.

 

[Baywonder]

Oh no @Kamikaze Poor Robin. Don't give up just yet. See what Thursday brings, and have a good chat to your vet. If you think of anything you want to ask your vet, write it down just in case it slips your mind on the day.

I can fully understand your way of thinking, but you haven't come to a dead-end yet. And we are all here for virtual support and advice if ever you need it.

Sending you virtual hugs and positive vibes. X

 

[HobleytheTB]

First of all - don't lose hope! My horse took about 4 months of different medications to clear her ulcers - and it sounds like Robin hasn't had a straight forward go at treatment as he's been ill on top of the ulcers. Mine had it easy compared to him! Antibiotics can also be tough on the digestive system, so I wouldn't be surprised if the stress of all of that has set him back a bit. Is he still on ulcer medication?

If you can bring the scoping/s forward I think that would be ideal. If not, hang in there until Thursday! If you have to delay the scoping then you can always get more gastroguard etc until you know for sure where he's at.

I also found that my horse was happier being brushed whilst tied up outside of the box, even after she scoped clear. I think when they've had a lot of vets etc in their stable doing the scoping etc they can feel a bit defensive. Especially when they've obviously been quite sore and had a lot of prodding and poking! It took her a few months to be comfortable with me grooming her in the stable again.

He may also have a lot of muscular soreness around his back/ chest due to the ulcers, and I'm sure the respiratory infection could do the same to the muscles around the chest too.

 

[doodle]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I feel totally broken even thinking about making that decision. I wish I could say to him that I am listening and to hold on there we will get it sorted. Sadly you can’t tell a horse that, they just know the now. I hope he knows I am trying for him.

It is too late to get him booked in to vets tomorrow (needs starved overnight) and I don’t have my car Wednesday so realistically it would be Thursday anyway. If we can’t get him there I will ask for peptizole and start treating again. We know historically he is slow to heal. So maybe he just needs a longer treatment. It is reassuring to hear it took 4 months for hobleythetb. But then there is his lungs. I’m pretty sure it is not better. Or can their lungs get scarred? He has had abx for 3 weeks now. I have given him a course of protexin quick fix and have ordered more to do again.

I totally trust my vet. He is hugely experienced and I have known him for many many years. I think I will email him and ask if we are near to that decision as I don’t think I could hold it together face to face.

My other thought is something about him management is not suiting him. Do I try and find somewhere he can live out and turn him away for the summer/6 months. But he is in same routine as at least the last 7 years and looking back the issues actually started off while he was still out 24/7.

I can’t bear the thought of giving up but equally I can’t bear watching him being so unhappy.

 

[doodle]

Re the muscular side. I had the physio booked but then we went into lock down and he was still unhappy being touched so I didn’t think he would appreciate it at that time. He definitely reacts to chest and between front legs.

 

[EventingMum]

I'm so sorry to hear this K. I'm glad you have a good relationship with your vet and hopefully, he can help guide you through this difficult time with Robin. Robin is lucky to have such a caring owner who is so in tune with how he is feeling.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Hang on in there K..get him to horsepital and looked at in depth. Don’t rush your fences towards a decision you may not need to make yet. I know it’s draining for you but wait to see what (weipers or dick vets) experts say. Sending positive vibes to you both.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Hang on in there your doing such a great job with him, ulcers can take so long and because he has this other problem it will have stressed him further, I have heard really good things about the Ron Field's ulcer supplement he has a Facebook page is is normally happy to talk to you, his a really helpful guy and really helped sort my friends pony out.

 

[doodle]

Hang on in there K..get him to horsepital and looked at in depth. Don’t rush your fences towards a decision you may not need to make yet. I know it’s draining for you but wait to see what (weipers or dick vets) experts say. Sending positive vibes to you both.

utterly terrified to take him there. Silly irrational fear. I’m not sure if visiting would be allowed and couldn’t bear him to be away and not see him if we can’t fix him.

 

[TheOldTrout]

Just wanted to send you an electronic hug. Hope the vet can help.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Nothing to add to what's already been said but sending a virtual hug. Xxx

 

[FinnishLapphund]

The way I see it, you're trying to give treatments time to fix things, trying to find what treatments that he needs, and works for him. Don't forget that he has improved temporarily, between the setbacks.

{{{{Hugs}}}} to you, and {{{{{Vibes}}}}} to Robin.

 

[Rumtytum]

Nothing to add either K, just wanted to say I too am thinking of you.

 

[View]

K, so sorry for Robin and you. It’s good that you trust your vet, so hopefully you can have a frank discussion about options, whether face to face or email.

I think you may have hit on something with his slow healing.

Robin will know you are doing your best - these wonderful creatures just know.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I can understand your fear of dropping Robin off at horspital but if it means getting to the bottom of what is affecting him it will be worth a little separation. Can you be brave for him? It ll only be for a few days. Have a hug.

 

[dorsetladette]

Hold in there K. Little robin is sending healing vibes to big Robin!!! And so Am I.

I agree with MLC with the below - be brave just for a short time. I might not even be a few days - with more time around/with Robin the Vets may well pick up on something that they didn't see in a visit in his own environment.

I can understand your fear of dropping Robin off at horspital but if it means getting to the bottom of what is affecting him it will be worth a little separation. Can you be brave for him? It ll only be for a few days. Have a hug.

 

[Billyandme]

Keep strong. Easier said than done, I know. I think the worst thing is the whole uncertainty of everything in this mad old world we bnow find ourselves in.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

It is very difficult to know what it's best to do in these circumstances where you don't even know what is causing the problems- I've been there.
I know you had him tested for Cushings, was that the ACTH test? If so, please ask your vet to do the TRH Stim test. One of ours had successive ACTH tests that came back 'within normal range' but because we were concerned about her symptoms we had the Stim test done and that came back that she was 8 times over the normal limit. She had breathing problems which eased when she was taking Prascend.

 

[doodle]

Will ask about that. Tbh I know nothing about testing for cushings just that it came back at 11.

BUT today I am changing my thinking. Yesterday he told me he was in deaths door. This morning he grumped at me, I said “no!” He had a melt down. However he then went to field and bounced about. When I left I watched from round the corner as he spent 10mins galloping round field. Flat out up and down interspersed with the pinging trot with ears meeting at the tip. Rearing, spinning round and generally having a great time. His buddy would say we are done now but he would carry on. If he was THAT sick I am pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to carry on in quite such an extreme way (while thinking no one was watching). We know he is not well we have seen the ulcers and the lung infection. However I wonder if it is slightly behavioural too. He is smart and has worked out how to manipulate me. Ie if I grump she will back off and say there there. If I totally over react if she tells me off, again she backs down and says oh I’m sorry Robin. I don’t doubt he is feeling miserable but the performance in the field makes me think he is maybe not as terminal as he would like me to think. I didn’t think horses could think that way but has he learned how to push me around?

 

[Tash88]

I have't commented on your posts before but have been following, and just wanted to say how sorry I am that Robin has gone downhill again. I hope you get some answers soon, and send my best wishes. Thinking of you both x

 

[splashgirl45]

well that sounds really good, he cant be feeling that bad if he can charge around like that. they are smarter than we think!!!! perhaps he read this thread and decided he wasnt ready to go yet

 

[doodle]

Exactly! He is probably knackered now and I would be more believing of him if it was just a short leg stretch but the way he was moving makes me think otherwise. I think I will not accept grumping at me until the scope and if he wants to have a meltdown he can!