
A Not So Very Good Weekend
Sometimes things go swimmingly, and sometimes they don’t. This is a story about the latter.
On Friday I blogged about how I was a bit disappointed at Simon’s soundness post injections. My vet said to wait till early next week to check back in so the injections had a full week to take effect. Ok, good plan.
Then Friday afternoon he was worse. Walking heel to toe on his RH, and a solid 3+/4 lame on that leg. Thursday night was his first night of turnout, so I thought that he may have run around like an idiot and just be sore. Still, I was really worried and came home crying to my husband that my horse might be broken forever and he’s not currently sound enough to live in a pasture happily. I sniffled my way into bed and fell asleep depressed without eating dinner.
Saturday morning he looked slightly worse, and I sent my trainer the below video… which WordPress turned upsidown. I’m not sure why, but I don’t have the heart to upload it on Youtube so you can just see how lame my horse is from a creative direction.
Trainer said to wait until Monday to call the vet, so I turned him out in his little individual paddock. He gimped around and ate hay and sniffed poo like he would any other time, so I went home… where I cried a lot because my horse was going to need to be PTS and then contemplated giving up horses forever. After this, I napped and watched enough True Blood to make me forget about him for a little while.
Today on my way to the barn I got a phone call from my trainer, and I knew before I answered it was worse. The farm hand was worried because Simon was more lame and his leg was swollen, was I heading out to the barn? Of course I was, and as soon as I went to get him out of his stall I had my phone in hand to call the vet. He was a solid 5 lame, completely non weight bearing. He also had a 102.8 fever (under 101 is normal for horses) and his leg was extremely swollen on the outside area by his pastern and lower suspensory.
When I went to call the emergency vet, they had a message for the on call that started with “Please leave a message in a clear, relaxed voice” which made me laugh. I started out clear, but guys – I’m really upset over this… and I’m not a good crier. By the time I gave them my phone number (and had to pause in the middle to get out the last 4 digits) I pretty much just squeaked out “So please call me back…” before bursting into tears again.
That pretty much started the pattern while I waited for the trailer to come take Simon to the clinic. I would sit calmly for 10 minutes and small talk with the children who were riding, and then I would burst into tears because my horse was dying. We all thought joint infection, which is a big big deal. I called my former trainer/friend/amazing vet and she talked me through how much to expect it to cost and that it is treatable and the things she would do to treat it. That helped, I only had to dramatically pause/squeak cry through that conversation about 4-5 times. She helped talk me down some, but I kept beating myself up and bursting into tears whenever I thought that I should have called the vet on Friday when I first suspected something was not right. The savior in that situation was my husband, who came out to wait with me at the barn and said that there is no use questioning how much it will cost or past decisions, because we can’t change them. He wins best husband award.
Loading Simon proved to me how much my horse loves and trusts me, and made me feel all warm and fuzzy even through all this drama. Keep in mind he’s 3 legged lame here, even with 2 grams of bute he was only marginally better. When the farm hand took the lead rope to load him, Simon wouldn’t move. When I took it back, he stepped up pretty quickly. Then since the day was just going so smoothly anyway, the farm hand didn’t shut the back quickly enough and Simon stepped back just as I was yelling “Shut the back! Shut the back!” He did shut the back, into my horse… and Simon slammed his head on the trailer getting back out. He was snorting and I was convinced that he would never load again, but after some deep breaths and re-assurances he got right back on like a pro. I love this horse.
When we got to the clinic, the on call vet was not convinced it was an infected joint (I hope this is true, I hope this is true, I hope this is true…). Simon’s hock is cool, not swollen, and he shows no pain when you palpate it. On the other hand, his pastern/lower suspensory area is the opposite. We blocked the hoof just to rule out an abscess, but it didn’t make a difference. We took his temperature again, and it was higher – 103. They did a menthol/salt/poultice wrap to draw the infection, and we discussed the possibilities.
It still could be a joint infection, but that’s not the current thought. It could be a new soft tissue injury around his lower suspensory area, but his high fever doesn’t make sense with that. It could be pigeon fever, which will run a high fever and an abscess that is extremely painful. My former trainer/friend/vet thinks it may be cellulitis. We didn’t talk about that today with the on call vet, but I will talk to his vet about it this morning. Personally, I’m hoping for cellulitis or pigeon fever – probably first choice pigeon fever. It just seems like a weird coincidence that a disease that usually puts abscesses on the neck and chest would put an abscess on the one leg that is continually injured on my horse?
For now he’s tucked in safe and in good hands. I haven’t cried in about 5 hours, so that’s good. Just ready for this roller coaster to end and for him to be out of pain – however that manifests itself at this point.
UPDATE: Giant abscess from hell! Aka, the best news ever. His fever is gone, the swelling in his pastern is gone, and they got an area on his heel that he was extremely touchy for to start rupturing! Going to keep him there one more night for another super amazing vet poultice, and take a culture for Pigeon Fever just in case… but all signs show that he’s going to be a-okay!!!!
39 thoughts on “A Not So Very Good Weekend”
Hugs, girl. I’ve been there and it’s not fun. Hang tight and let me know if you need anything.
Fingers crossed for Simon and something simple!
And yeah, their emergency message is pretty funny. Makes me smile every time I call, even if I’m panicking.
Abscess! Simple! Yay!
*BIGHUG*
I wish there was more I could do for yourself & Simon, keeping everything crossed and wishing him a speedy recovery & the vets a decisive diagnosis so that you can treat his injury and get back to doing what you love to do!
Thanks! I appreciate your support, and am feeling much better now that the vet has found the abscess.
Steroids do lower the immune system, and infection was my #1 fear after doing the injections. If they have too much of one bacteria it makes sense with a lowered immune system that it would take hold. Simon is in wonderfully capable hands. He will get better!
He says the vet hospital is amazing and he never wants to leave can we just board there? They give him sponge baths, haha.
So sorry about Simon! I hope you get some answers, and that they have a positive outcome. 🙁 *hug*
I think everyone’s positive vibes are what kept it from being anything worse 🙂
Oh my god…you poor thing, and poor Simon. Thinking about you guys!!
Thank you! We should be all in the clear now until he decides to do something else silly to his right hind 🙂
Aw, I’m so sorry you’re havin to go through this, Lauren! I hope the vet figures this out quickly and fixes poor Simon!
They pretty much are the best vets ever, and diagnosed it as a super duper abscess this morning. Phew!
Poor Simon!! Hang in there!
He’s doing much better now, yippie!
Words I never thought I’d say: Congrats on your abscess from hell! I hope your kid starts feeling better soon and you can resume the path to full recovery. 🙂
I know right?!? I’ve seen abscesses before, but never anything like this. It was/is bananas.
I’m glad to hear it was an abscess, however weird that sounds. Knowing that it could have been worse is a much better result! Still thinking of you guys. It’s so difficult when you feel helpless
GREAT news on the abcess!! Fingers crossed he keeps getting better!
Yes! Thanks, I think my fingers and toes are crossed.
YAY! I am so relieved to hear that Simon is doing better! I saw your update on Facebook this morning and it honestly made my Monday. Make sure to give Simon a treat from all of us!
Thanks! All of the support has been really really helpful through all of this.
Poor Simon! I just want to scream at that farm hand.
Glad that its only an abscess. I’m sure he’ll be feeling better in no time.
All’s well that ends well, that’s what I’ll say about him 🙂
Oh GREAT news on the abcess!! Very scary situation though, when you have no clue what is going on! Hope he gets well soon. 🙂
Whew! So scary! The worst part is not knowing what it could be. . . But as soon as that abscess pops, he should be good to go!
Hugs! Very glad it’s just an abscess. Hopefully he will be feeling better when you take him home!
Fewwwww about the abscess! I am sure he will be back to good in no time! 🙂
Big hug! You need another weekend to recoup from this one!
Glad that it is “just” an abscess! I have known horses that will act like their leg is broken when they have an abscess.
Oh my goodness! I saw the update and I am so happy that he is getting such good care! You said that my horse is lucky to have me, well, your horse is definitely lucky to have you!!! Make sure you update! I’m keeping him in you in my prayers and thoughts! A horse at my barn has an abscess, and the first day he nailed his owner with his hoof on her shoulder. He’s normally a very chill, sweet, calm horse and he was going crazy. I feel awful for him! Abscesses stink. 😛 Hope Simon gets to feeling better soon!
Kalin from Sittinginthesaddle.blogspot.com
I’m so glad hes going to be ok!
Omg, I am so glad there was already an update by the time I got to the end of this post because I was so close to crying. Poor Simon for having to go through that. And I think you held together pretty well. I definitely would have been too upset to post at all.
Jingles that this is the only issue and he gets to come home soon!
SO glad I read after the update posted.
Sorry you had to be put through all that emotional turmoil – fingers crossed that Simon feels better ASAP!!! (((♡♡♡)))
ah, I was about to cry reading this! so glad to read at the end that its hopefully just a horrible abscess. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
Read the post at the airport but couldn’t reply until just now — so glad to see the update!
Wow, since my time zone is so different from yours I didn’t read this until after your update and I’m kind of glad. I can’t imagine how scary/horrible that was/is. I’m so glad for the good news and sending best wishes and prayers that he recovers quickly!
After spending four months treating three separate pockets of abscess in the same foot on Alex, during which I did my fair share of crying, I never ever ever thought I’d say this, but but CONGRATS it’s an abscess!! So happy you finally got some answers and hopefully more crying 🙂 I know it’s been rough. Hugs to you and Simon!
Argh thank god for that!
I was holding my breath throughout that post. I had to fight back tears and when I saw your update I was soooo relieved. Thank goodness everything will be OK. Wishing you the best!
Oh my gosh-I’m so happy he’s better after the abscess started draining! How is he today? Is the swelling all gone?