Operation get Tonto happy has been having highs and lows.
Two days after bringing them into the pony palace Tonto had a blip. He had been turned out in the drizzle without a rug and came in withdrawn, shaking and not eating. I only picked up the panicked calls from the yard at 10pm due to a work commitment. By the time I got down the next day he was brighter. I suspect the damp and cold of the previous day had made him uncomfortable. I was relieved he was feeling better - but it is a clear warning sign that he is very unwell. I decided to call the vet and up his bute to 2 per day.
The vet came out the following Monday - we got Pete out from Liphook who specialises in oldies. Fearing the worst I forewarned work, got my father to come along for moral support and wrote out Tonto's full medical history - I might post it here for the record. Just as I was explaining to the vet that I think it might be time for a difficult decision Tonto rallied. He buggered off during the 'trot up' dragging me into a parked car in his quest to get back to Sofie. The vet concluded that he still had fight in him, and with his case history it would be worth trying him on cushings meds as he has so many cushings symptoms.
Since then Tonto seems to be having more up days than down. We are starting a gentle introduction to try to avoid the 'paroglide veil' which is a common side effect of the meds. He still seems occasionally lethargic and a bit fussy on food - though has taken more of an interest in hay of late. I think he is putting on weight, and can now raise his front right foot - which is something he was struggling with last week.
He is still on two bute - it is hard to tell if improvement is due to new meds, or pain killers, or the extra TLC he is getting. If he continues to brighten we will try to reduce the bute to see if there is improvement without these.
I am desperately trying not to get my hopes up of a partial recovery, but it is hard to resist dreams of him making a miraculous recovery like some cushings horses have and even riding him again. But these are dreams, which are ignoring his history of arthritis chances are he will get a little better - but still be an ill horse. Probably just well enough to avoid pts, but not well enough to live out - making me entirely stressed and broke for the foresable future.
Two days after bringing them into the pony palace Tonto had a blip. He had been turned out in the drizzle without a rug and came in withdrawn, shaking and not eating. I only picked up the panicked calls from the yard at 10pm due to a work commitment. By the time I got down the next day he was brighter. I suspect the damp and cold of the previous day had made him uncomfortable. I was relieved he was feeling better - but it is a clear warning sign that he is very unwell. I decided to call the vet and up his bute to 2 per day.
The vet came out the following Monday - we got Pete out from Liphook who specialises in oldies. Fearing the worst I forewarned work, got my father to come along for moral support and wrote out Tonto's full medical history - I might post it here for the record. Just as I was explaining to the vet that I think it might be time for a difficult decision Tonto rallied. He buggered off during the 'trot up' dragging me into a parked car in his quest to get back to Sofie. The vet concluded that he still had fight in him, and with his case history it would be worth trying him on cushings meds as he has so many cushings symptoms.
Since then Tonto seems to be having more up days than down. We are starting a gentle introduction to try to avoid the 'paroglide veil' which is a common side effect of the meds. He still seems occasionally lethargic and a bit fussy on food - though has taken more of an interest in hay of late. I think he is putting on weight, and can now raise his front right foot - which is something he was struggling with last week.
He is still on two bute - it is hard to tell if improvement is due to new meds, or pain killers, or the extra TLC he is getting. If he continues to brighten we will try to reduce the bute to see if there is improvement without these.
I am desperately trying not to get my hopes up of a partial recovery, but it is hard to resist dreams of him making a miraculous recovery like some cushings horses have and even riding him again. But these are dreams, which are ignoring his history of arthritis chances are he will get a little better - but still be an ill horse. Probably just well enough to avoid pts, but not well enough to live out - making me entirely stressed and broke for the foresable future.
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