Thursday, January 14, 2016

Close call

Yesterday afternoon, I got the call every horse owner dreads. Cash was colicking, they'd gotten him in the trailer but he was down, and they were on their way to the vet but it didn't look good.

Quite possibly my favorite picture of us. Photo courtesy of Lauren.

I waited by the phone for an hour for news. When I finally got the call, the prognosis was mixed. He'd been choking, but deep in his chest, which was why it had presented as colic. He'd managed to clear the choke on his own in the trailer, but they had pulled 9 liters of reflux from his stomach and his blood numbers weren't great, so there was a very real chance that he would colic. We'd just have to wait and see how it played out.

I managed to sit on my hands for another four hours, after texting the people I knew would be most concerned about him. Hubby and I talked about how far we were willing to go with treatment if he did end up colicking. I did the math - I've owned Cash for 20 years, and in that time he's probably been to the vet at least 40-50 times for colic*, and the majority of those times he needed IV fluids to re-hydrate and pull through.

Luckily, by 9 pm he was eating, drinking, and pooping, so we didn't have to make any decisions. He stayed overnight for surveillance, but is on his way back to Paint Creek Ranch (and his Reddums, who was apparently looking for him last night) this morning.

Visiting last summer. He looks pretty good for 27!

Because of the excellent care and attentiveness from the folks at Paint Creek Ranch, Cash has managed to dodge another one. I cannot thank the staff there enough for taking such good care of him and getting him to the vet so quickly. Maybe he'll make it to 28 after all!

* He's a chronic colicker and has had this problem since before I got him. He doesn't have ulcers, is on nearly 24/7 turnout with his BFF Reddums, gets his feed soaked, etc. etc. Our vet suspects an internal problem, such as lipomas, but it's impossible to know without opening him up.

41 comments:

  1. I'm so glad they were able to pull him through for you!! So scary... & yes, he does look fantastic for being 27!

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    1. You wouldn't believe how much food they manage to shove down him to get him to stay that plump.

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  2. SO glad that Cash pulled through <3

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  3. So glad he's okay and you didn't have to make any hard decisions. <3 pretty Cash pony :)

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  4. what a relief - such a special pony, i hope he has many years left with his feerless buddy!!!

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  5. I'm glad he pulled through. He looks really good for 27.

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  6. Ugh, so scary and the absolute worse. I am relieved to know he made it through. Big hugs to you and your fam for having to go through that.

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  7. Ugh - nightmare scenario! Glad Cash pulled through, and add me to the list - he sure does look great. :D

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    1. Thanks! They work really hard to keep him fat and happy, and it shows!

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  8. How scary!! I'm so glad he pulled through! He's such a handsome boy.

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    1. D'awww, thanks! I think so too, but I might be biased.

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  9. Ack - those phone calls are the worst! Glad this time turned out ok!

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    1. They are, although at his age they are frankly not too surprising.

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  10. Whew! So glad everything turned out okay for the old man!

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  11. Phew! So glad he made it through okay. I LOVE that photo of you two!

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  12. Whoa, terrifying! I can't believe you've been through so much colic with him! Great quick action by his retirement home!!

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    1. He's really a chronic case, and we've never figured out why.

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  13. Terrifying, I'm so glad he pulled through and truly is in great hands at that ranch.
    Massive hugs to all who have been lucky enough to meet him in person, he truly looks amazing for his age - i would never have guessed he is in his late twenties!

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  14. THank goodness he pulled through!

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    1. I'm lucky he has such a good vet and excellent, attentive caregivers.

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  15. ahhhh horse owner's nightmare! so glad he is fine! well, Jen, stop the bad horsey news, bring up the good news! it's time! :(

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    1. Haha, yes, we need some good news, I agree!

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  16. That is a horrible phone call to receive. I'm glad it worked out and I can't believe he is 27. He looks fantastic. I'm a new follower so I'm sorry if you have covered this, but is that place a retirement facility? They are doing a wonderful job.

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    1. Yes, Paint Creek is a retirement farm. They are absolutely amazing!

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  17. Glad he's ok! No matter how many times it's happened it doesn't get less stressful.

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  18. I'll give him extra kisses when I see him next week!!

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    1. He'll probably insist that you rinse your mouth out with Listerine first, lest you contaminate him or something. He's such a princess.

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  19. So happy he is ok! He is stunning! I can't believe he is 27, he looks 7!

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