Update from Gingerwitch

Back on a snake today ! dont know if it has been the heat or what, but he has been very very quite all day and keeps holding his poorly up for everyone to look at. Vet due tomorrow to look at his huge padded hoof tomorrow, but I am quite worried about him.

I have gone into overdirve today and now I am wondering if he is starting with stomach ulcers due to the low amount of food -all be it that its spread around the day massilvy combined with the amount of pain killers hes on.
 
He is standing up which is good.... but keeps holding his poorly leg up and waggling it around.. wont eat hardly anything.... he thinks were trying to kill him - were back for a late night check about quarter past 10, so i will know a bit more then.
 
Gingerwitch said:
Back on a snake today ! dont know if it has been the heat or what, but he has been very very quite all day and keeps holding his poorly up for everyone to look at. Vet due tomorrow to look at his huge padded hoof tomorrow, but I am quite worried about him.

I have gone into overdirve today and now I am wondering if he is starting with stomach ulcers due to the low amount of food -all be it that its spread around the day massilvy combined with the amount of pain killers hes on.
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Dont dwell on the possible ulcers at the moment they can be sorted later if necessary.
I don't remember exactly what you are feeding him but I use chopped oat straw with my fat fighters it comes from a company called honeychop the original one is coated but I use the plain straw one it's good to give in between hay nets very low calorie and adds bulk which would help the potential ulcer issue it's around £9 a bag which lasts ages just thought it might help.
 
GW - I've only just seen your thread.

Firstly - what a lucky horse, you have been so totally committed! lots of hugs!

I realise you're not out of the woods yet, and of course anything I write here may be of no use whatsoever, but thought it would be worth posting, just incase its of any help!

My old girl (21) went down with lami, in one foot, it took weeks for Vets to diagnose it, and they were initially certain it was further up her leg. Anyway, to cut a long story short, she was on box rest for around 9 months in total and had significant pedal bone rotation, and I seriously considered putting her to sleep, she had moments when you could feel the bone through the sole of her foot. One of the key things that made her more comfortable than anything else, was imprint shoes (well shoe - she only had one on one foot!) the relief when this was on her was visible - we had to fold a padded saddle pad for her to stand on when the farrier was working on her on the yard she was in so much pain - but as soon as the imprint was on she was very nearly completely sound (in fact she escaped one day and bucked, farted and galloped around a paddock she managed to get into!). It took a good while, but she eventually moved into a heart bar, then moved into a 'normal' shoe, and we're now trying to transition her to unshod (as the hoof just wasnt growing properly with shoes on, and she was pulling it off).

Wishing you and your big lad all the best of luck - seeing them in pain like this is just terrible, but something as owners we need to be strong enough to whitness, safe in the knowledge we are doing the best for them!
 
ive just read this thread from start to finish and have sobbed all the way through! what a dedicated wonderful owner you are GW . i truly hope with all my heart that your big lad pulls through xx
 
Well were on double ladder squares at the moment !!!!!!

Vet came on Monday, - work were great yet again - and considering I only joined them officially on the 1st of July I will bake a cake when all this is over - anyway - on Monday morn although he just was not eating he walked 3 steps like a normal horse would - I cried - I am not ashamed to say it i just hugged his big hairy neck and sobbed ! Anyway the vet was pretty impressed by him but as we un did the poltice there was a load of gunk on it and we can only sumise this is what caused the issue over the weekend. Anyway we cleared it up and started to look at the hoof in more detail as the vet had a student with him- she was lovelly. We were talking away and i was being shown various bits and bobs and i happend to say oh thats the spot he has been sore on from the start... so the vet being the vet, started to investigate - poor big lad is rearing up - very nicey and poliety though - he really is a kind kind gentleman of a horse and the vet finds loads of rotting tissue - he called it a special name narci something or other - anyway within the time it took to clean his hoof up and bandage him like a satalite dish again he was walking almost normally.

He had a massage on monday - with the full blessing of my new vets and you know what - i have not wanted to type this incase it goes wrong - but i think someone has swopped my horse for a sound one ! He has had another massage today, and has one on Friday and Sat booked, and a couple next week - and the vet is due back on Friday to x ray and says "we hopefully can start to make plans".

Big lad being very naughty has now got loads of attitude, is walking without thinking where his feet are and looks a million dollars ! - his coat is the best it has looked, he is the best he has ever looked, he is cheeky, and very very very hungry - this is the bit i am struggling with - but 6kg a day it is - and i think the weight loss and the diet has got him where he is today - along with the vet, and the other 4 from the practice, the girls on the reception, the farrier, the back lady, the yard manager, my friends and my husband - I really have never ever known such kindness, help, understanding and patience - and my bosses - well they have been fantastic.

GW
s
 
So glad he seems to be on the mend. Was the word the vet used necrosis? That would explain the dying tissue.
Well done to you for being so brave and not giving up on him. If I were a horse I hope I'd have an owner as devoted as you have been!!
 
Wonderful news!

Would your vet allow him to eat plain oat straw chaff to help him to fill up without calories? I give my permanently-on-a-diet Draft horse plain Honeychop, so that she isn't standing in with nothing to eat.
 
Gingerwitch said:
Well were on double ladder squares at the moment !!!!!!

and i think the weight loss and the diet has got him where he is today - along with the vet, and the other 4 from the practice, the girls on the reception, the farrier, the back lady, the yard manager, my friends and my husband - I really have never ever known such kindness, help, understanding and patience - and my bosses - well they have been fantastic.

GW
s
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You forgot someone - YOU!
 
What a lovely update! Onwards and upwards! Did the vet say necrotic tissue? This is tissue from a previous infection (or abscess) that causes further infection (or abscess!!). Fantastic that you've got some gunk and that he's now sound. :D
 
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