Vent: got a quote in for keratoma surgery and I can’t afford it

[khalswitz]

I was right, we have the same vets! You’re in safe hands then. Hope it all goes well.

Small world isn’t it! I will say our vet has been absolutely fantastic through this entire thing, really understanding and practical about it all and laid everything out really clearly. My husband has been really impressed with them too. Now just fingers crossed all goes well for the surgery!

Thanks everyone for the well wishes - if folk are interested I’ll post an update later as to how it all goes. My farrier is keen to take a lot of progress pics for his CPD portfolio so I will take plenty

 

[khalswitz]

Little update:

Surgery went ahead on Weds. She has had a big old chunk out of her hoof (about ⅔ the height of the hoof cut out) and the keratoma is gone, and she has a big eggbar shoe on and a big bandage. She was instantly sound after it but unfortunately a total pest for the vet - kept wanting to snatch her hoof back and then when left in the box to come round wanted to strike the door with her bad hoof . So she had extra IV sedation AND ACP afterwards just to shut her up. Here she is the quietest she was all day when I came to get her.



She had her first bandage change today and the vet is happy so far, I’ll be having a go at it myself next week. Thankfully have managed to order six weeks worth of bandaging supplies for about £80, so aside from vet checks as needed it’s better than I thought tbh.

She is a bit off her feed just now, so going to syringe her antibiotics from now on and just let her come back round to her feed when she wants to. She’s a bit plump anyway from lack of work and she is eating a bit of hay just not as much as I’d like, so just being patient.




She’s not happy being in but is very attached to the horse in the stable mirror - she stands next to it eating and if she walks over for a drink she nickers to it when she goes back again. Having some cows on the opposite side of the barn is probably helping with the illusion as there are other animals moving etc!



Have got her a treat ball and a Likit which will probably go down well once she settles in, she’s having a look at them now but still unsettled so not quite there yet.

No idea how long we’ll be before she can go out, but luckily we have a hard standing area so can go out on dry days there before she’ll be good to go out in the field. Just a waiting game - can apparently take anything from 2 to 16 weeks for the wound to harden up enough for turnout.

Here is her on her last night of freedom just because this was quite cute:

 

[Gloi]

That sounds optimistic. Hope everything goes well for her recovery xx

 

[AandK]

Glad to hear it went quite well! Good luck with the next part.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Hope the recovery is as speedy, and uneventful as possible {{{{{{Vibes}}}}}}

 

[alibali]

Glad it seems successful so far, keeping fingers crossed for speedy recovery

 

[WestCoast]

I just came upon this post and so glad you found a way forwards with her. Wishing you both the best for recovery.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

It's hard to admit that you want to do explore the treatment but it's too much of a financial stretch, and I'm so glad you were happy to speak about it OP as not only could the hive mind of HHO help out, but it will also help other contientious, kind owners know that we can only do our best.

I am thrilled that it all went well and will cross my fingers that she continues to be a good patient! Keep us updated!

 

[Zoeypxo]

Pleased to hear all has gone well!

 

[holeymoley]

Glad to hear you’ve managed to sort something and the op has gone well.

I was going to ask, can’t you do bandage changes yourself to keep costs down?

 

[khalswitz]

Glad to hear you’ve managed to sort something and the op has gone well.

I was going to ask, can’t you do bandage changes yourself to keep costs down?

Part of the cost saving discussion I had with the vet was about doing the bandage changes myself after the first one, which was Friday. So I did my first one yesterday with darling husband holding her (and getting bullied, but it distracted her well!).

They’ll want to come see it now and again but I’m doing photo updates on the whole.

I honestly can’t praise my vet enough he’s been so helpful with making this financially doable, and the HHO hivemind for geeing me on and the brilliant cost saving and money-finding suggestions!

I won’t put up the photo of the fresh surgery as it’s very bloody, but here is her foot from last night’s bandage change - it’s a big old hunk of hoof gone poor girl.

 

[dorsetladette]

Part of the cost saving discussion I had with the vet was about doing the bandage changes myself after the first one, which was Friday. So I did my first one yesterday with darling husband holding her (and getting bullied, but it distracted her well!).

They’ll want to come see it now and again but I’m doing photo updates on the whole.

I honestly can’t praise my vet enough he’s been so helpful with making this financially doable, and the HHO hivemind for geeing me on and the brilliant cost saving and money-finding suggestions!

I won’t put up the photo of the fresh surgery as it’s very bloody, but here is her foot from last night’s bandage change - it’s a big old hunk of hoof gone poor girl.

View attachment 144644

Well done!!

With things like this I often think it is the acting of taking the first step which is the hardest, once your in the thick of it you just have to knuckle down and get on with it.

I'm glad she is being a god patient and that hubby is helping.

 

[khalswitz]

Well done!!

With things like this I often think it is the acting of taking the first step which is the hardest, once your in the thick of it you just have to knuckle down and get on with it.

I'm glad she is being a god patient and that hubby is helping.

You’re totally right - once I had made the plan with the vet and we knew the finance side was going to be manageable, it’s just been head down and crack on. Will be like that for the next however long now.

I’m so relieved - I know things could still go wrong but it was the prospect of being unable to do what she needed done that was really making me physically sick.

 

[dorsetladette]

You’re totally right - once I had made the plan with the vet and we knew the finance side was going to be manageable, it’s just been head down and crack on. Will be like that for the next however long now.

I’m so relieved - I know things could still go wrong but it was the prospect of being unable to do what she needed done that was really making me physically sick.

Don't forget to take care of yourself too. We are all guilty of neglecting ourselves when others need us (especially our animals).

 

[SEL]

Don't forget to take care of yourself too. We are all guilty of neglecting ourselves when others need us (especially our animals).

^^^ totally this!!

Relieved it went well OP and thanks for sharing the photos - I find surgeries fascinating, although less so when its my horses and my stress so you have my sympathies.

Will keep everything crossed for quick healing.

 

[AandK]

Thanks for sharing the pic, looks like a similar size defect to the one my boy had, although his went through the sole too. It's good you got the first bandage change done with no dramas, the rest will be easier as you get into a rhythm. Keeping everything crossed for you and your mare!

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Glad to hear things are going well this far, fingers crossed the recovery continues going as smoothly as possible.

 

[khalswitz]

So I’m currently writing this from my own hospital bed after an exciting ambulance trip yesterday - I’m going to be fine, just being kept in for observation another night and bored out my brain!

Mary however is doing really well. Can’t get over how good and chilled she has been on box rest - and my poor husband has been sorting her the last two days, who is not horsy, and she’s been very sweet with him.

Vet did the bandage change today whilst I’m in hospital and said she won’t have long before it’s fully keratinised and ready to turn her out again. Here is some photos of the progress, the last one (day 19) is from last Monday as I wasn’t there to get any today so it’s now at day 24.

Warning, there is blood!!!!



Really chuffed with how it’s going and my repayments for this aren’t going to be that bad. Bandaging stuff hasn’t been too bad either.

Poor husband is dealing with two girls on rest right now, but the flat has also had an offer accepted so things are all generally going the right direction

 

[ester]

well done hubby!

 

[AandK]

That’s looking really good! Hope you’re on the mend soon.

 

[Caski]

We all need to give our valiant OH's a 'pat on the back', not only do they help in a real crisis, they also deal with the panics we all have from time to time .

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I hope your recovery is as good as Mary's. Thank goodness for husband!

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Looks like you've been doing a great job yourself with her care, and some extra praise to your husband for taking over the relay baton regarding horse care when you ended up in hospital. Hope that both your, and your horse's recovery goes smoothly.

 

[khalswitz]

We all need to give our valiant OH's a 'pat on the back', not only do they help in a real crisis, they also deal with the panics we all have from time to time .

Yes, mine I know does put up with quite a lot from me! Poor lad used to be scared of horses and watching him now go into the field with feed buckets or catch and put rugs on genuinely is just a physical manifestation of how much he tries to make me happy. I’m very lucky!

And thanks all for the well wishes, I’m ok thankfully, was a minor panic because my symptoms could have been something that was an emergency but in fact wasn’t that bad. The best outcome just a bit scary. Should be getting out this morning!

 

[SEL]

Relieved you're OK! Amazing how well partners can be trained to do horse stuff

Thanks for the photos and after all the stress you had it looks like it's going the right way.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Part of the cost saving discussion I had with the vet was about doing the bandage changes myself after the first one, which was Friday. So I did my first one yesterday with darling husband holding her (and getting bullied, but it distracted her well!).

They’ll want to come see it now and again but I’m doing photo updates on the whole.

I honestly can’t praise my vet enough he’s been so helpful with making this financially doable, and the HHO hivemind for geeing me on and the brilliant cost saving and money-finding suggestions!

I won’t put up the photo of the fresh surgery as it’s very bloody, but here is her foot from last night’s bandage change - it’s a big old hunk of hoof gone poor girl.

View attachment 144644

Thats brilliant, well done.

I broke my wrist the day we brought him home so I had to get the vet to do the changes. And he had to have sedalin twice aday for six weeks and in his mind he was fine and showed us by spinning round his stable on his just operated hoof

 

[lannerch]

Your hubby sounds amazing khakswitz my oh although willing would end up putting the rugs on the wrong way round with straps everywhere.

And as for the kids , well suffice to say he is looking after the 2 cats whilst I am at Burghley and I am having to write a step by step instructions on what to do so they live until Sunday

 

[khalswitz]

Your hubby sounds amazing khakswitz my oh although willing would end up putting the rugs on the wrong way round with straps everywhere.

And as for the kids , well suffice to say he is looking after the 2 cats whilst I am at Burghley and I am having to write a step by step instructions on what to do so they live until Sunday

To be fair rugs would have been a step too far I think - Mary isn’t rugged (has only had a fly rug on since end of April when outside and now she’s out of the wind), so it’s easier going!

 

[khalswitz]

Another little update - we’re six weeks post surgery and her foot is nearly keratinised!

I’m away now for a week, so hoping when I come back she’ll be ready to turn out!

And whilst I’ve not trotted her up, she’s looking generally very sound in the box

 

[ester]

Looks great!