Rain...sun...rain...sun...rain.
Of course, with my schedule, we got stuck with rain
As we pulled up.
Mason: "Whatss the prublm...OPEN this Dar an leemmmee OUT!"
Due to the rain, all the horses were in their stalls.
Everyone was quiet and content.
I walked into Laz's and nuzzled him.
I decided to pick out his stall, since I figured, why not.
And I don't know what made me do it, (habit?) but I touched his feet.
I'm always touching his feet.
Fronts-cool to the touch. Nice
Hind left-cool to the touch. Awesome
Hind right-HOT.
SHIT.
Panic.
I touched all four again.
Ok, yup it's hot.
Do I feel an elevated digital pulse? I think so...do I? I think so...
So, I call the BO and just tell her what I'm seeing/feeling
I stuck his hoof in a bucket of cold water in the meantime
She suggest taking his temp
Smart..yes. Temp #1 was below
Temp #2 was 99.9
So both within the normal range
Ok, that is good.
So why the hot hoof?
Laz has been introduced slowly with the other horses to the grass but I'm thinking, it's just too rich for him. With all the rain, it's rapidly growing and too much sugar/protein..not good..for him.
Yes, every horse is different. He was doing great so far..but as of today...not so much.
So, I decide-dry lot is in his immediate future.
No more grazing at least for a few more weeks.
No more grazing at least for a few more weeks.
Sorry buddy...but I love you.
I can't risk it.
I talked to my farrier, Cliff and he agreed...he responded within literally 2 minutes via text (how awesome) and just said "Don't risk it...take him off."
It could be heat from him reacting...it could be heat from a possible abscess..but just going with gut and my gut says "no more grazing for a while"
So, gloriously the rain stopped after about an hour, so I took him out to see him move out.
He trotted like his normal gimp trot, nothing worse...but definitely not as great as I've seen lately.
Walk looked fine
All he wanted to do was trot the surrounding crack cocaine grass bunches that called to him, by the arena fence.
"I smells GRAZZZSSSGIMMEEEE!!!!"
So, we just hand walked together.
I wanted to get him moving to help circulation and he was happy to move which was great.
After walking for a good 20 minutes, I brought him back inside and fed him his beet pulp/flax seed and added some of his holistic anti-inflammatory meds.
Ignore his braids..it's what nervous hands do
Mason was deprived..it had been 3 whole days since our last barn visit.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Eeeeeeeeeeaahahh"
"Oh, are you lesening yets..COME outSIDE!!!"
When I left 3 hours later, I opened Laz's stall door so he could keep moving and roam out to the cool sand
Fingers crossed this GOES away...and nothing develops further
I know some of you may be thinking I am over reacting. To that, I don't care. Sorry...I don't.
To those that think I should call my vet. Not yet. I just don't always see eye to eye with him on treatments (unfortunately..it's a crappy feeling) so I'm sticking with my gut, and talking it over with Cliff and my BO, for now. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Hopefully, cool feet.
Well, crap...but you are so smart and such a good mom-I think you are doing the exact right thing. You almost lost your baby, so I don't think there is any possible way you could over-react to anything remotely odd with his feet. I'm so sorry-I know it's going to suck because they are ALL obsessed with grass right now. But yeah, with the 24 hour constant rain we've had here, you can't be too careful. Hope the hoof temp goes back to normal asap. Also? Mason does not TAKE a bad picture, even when he's got demon Lab eyes:)
ReplyDeleteAaaaaahhhh! I literally almost had a heart attack after reading the first part about his hot hoof. Omg! SO glad he's alright. And, no, you're totally not over-reacting, you are taking care of your baby.
ReplyDeleteWhat about a grazing muzzle? Or maybe it's best to dry-lot for now and then do the grazing muzzle. And possibly some ice hoof-boots are in order just in case?
Sending good vibes to the Laz-man! I'm sure he'll be just fine, especially with your extra precautions.
I think ice boots are a really good idea. The ice boot was great for Denali! Don't worry about what people think of what you do for Laz. I know Denali so well swear I can sense when she's sick from 50 miles away. I just know. You're a smart momma! You're doing the right thing. Still fucking scary.
ReplyDeleteBTW. Love the pink thermometer!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about your decision - you know his metabolism, you know how to tell and you know what to do. Hope the foot does well - I expect it will now that it's off the grass. There's a range of sensitivities to grass - some horses can gorge and it makes no difference and some can't have any and all the way in between. Pie's off grass for now until it dries up quite a bit and then we'll see.
ReplyDeleteWho cares what anyone else thinks? You know your horse better than anyone, including the vets. I'll keep my fingers crossed for him and hope it's nothing. As sensitive as he is it's probably just the grass.
ReplyDelete