May 18th, 2006
Well, not the best of days today. Today was Assurances appt. with the vet for xrays. Before the vet
arrived I went out to feed and Assurance was doing the founder dance. He was rocking his weight off of
his front hooves/toes and leaning back, checked his hooves for heat and there was lots of it, big pulse
too, sigh.... Vet came out as planned and confirmed what I already knew. We fixed him up as good as you
can and are hoping for a speedy recovery. Additionally I just got back Assuraces xray results and he has
a big bone chip of the seasmoid and advanced arthritis in that front fetlock. His front left fetlock is almost
fused. hes also got a heart murmer, a 2 to 3, So Assurance will be living his life out here with us as a
giant beautiful, grey pasture pet. I had hoped there would be more for him but sometimes thats just not
how things go.
Below is a picture of Assurance later in the afternoon. His hooves are wrapped for right now and hes on
pain medication. Looking a little sad but doing better than he was earlier in the morning.
Well, not the best of days today. Today was Assurances appt. with the vet for xrays. Before the vet
arrived I went out to feed and Assurance was doing the founder dance. He was rocking his weight off of
his front hooves/toes and leaning back, checked his hooves for heat and there was lots of it, big pulse
too, sigh.... Vet came out as planned and confirmed what I already knew. We fixed him up as good as you
can and are hoping for a speedy recovery. Additionally I just got back Assuraces xray results and he has
a big bone chip of the seasmoid and advanced arthritis in that front fetlock. His front left fetlock is almost
fused. hes also got a heart murmer, a 2 to 3, So Assurance will be living his life out here with us as a
giant beautiful, grey pasture pet. I had hoped there would be more for him but sometimes thats just not
how things go.
Below is a picture of Assurance later in the afternoon. His hooves are wrapped for right now and hes on
pain medication. Looking a little sad but doing better than he was earlier in the morning.
May 20th, 2006
Assurance is feeling much better today. Hes still very sore but he is getting around a little better. Its
hard to see him this way. Hes got his hooves more underneath his body now. good sign.
Assurance is feeling much better today. Hes still very sore but he is getting around a little better. Its
hard to see him this way. Hes got his hooves more underneath his body now. good sign.
May 24th, 2006
Well the last few days have been really difficult, I actually thought at one point that Assurance was giving
up and ready to leave this world. Scared the crap out of me.
On the 22nd things went down hill fast. He became very depressed, wouldn't eat or drink, and didn't want
to get up. His breathing was also very slow. I did everything I could for him and then we prayed. He was
a little better on the 23rd, but not by much. I made him get up ( which made me feel like a big meany ) and
when I did I noticed some fresh blood on his leg just above the laminitic hoof. Scared the crap out of me
again! I searched all around the hoof and found that the hard plastic boot the vet had made for him was
wearing a hole on his pastern. OH MY GOD, no wonder he was getting depressed, not only was he in
pain from his bone chip, laminitic hoof, and arthritis, but now the people had put this torture device on
him and it was creating a big painful bloody sore.
I called the vet but he wasn't be available until much later in the day, so I got out my nippers and cut away
the boot. He was instantly in a better space. He stood up and had some food and water. Vet came out
this morning and removed the remainder of the boots. Vet felt quite bad, said that had never happened
before. He didn't charge us for the visit. Assurance was so much happier to have those things off his
hooves. His whole demeanor changed. He was still horribly gimpy but much happier.
Later in the afternoon I made the decision to move Connie in with Assurance. I have been contemplating
doing it for a while, but it never seemed like the right time. I thought if they get along really well then this
will be a huge benefit to Assurances recovery. If it doesn't go well, then I can just move Connie back.
Fortunately, it went very well. They sniffed each other, then put there noses down to the ground and
spent the rest of the afternoon finishing all of the hay in the paddock. Sometimes friendly competition
can be a real blessing.
I checked on them this evening and Assurance was laying sprawled out on the ground with Connie
standing over him, guarding him against predators. (Connie thinks there are predators behind every
bush and tree and leaf) Moving them in together was the best decision I have made all month.
Well the last few days have been really difficult, I actually thought at one point that Assurance was giving
up and ready to leave this world. Scared the crap out of me.
On the 22nd things went down hill fast. He became very depressed, wouldn't eat or drink, and didn't want
to get up. His breathing was also very slow. I did everything I could for him and then we prayed. He was
a little better on the 23rd, but not by much. I made him get up ( which made me feel like a big meany ) and
when I did I noticed some fresh blood on his leg just above the laminitic hoof. Scared the crap out of me
again! I searched all around the hoof and found that the hard plastic boot the vet had made for him was
wearing a hole on his pastern. OH MY GOD, no wonder he was getting depressed, not only was he in
pain from his bone chip, laminitic hoof, and arthritis, but now the people had put this torture device on
him and it was creating a big painful bloody sore.
I called the vet but he wasn't be available until much later in the day, so I got out my nippers and cut away
the boot. He was instantly in a better space. He stood up and had some food and water. Vet came out
this morning and removed the remainder of the boots. Vet felt quite bad, said that had never happened
before. He didn't charge us for the visit. Assurance was so much happier to have those things off his
hooves. His whole demeanor changed. He was still horribly gimpy but much happier.
Later in the afternoon I made the decision to move Connie in with Assurance. I have been contemplating
doing it for a while, but it never seemed like the right time. I thought if they get along really well then this
will be a huge benefit to Assurances recovery. If it doesn't go well, then I can just move Connie back.
Fortunately, it went very well. They sniffed each other, then put there noses down to the ground and
spent the rest of the afternoon finishing all of the hay in the paddock. Sometimes friendly competition
can be a real blessing.
I checked on them this evening and Assurance was laying sprawled out on the ground with Connie
standing over him, guarding him against predators. (Connie thinks there are predators behind every
bush and tree and leaf) Moving them in together was the best decision I have made all month.
May 28th, 2006
Assurance is doing better. He is recovering a little more everyday. He is still very sore, but his demeanor
is much better. Hes not so depressed. Connie is a wonderful pasture mate for him, she is taking great
care of him. I think they genuinely care for each other. I love it. I have been hand walking Assurance
daily. Hes doesn't enjoy it much at all, but he tries to cooperate. He still appears to be losing weight, his
appetite while better than a few days ago, just isn't what it was pre laminitis.
Assurance is doing better. He is recovering a little more everyday. He is still very sore, but his demeanor
is much better. Hes not so depressed. Connie is a wonderful pasture mate for him, she is taking great
care of him. I think they genuinely care for each other. I love it. I have been hand walking Assurance
daily. Hes doesn't enjoy it much at all, but he tries to cooperate. He still appears to be losing weight, his
appetite while better than a few days ago, just isn't what it was pre laminitis.
June 1st, 2006
Well, Assurance is doing better and worse. His hooves have improved slightly, but he is still dropping
tons of weight. Its hard for him to get around and he just doesn't feel like eating as vigorously as he once
did. I hope he stops dropping weight soon.
I was thinking today about why this happened, in my mind there is always a reason. I find it interesting that
on the same day the vet announces that Assurance will most likely always be lame, Assurance gets
Laminitis. At first I didn't give it any thought beyond, oh god, now what. But now that the crisis is over and
we are in the waiting and healing phase, I have had time to look at the current situation.
Honestly the idea that Assurance would be staying with me, til death do us part, kind of bummed me out.
Hes such an incredibly built horse and if sound he could have had such an amazing second career. That
part aside I was also a bit bummed because hes a little difficult. Not in any kind of a bad way, but in a time
consuming way. We have allot of horses at the ranch, and each one is trained so that the daily chores can
run in a smooth and timely way. Assurance wasn't really interested in learning our ways, and who could
blame him, hes spent his whole life working on someone else's schedule at the race track. But none the
less, it bummed me out. Him living here as a permanent resident meant that I would have to work around
his little issues like, hating the fly spray bottles, being pushy about my space, not liking to be groomed,
not liking his hooves messed with, etc. Mind you none of these things I mentioned were impossible, he
would allow me to do what needed to be done, but only after allot of fussing on his part. Of course in time
with training he would be somewhat better, but I have been so busy lately I didn't know when I would find
the time to work with him on this stuff. When you have allot of horses to take care of its irritating when
one takes 3 times as long as all the others.
So in thinking the other day about his current situation and how awful it is , I realized that there is a silver
lining to even this cloud. Since hes been feeling so bad lately, hes had a change of heart about all those
things I mentioned above, and more. He looks forward to being sprayed, rubbed down, hooves touched,
etc. I guess something good can come out of just about any situation.
June 6, 2006
Well, Assurance is doing better in some ways. Hes walking more, Laying down less, eating more, but still
really skinny. He is currently working on blowing an abscess out of his hind right hoof. Poor guy he must
think hes in hoof hell. Good news is that I think It will open soon, tonight or tomorrow.
Trying to shake off the flies. Swollen hind leg.
Well, Assurance is doing better and worse. His hooves have improved slightly, but he is still dropping
tons of weight. Its hard for him to get around and he just doesn't feel like eating as vigorously as he once
did. I hope he stops dropping weight soon.
I was thinking today about why this happened, in my mind there is always a reason. I find it interesting that
on the same day the vet announces that Assurance will most likely always be lame, Assurance gets
Laminitis. At first I didn't give it any thought beyond, oh god, now what. But now that the crisis is over and
we are in the waiting and healing phase, I have had time to look at the current situation.
Honestly the idea that Assurance would be staying with me, til death do us part, kind of bummed me out.
Hes such an incredibly built horse and if sound he could have had such an amazing second career. That
part aside I was also a bit bummed because hes a little difficult. Not in any kind of a bad way, but in a time
consuming way. We have allot of horses at the ranch, and each one is trained so that the daily chores can
run in a smooth and timely way. Assurance wasn't really interested in learning our ways, and who could
blame him, hes spent his whole life working on someone else's schedule at the race track. But none the
less, it bummed me out. Him living here as a permanent resident meant that I would have to work around
his little issues like, hating the fly spray bottles, being pushy about my space, not liking to be groomed,
not liking his hooves messed with, etc. Mind you none of these things I mentioned were impossible, he
would allow me to do what needed to be done, but only after allot of fussing on his part. Of course in time
with training he would be somewhat better, but I have been so busy lately I didn't know when I would find
the time to work with him on this stuff. When you have allot of horses to take care of its irritating when
one takes 3 times as long as all the others.
So in thinking the other day about his current situation and how awful it is , I realized that there is a silver
lining to even this cloud. Since hes been feeling so bad lately, hes had a change of heart about all those
things I mentioned above, and more. He looks forward to being sprayed, rubbed down, hooves touched,
etc. I guess something good can come out of just about any situation.
June 6, 2006
Well, Assurance is doing better in some ways. Hes walking more, Laying down less, eating more, but still
really skinny. He is currently working on blowing an abscess out of his hind right hoof. Poor guy he must
think hes in hoof hell. Good news is that I think It will open soon, tonight or tomorrow.
Trying to shake off the flies. Swollen hind leg.
June 8th, 2006 AM
Very bad day so far. Assurance has taken a turn for the worst. This morning when I went out to feed he was
down. It didn't worry me at first because he always lays down. I realized about 10 minutes into feeding that
he still hadn't gotten up, even the with sound of the feed wagon coming. I went in to check on him and his
body temp. Seemed very cold. I tried to get him up but he wouldn't. His internal temp. Was 95.9 and his
heart rate was so slow. The vet was out with in 15 minutes. She couldn't figure out what exactly was wrong.
Drew lots of blood, results should be back in the afternoon. We've done everything we can think of for the
moment, waiting for the results, and praying he'll be OK.
2:30 Afternoon
No real change yet, his temp is still to low and its warm out. He is standing right now which is a good sign.
Not eating, Not drinking, Not pooping, bad sign. The vet tubed him, gave him electrolytes, dmso, and water.
Most of it came right back up, bad sign. She couldn't feel an impaction, and hes not acting the least bit
colicky, but you never know, horses are like people, they all handle pain differently. Vet had me give him
some gastro guard, just in case ulcers are making things worse. Hopefully the vet will call soon with blood
work results, I hope they give a clue as to whats happening inside him.
1030 PM
Its 1030 at night and the vet just left. Things aren't great but there is some hope. We tried to load him up in
the trailer to go the hospital but he would have no part of it, which in my mind is a good thing, he still has
some attitude. The labs showed an infection some where in his body along with a host of other things I
can't remember right now. The ultra sound showed dorsal colitis (spelling??) most likely brought on by
bute. Unfortunately the ultra sound also showed inflammation in the small intestines and what appeared to
be an impaction. Did another rectal and confirmed some impaction. Tubed him and most of what we put in
came right back out. The only real good news at this point is that he is not in allot of pain, pretty minimal at
this point. So maybe the impaction will resolve. He has a catheter in his neck and will be getting IV
antibiotics for the next 5 days. Hoping and praying this works and hes feeling somewhat better in the
morning. Sorry for lots of spelling errors, tired.
Very bad day so far. Assurance has taken a turn for the worst. This morning when I went out to feed he was
down. It didn't worry me at first because he always lays down. I realized about 10 minutes into feeding that
he still hadn't gotten up, even the with sound of the feed wagon coming. I went in to check on him and his
body temp. Seemed very cold. I tried to get him up but he wouldn't. His internal temp. Was 95.9 and his
heart rate was so slow. The vet was out with in 15 minutes. She couldn't figure out what exactly was wrong.
Drew lots of blood, results should be back in the afternoon. We've done everything we can think of for the
moment, waiting for the results, and praying he'll be OK.
2:30 Afternoon
No real change yet, his temp is still to low and its warm out. He is standing right now which is a good sign.
Not eating, Not drinking, Not pooping, bad sign. The vet tubed him, gave him electrolytes, dmso, and water.
Most of it came right back up, bad sign. She couldn't feel an impaction, and hes not acting the least bit
colicky, but you never know, horses are like people, they all handle pain differently. Vet had me give him
some gastro guard, just in case ulcers are making things worse. Hopefully the vet will call soon with blood
work results, I hope they give a clue as to whats happening inside him.
1030 PM
Its 1030 at night and the vet just left. Things aren't great but there is some hope. We tried to load him up in
the trailer to go the hospital but he would have no part of it, which in my mind is a good thing, he still has
some attitude. The labs showed an infection some where in his body along with a host of other things I
can't remember right now. The ultra sound showed dorsal colitis (spelling??) most likely brought on by
bute. Unfortunately the ultra sound also showed inflammation in the small intestines and what appeared to
be an impaction. Did another rectal and confirmed some impaction. Tubed him and most of what we put in
came right back out. The only real good news at this point is that he is not in allot of pain, pretty minimal at
this point. So maybe the impaction will resolve. He has a catheter in his neck and will be getting IV
antibiotics for the next 5 days. Hoping and praying this works and hes feeling somewhat better in the
morning. Sorry for lots of spelling errors, tired.