Have you ever felt like you just want to curl into a little ball in the back of a cave and just pretend that nothing is happening?
Really cheery start, I know, but it's honest.
When I wrote last, Quaid was feeling great. Good enough to almost break my arm. Fortunately, he did not and, while it is a spectacular colour of black, purple and yellow, it is healing quite well. I had even started turning Quaid into the larger paddock and he was great. A little groundwork and greater turn out and he turned back into his sweet self.
Until yesterday.
Monday evening he seemed a little foot sore. But it's been really cold and there are a lot of frozen ruts out there. I was a bit worried but decided to wait until morning. By morning he was 3 legged lame. I wasted no time getting the vet out and she did some more x-rays.
The good news? the bone chips are gone. They have been absorbed or flushed out or whatever. There was an old, dried up abscess (she poked it and nothing came out). This is the only good news.
What she did see is some erosion of the coffin bone. She used a more technical term but I cannot remember it. Likely, this is because of the damage of the screw. The only treatment is to take him back to the Vet College for him to have surgery. They will open his foot, scrape the bone and (probably) put a medical plate shoe on him.
Of course, winter has decided to start, so the earliest window for me to take him is Saturday. My vet assures me that this will make no difference in the outcome. And that the prognosis is still positive. And expensive. I have pretty much exhausted my insurance on the earlier treatment.
She did say that if that screw had went in further back he would have been put down by now.
All of this I understand.
And still, FUCK.
We think that he's got another abscess coming because of the bone issue. He's in so much pain. I have him on bute and acetaminophen. It's not helping at all. I hope that, if it is an abscess it blows soon. He's spending most of the day laying down. I don't know how to trailer him if he's that sore. I have asked my vet for advice. Maybe we could block it or something. I don't know.
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| he's in too much pain to stand for long |
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| send me all the positive, uplifting support you can. |
My friend Shayla had something very similar happen to a horse she had high hopes and dreams of- brought her up from Arizona; a daughter of one of the best Quarter Horse stallions in the business. She had her going nicely under saddle.... and she stepped on something in almost the exact same spot as Quaid. It was expensive to fix her, with setbacks just like you are experiencing, but in the end, she did come sound. She had several thousand into her by then, so to recoup her finances she bred her to a good stallion, and sold her. Unfortunately that isn't an option with a gelding (main reason I don't own geldings) so I do hope that this will soon be just a memory and that the vets can get him sound again. Poor boy, it's so hard to see them in pain. Have you thought of giving him oral banamine? It works much better than bute.
ReplyDeleteHang in there....
The banamine is a good idea. I'll see if that makes sense to the vet.
DeleteTeresa, I'm so sorry to hear this. Sending you and Quaid lots of good and healing thoughts.
ReplyDeleteNo real advice here but sending massive hugs your direction. I do agree with Shirley that I'd try banamine if your vet agrees. I've had a lot more success with it than bute (Subi just about lived on banamine for the last few weeks 3 days on then we'd switch to bute for a few days then back to banamine -- the banamine was SIGNIFICANTLY more effective). So, I'd give it a try if you can. You may not be able to give it too many days in a row (I think 3 or 4 days is the limit), but it might buy you some time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. I’ll ask her.
DeleteHorse on stall rest after colic surgery over here, so virtual hug & commiseration.
ReplyDeleteOn a practical level, take care of yourself. Wont fix anything but being tired and hungry will sap even more strength. Walks & hot showers also work, at least for me.
Excellent advice
DeleteSending tons of positive thoughts to you both. I wholeheartedly support that last quote. Here's to brighter days ahead refilling the cup.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear this. Poor you and poor Quaid. I don't have any words of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing worse than watching someone you love be in pain. Sending you a virtual hug and healing thoughts for the surgery.
Wow, I am so sorry!! Poor kid. Fingers crossed it is just another bump in the road and you'll be on the other side of this too soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI am so, so sorry you are dealing with this. My horse had the same surgery ten years ago and I wrote about it extensively. He came beautifully sound from it. He just actually had almost the same surgery again for a slightly different problem, and is holding sound from that as well, at almost 28 years old. I wish you the best of luck with Quaid!
ReplyDeleteLeah told me about that and I was all over it last night. It helped.
Deleteugh there are really no words. just hugs, so many hugs, and hopes and jingles and optimistic thoughts :( my hope is that some point in the future you'll look back at this period as just a blip on the radar, and that everything will end up just fine <3
ReplyDeleteIt will be way better when it’s just a story.
DeleteIt is such a helpless feeling to see our animals hurting. After reading the comments, the medical plate surgery sounds very promising. Sending my bestest wishes! Take care of you, so you can take care of your beloved Quaid.
ReplyDeleteThe prognosis is positive.
DeleteMassive internet hugs. The world really loves to kick us while we are down. I hope you get him relieved of pain enough to get him to the vet and that the surgery goes well. I'll keep you guys in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteUgh, I'm so sorry about this! I hope the abscess pops asap and that this surgery will fix him up and have him good as new soon. Sending all the positive thoughts your way.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteOh no! Huge hugs. May your trailering be smooth and the surgery and recovery be even smoother.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteOh my goodness, all the hugs in the world to you. What an incredibly difficult complication among everything else you're dealing with. Fingers crossed for a smooth journey, straightforward surgery and easy recovery.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry, Theresa! Love and peace to you <3
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Deleteoh boy oh boy oh boy. Its hard to find resilience when you are exhausted by the repeated punches. Not really related, but some sidebar insight on resilience and adversity might be of interest: https://www.peaklearning.com/aq/ A good book on the topic is available on amazon and audible. Oxygen mask goes on you first. 😳
ReplyDeletethat is good advice. I hope to engage in some self care once I drop him off.
DeleteOh no, I am SO sorry :( I am keeping everything crossed for you guys.
ReplyDeleteI hope you find some comfort in the positive prognosis. It sometimes feels like everything we touch goes to crap. I hate those seasons of life. I call it ‘empty hands’ when everything is out of my control. I wrote a poem about it when Epona was 50/50. My own empty hands turned to full hands, and I believe yours will, too.
ReplyDeleteThe positive prognosis….keep your eye on that. It is a good reason to hope and stay strong!
Empty hands describes it perfectly. I had forgotten about that poem. I will go back and read it again. I remember liking it very much.
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