Switchthehorse
Well-Known Member
I am waiting for the vet to call with the most recent results on my mare who has hepatitis. I was told a month ago we were 'losing the battle' - last resort was to withdraw all treatment and move yards in the vain hope it was something at the yard she was on that she was allergic to. 4 weeks into new yard and off treatment - and bloods back in the next couple of hours... keep checking phone is working!!
If they are high again, and still continuing to rise she is dying. Her liver has started failing and there is apparently no way back if this continues. However she is fat as an elephant, lively, eating well, and having been told to slowly bring her back into work she is keen to be ridden etc. The specialists I have been in contact with have all said this is quite normal, and they only look ill when they are past the point of no return.
I have been advised by various specialists that I should ignore blood tests and look at the horse in front of me, to crack on and only stop when she is unhappy or when she starts to look poorly. Apparently she isn't in any real pain, maybe a little discomfort but she will tell me. I know her inside out having had her for nearly 7 years since she was 3 and she does make it clear.
But that is precisely my problem, she is my everything (apart from my other youngster) - children replacement, husband replacement, counseller, enjoyment, hobby, addiction etc. I am not sure how I can basically 'ignore' the fact she is on her way out. The trouble is no one knows time lines, could be months or i could get years out of her.
If I do decide to ignore and crack on what do you do, do you do the slowly steady back into work in case you have years and you protect her legs etc? but what if it turns out you had weeks - and you spent all of it building up your walk work!? Wouldn't you be kicking yourself? Wouldnt you wish you had galloped on the beach and gone round a few xc courses!! But then what if she went lame! And she spent the last month of her life on box rest!???
I am so confused, i sway between crying my eyes out through to completely ignoring everything and then back again. I look at her and can't believe she is on her last legs, but then read the old blood results and they are so bad she must be.
What would you do? Denial and crack on? how!! and if you crack on do you properly crack on or slow and steady!?
All so sad and so ruddy difficult - thanks for reading this far, and sorry thirty something woman at her wits end!! x
If they are high again, and still continuing to rise she is dying. Her liver has started failing and there is apparently no way back if this continues. However she is fat as an elephant, lively, eating well, and having been told to slowly bring her back into work she is keen to be ridden etc. The specialists I have been in contact with have all said this is quite normal, and they only look ill when they are past the point of no return.
I have been advised by various specialists that I should ignore blood tests and look at the horse in front of me, to crack on and only stop when she is unhappy or when she starts to look poorly. Apparently she isn't in any real pain, maybe a little discomfort but she will tell me. I know her inside out having had her for nearly 7 years since she was 3 and she does make it clear.
But that is precisely my problem, she is my everything (apart from my other youngster) - children replacement, husband replacement, counseller, enjoyment, hobby, addiction etc. I am not sure how I can basically 'ignore' the fact she is on her way out. The trouble is no one knows time lines, could be months or i could get years out of her.
If I do decide to ignore and crack on what do you do, do you do the slowly steady back into work in case you have years and you protect her legs etc? but what if it turns out you had weeks - and you spent all of it building up your walk work!? Wouldn't you be kicking yourself? Wouldnt you wish you had galloped on the beach and gone round a few xc courses!! But then what if she went lame! And she spent the last month of her life on box rest!???
I am so confused, i sway between crying my eyes out through to completely ignoring everything and then back again. I look at her and can't believe she is on her last legs, but then read the old blood results and they are so bad she must be.
What would you do? Denial and crack on? how!! and if you crack on do you properly crack on or slow and steady!?
All so sad and so ruddy difficult - thanks for reading this far, and sorry thirty something woman at her wits end!! x