Mr T's hock injections

In a desperate bid to get Mr T comfortable I have forked out for hock injections. Theoretically steroid/HA injections directly into the joint should reduce inflammation and pain and provide some lubrication. The problem is hock injections do not always work, particularly for chronic cases like Tonto's.

Still, he is so uncomfortable that the alternative is pts so lets give this a go.



Sleepy Tonto

Mr T has a long memory - and still hasn't forgiven the vet for the last set of blood tests. We felt it was better all round to sedate him before she got there. I was given aural sedatives which work by placing them under the tounge. They are magic! Stress free sleepy pony. He was so far gone that I had to tie his head to the gate to stop him from hurting his eye as he was resting awkwardly on it.


When it came to the injections the vet had some trouble getting the fluid into his left hock. There was almost no space or joint fluid left in the joint margin. Looks like Tonto's hock has nearly fused on this side. No wonder it has been so painful for him.


recovering with Sof

sharing hayladge

Since the injections Tonto seems a bit more perky. He still has an awkward gate, but has a bit more of a spring in his step and seems happier weighting the legs. I really hope this is a genuine improvement and not sheer optimism on my part.


It is now just a waiting game to see how long it lasts.

Mr T doing a nice square hault a few days later

Inpromptu trust technique

Tonto’s health has been failing and it feels like my world is falling apart.

I am doing everything I can for him, but it feels like I am loosing the battle atm.

Fridays blood results (got some blood on a third attempt poor boy) reveal that he is still borderline not cushions (27.5 on ATCH test, anything below 29 is considered normal) and his liver and kidneys appear to be holding up (there were low level white blood cell markers again, but this could be due to stress). Whilst this all sounds very positive – it means that the source of T’s discomfort is most likely arthritis – something I cannot cure with medication. It is looking very likely that Tonto has seen his last Christmas.

Of late Tonto has been a bit depressed, he spends a lot of time standing with his head lowered. He has pain written across his face with tense eyes and pursed lips. He has not kept his weight and feels the cold easily. He has lost his confidence with others and is being bossed around which is unlike him. And he is sometimes very slow, and stands camped up, shifting weight uncomfortably between his back legs. I think he might also be struggling to get up and down to the ground. His quality of life is not great and I cannot let him continue to suffer.

I have been feeling the weight of this terrible decision and have been very low.

Yesterday I was pleased to see that Tonto was having a good day. He whinnied when he saw me at the gate and he and Sof came happily trotting over. We had a lovely walk, Mr T was striding out and dragging Karen around. She had kindly offered to lead him – but in reality T lead her around the block. Perhaps the recent rain has made the ground more comfortable for him.

Sof and Tonto with matching plats (and missing manes) before the sun came out

After I turned them back out I decided to inspect the track and collect last weeks’ haynets. It had drizzled most of the day but the evening was warm with bright blue skies and radiant green from the fresh grass. It was a nice evening for a stroll. I passed the snoozing bunnies who seem to take little notice of me. I was on the loop back, enjoying the nearby bird song, when I noticed Tonts trundling towards me.

At first he was a bit apprehensive – unsure of the haynets in my hand. I showed them to him and he soon relaxed. He then just stood fairly close by to me, seemingly enjoying my company. I decided to give him a little scratch, which he enjoyed, and then we stood, leaning on each other, enjoying the evening sunshine peacefully.

I became aware that I was very relaxed, probably much calmer than I have been in several weeks, and Tonto’s bottom lip had become floppy and his head lowered – a sure sign that he is having a doze. I decided to take a seat on the floor to see if he would join me on the ground.

I then tried to actively meditate (performing trust technique). When I did I felt a weight in my chest, a heavy sadness, I could not tell if it was my sadness or Tontos. He let of a few yawns and licking and chewing, but remained sleepy. Perhaps he was letting go of his sadness, or picking up on mine. I tried to remain peaceful, whilst sporadically telling Tonts I loved him. His head dropped further and his eyes closed. He clearly wanted to lie down with me.

The moment was briefly interrupted by nosey Sof who wanted to know what was going on. She wandered over, which woke Tonto up has he whinnied and stamped his foot at her, clearly not wanting to share me. Sof ignored him, bumped her nose to my hand saying ‘hey’ then wandered off for some more grazing leaving us in peace.

Me and Tonto stayed in our on little zen world until a noise from the woods spooked him. He woke up and the spell was broken. He came up to me, gave me the same little fist/nose bump Sof had done, then wandered off to join Sof at the far end of the track for a graze.

I remained seated and considered what had just happened. We definitely had a moment. And it was a moment that Tonto had started. Perhaps he started it because I was in a relaxed frame of mind, which is becoming increasingly rare due to worry. We definitely communicated that we loved each other, and it sounds really odd, but I got the feeling that Tonto was desperate for me to be peaceful and happy. The trust technique is all about helping your animals be peaceful, but I wonder if Tonto was trying to help me.

On Friday the vet is out again to inject Tonto’s hocks and hopefully provide him with some relief. I really hope it works. Not sure what I will do without this special horse in my life.

I guess the silver lining to all this is that Tonto’s condition means that I can enjoy him for what he is. I no longer ask him to do anything, I rarely even lead him. Most of the time he is loose and follows me and Sof around. He is completely at liberty which has allowed the subtleness of our relationship to flourish.

I hope that in future I remember to make the same time and space for Sofie.

Sofie stays

The plan agreed with Sofie’s owners is for me to battle to get her sound until Christmas and if unsuccessful find her a new home either as a brood mare or a companion.

Last week I sore a post on facebook from a lady looking to rehome a hafflinger as a companion/very light hack, home for life. Now whilst my plan was not to re-home Sof just yet, the add sounded perfect for her and homes like that don't come up often so I thought it was worth an investigate. A few messages on fb were sent and the lady sounded lovely and interested in taking Sof on.

The next day I felt immensely sad, I don’t really want to let Sof go even if it is to a wonderful home.

We had our first short walk hack in 4 months (as part of the barefoot rehab). She was excellent. How many horses can you tack up after 4 months and then walk out with the reigns on the buckle. This made the prospect of letting her go even harder.
 

In the evening the lady got back to me. She too had been thinking of Sof all day, and whilst she was very tempted to take her on she was concerned about future vet bills and so declined. I simply felt relief. I clearly am not ready to let Sofie go just yet.

I wish I could guarantee her a home for life, regardless of lameness outcome. I feel awful that I can’t. I just can’t see how I can pay her livery whilst on maternity leave. I guess we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

For now she stays.

All smiles after first hack in a long while

Last day in shoes

Still lame

 

Track system

Since remedial farriery did not help Sofie I am now even more determined to rehab her barefoot. I've been campaigning to send her to Rockley Farm - but unfortunately the insurance company will not pay so for now I am stuck.

Whilst I continue to battle the insurance company/raise money for treatment, I thought I could start some rehab at home. This entails taking off the shoes, getting serious about diet, and starting to work her feet.

I brilliant way of achieving these aims is to set up a track system. I had my first stab at it today, but I ran out of electric fencing so I think I will need to improve the track at a later stage by fencing more off. The idea of the track is to encourage the horses to move and limit their consumption of rich grass.

I also plan on putting in some different surfaces such as pea gravel to encourage her feet to toughen up.

Back to bare

Just a quick post to say 'Hurray the shoes are off'

I have no idea how they were staying on as almost all of the wall had pealed away to reveal the nails. Never-the-less they are gone now.

I was relieved to see that Lady Sof seemed entirely comfortable without them and was happily trotting around her field when I turned her out.

Let the barefoot rehab begin.

Hanger and strife

war wounds on Sofie

Sofie is two weeks into her diet and has hit breaking point with the muzzle. She is HANGRY! It looks like she has taken her frustration out on her field mates. I came down yesterday to find Sofie with a giant gash down her bum.



Sad Mr T

I also found Mr T looking the most miserable I have ever seen him. Poor chap was standing curled up in the divide between the fields, back legs tucked underneath him and shivering. He had a kick wound on his stifle and from the way he as been very wary with Sof, I think she may have taken her hanger out on him as will. Poor Tonto.

After a short struggle (it is difficult to lead two when Tonto when he is trying to avoid Sof) I got them both in and cleaned off Sofie's wounds and bundled Tonto up in rugs until he warmed up. Tonto was weight shifting again on his back legs clearly in pain :(. They both spend another night in stables.

The problem is it is hard to know the cause of Tonto's lameness. Is it laminitis or arthritis? I booked the vet in for today - but she felt that she could not do further diagnosis with out aural sedation as Tonto was not going to let her nerve block. And to be honest I don't want to put him through that.



Tonto with his legs all tucked up

But what to do in the mean time? I can't turn them back out, it is the second time in two weeks Tonto has come in really lame. All the activity/grass is clearly not doing him any good. So I think I am going to try Sof and Tonto on a track with a hay only diet. See if it improves Tonto's feet, and Sofies mood.