ickelshadow
Well-Known Member
I've been thinnking that Shadow has been a bit lacking recently, and her engine and spark has just gone without an apparent cause. I eventually put this down to perhaps being a bit anaemic so sent mum off to pick up some propel and vit/min supplements to sort her out, and have planned in dentist, physio, then saddler and dentist. Well things took a bit of turn this weekend, and I had Richard (vet) out for the third time this weekend on Monday Morning.
On Monday last week, we were schooling and there was no engine at all, even when the jumps came out there was nothing, so packed it in quite early. Our little ride on Wednesday seemed MUCH perkier and I was thinking maybe were getting it back together now and thought I should relax. Thursday night she had a snotty nose which smelt a fair bit and a wet bed, which I put down to her being brought in early, but she hadnt been.
On Friday she was struggling to breath properly, so out came uncle Richard, and following a great deal of oral examination (which she took a dislike to with a lot of running backwards!), a raised heart rate, respiratory and fever, she got a course of anti-inflammatories, bute and anti-biotics. I was fretting the whole weekend, she wasnt improving, and her throat was swelling down her jaw and she was getting stiff with it. On Sunday she was barely even trying to eat not like her at all! Her temperature was 102.6 degrees, her heart rate was sky high and her breathing very very laboured. So I called the vet, trying to hold back the tears seriously the noise she was making was horrendous and all she was doing was trying to breath
Poor uncle Richard came out again, we did a scope into her larynx and gutteral pouches, no sign of infection, just very squashed from the swelling outside of her windpipes. Last night she had an emergency tracheaocotomy (no idea how to spell that!) so she now has a little tube sticking out of her neck so that she can breathe without restriction, and Ive been very good and dealt with all the blood and puss and everything with no-one there but me and the vet! She is now on 2 types of intravenous anti-biotics, and uncle Richard is coming out daily for this. I had him out at 11am Monday morning and he was very pleased with her progress, there has been minimal swelling overnight, shes adapted to the tube, and we seem to be on top of the infection. I have had to raise her hay up off the floor so that she can reach without discomfort and she seems very tired as she is fighting a lot of infection and dealing with a LOT of drugs.
now that the swelling has started to come down, we've found a lump that we're concerned may be strangles
someone stop me crying! fortunately she's responding brilliantly to everything else, and she seemed to rediscover her appetite last night and her tube came out this morning.
she's 28 and been at the yard for 2.5 years, we've had a couple of horses arrive at the yard in recent months, one from ireland (3 weeks ago), one from a riding school (only 10 days ago) and one that's moved on already after being sold who was kept in a very poor state before they could get to us.
i am just dreading being the black sheep - we've not told the yard owner until we know whats happening for certain (she is NOT the type you want to wind up unnecessarily!), but i feel like i'm fobbing everyone off, and every single person has been so kind and supportive for us.
the vet is hopeful that it is not strangles, and the abscess is related to something else - massivest ever vibes please
oh, and well done for getting this far!!
On Monday last week, we were schooling and there was no engine at all, even when the jumps came out there was nothing, so packed it in quite early. Our little ride on Wednesday seemed MUCH perkier and I was thinking maybe were getting it back together now and thought I should relax. Thursday night she had a snotty nose which smelt a fair bit and a wet bed, which I put down to her being brought in early, but she hadnt been.
On Friday she was struggling to breath properly, so out came uncle Richard, and following a great deal of oral examination (which she took a dislike to with a lot of running backwards!), a raised heart rate, respiratory and fever, she got a course of anti-inflammatories, bute and anti-biotics. I was fretting the whole weekend, she wasnt improving, and her throat was swelling down her jaw and she was getting stiff with it. On Sunday she was barely even trying to eat not like her at all! Her temperature was 102.6 degrees, her heart rate was sky high and her breathing very very laboured. So I called the vet, trying to hold back the tears seriously the noise she was making was horrendous and all she was doing was trying to breath
Poor uncle Richard came out again, we did a scope into her larynx and gutteral pouches, no sign of infection, just very squashed from the swelling outside of her windpipes. Last night she had an emergency tracheaocotomy (no idea how to spell that!) so she now has a little tube sticking out of her neck so that she can breathe without restriction, and Ive been very good and dealt with all the blood and puss and everything with no-one there but me and the vet! She is now on 2 types of intravenous anti-biotics, and uncle Richard is coming out daily for this. I had him out at 11am Monday morning and he was very pleased with her progress, there has been minimal swelling overnight, shes adapted to the tube, and we seem to be on top of the infection. I have had to raise her hay up off the floor so that she can reach without discomfort and she seems very tired as she is fighting a lot of infection and dealing with a LOT of drugs.
now that the swelling has started to come down, we've found a lump that we're concerned may be strangles
she's 28 and been at the yard for 2.5 years, we've had a couple of horses arrive at the yard in recent months, one from ireland (3 weeks ago), one from a riding school (only 10 days ago) and one that's moved on already after being sold who was kept in a very poor state before they could get to us.
i am just dreading being the black sheep - we've not told the yard owner until we know whats happening for certain (she is NOT the type you want to wind up unnecessarily!), but i feel like i'm fobbing everyone off, and every single person has been so kind and supportive for us.
the vet is hopeful that it is not strangles, and the abscess is related to something else - massivest ever vibes please
oh, and well done for getting this far!!
