So, it's been a long and to say exhausting weekend is a huge understatement. Friday evening, my husband Billy and I headed back to the barn where we slept and stayed until this morning (Monday). Between us, and the insanely amazing farm owners, "C & J" we iced Lazarus's swollen legs with baby diapers, kept him quilt and bandaged wrapped, and created Styrofoam shoes, per Vet to create a Nike Shock effect of relief for his hooves/legs. We slept for a few hours, got up and treated our sweet patient, and did that the whole weekend trying SO hard to save his life.
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We think we turned a huge corner this morning. The vet (who has been coming twice a day since last Monday) think he will be able to take xrays tomorrow and see what the damage of the laminitis is..to see how his coffin bones are, and what Lazarus's future holds. If he told me, all we could do for the rest of his life, is walk/trot, I would thank my lucky stars. I just want him pain free and healthy.
Below is what we have been doing with his sweet legs. We moved him to a larger stall that has a lookout so he can see the horses at pasture when he's being kept him, and currently on top of the matted floors, he has 5 bags of shavings where he obviously has been laying and enjoying. The vet commented that our personal care (of course with his amazing treatments) has been better for Lazarus to heal at home, vs taking him to MSU. Between the trailer ride there and the trauma of new environment/people, would have been hard on his ulcers and legs. We were happy to do all of this for him....still keeping fingers crossed on outcome in the next couple of days.
A good thing is his fever has been consistent at 101 (still a little high but the last couple of days so less fluctuation) and his appetite is back! Ripping at hay, gulping down water and nickering for his carrots. Vet is having us start him on Purina Senior feed tonight as long as fever says down.
He is a fighter and I'm so proud of him, wanting to fight through this...I know it can't be easy for him either. Laz is as sleep deprived as we are, but still nickers when we see him and poke and prod and tape and ice and wrap.
You must be so relieved just that he is alive! I had some issues with one of my guys this spring and It tore me up. He was so pathetic. When he finally turned a corner, and started getting better, I was giddy!
ReplyDeleteYour Laz is so darn cute! What a face on him!!! Awwwwwwww...................
Yes!! Every day that I have with him is a total blessing!!!!!!!! I'm also so happy that he seems to WANT to fight to get better, and I think if we can get thorough this, it'll bond us even more!
ReplyDeleteAll you can do is focus on the task at hand and take it one day at a time - you're doing a great and heroic job on his care. The x-rays will tell you a lot, and there are a lot of things that can be done even in the case of serious rotation of the coffin bone - supportive shoeing, etc. You're focussed on his comfort, and that's the most important thing. Hang in there - he's standing and looking good in the photos - so I'm hopeful!
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