The Saga Continues: Three Strikes I'm Out (of money)
I'm going to jump right in here. For Charlie's backstory, and why I have him, Click Here.
This blog isn't about how adorable he is, this one is about aaalllll of his problems. <3
Let's begin.
I Took His Breath Away
When he first got here, he had loud and raspy breathing (like a pig, to quote my vet.) Initially, my mind jumped to the worst: soft pallet issues, COPD, and other such permanent/long term issues that would effect his ability to work, perform, or otherwise be a good partner for me.
After a scope session in early December, and him standing like an ABSOLUTE doll for a full horse size scope to go up his tiny baby nostril, we found the heavy breathing to be nothing other than "moderate lymphoid hyperplasia." Meaning: Bumpy where it should be Smooth.
What does it mean? He made a lot of noise, with no real detriment. It cleared itself up within 45 days!
Broken Legs: Part One
No, his legs aren't literally broken. Just... not right. On February 22, I came out to his hind fetlocks swollen to twice the normal size and buckling over at the joint. Of course, my mind jumped to the worst. After a few messages with my vet, we decided on a loose diagnosis of Physitis. He was confined to a pony jail, given 1g bute daily for five days, and put on a very strict diet.
After a week of stall rest, he was allowed back to his full size turn out.. he immediately reverted back to knuckling over, while the swelling didn't return. We brought him back to a small pen, and kept him on his diet. The vet came out to palpate, and concluded that there wasn't enough pain to indicate anything worse, and as a result, we left him to more stall rest with the condition that if he hadn't returned to 100% normal in two weeks, we would x-ray to find more information.
Broken Legs: Part Two
If you know me, I watch my horses like a hawk. I watch the way they move, their condition, their steps, their breathing... on a daily basis. I know what is "normal" and I know what isn't. Watching Charlie over the course of the next two weeks of stall rest, his legs returned back to his "normal." The more I scrutinized, the less they seemed "normal" in comparison to everyone else. My gut feeling said to call my vet, and I'm so glad that I did.
My vet came out to x-ray my sweet baby in a 25* snow storm. The little barn we have available is more of a tack room/garage, and the barn cats were enjoying the empty grain (trash) bags just behind him. Add in almost a month of stall rest at this point, and we had a recipe for a wild weanling... he stood like a gentleman the whole time, for two views of both hind legs. He is truly a saint.
The left leg revealed nothing of consequence, a clean structure, no swelling, good bone, and great development.
When the shot of the right leg developed, I didn't even need to ask. The look on my vets face said it all. A large bone chip on the Right Hind Fetlock. Initial concerns about the size and stability of the chip raised questions on his future fitness as a riding horse, and the vet sent the x-rays off to be analyzed by a specialist. I'm so thankful for the quick response time of the specialist, my heart was breaking for my sweet Charlie Charles and the dreams I worried had disappeared.
That afternoon, I got a call from my vet. The chip appeared to be floating, and would (should) be removable by surgery.
To the OR, and Beyond!
Since Charlie is so young, he's currently ineligible for the surgery. His bones are too soft, and removing that piece of bone can be difficult, without removing too much of what should stay, the surgeons sometimes can't tell when to "stop digging." Some time around August, he will go to Littleton Equine to have it removed.
In the next few months, most likely May/June, we will do a full set of x-rays. Fetlocks, hocks, stifles, knees, back, neck. In order to give Charlie his best chances of flourishing into the healthy horse he should be, I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that any thing that can and needs to be fixed gets the attention it needs. We're all hoping that it's just the simple chip removal that will be needed, and that all of our previous plans will be game on after healing time.
Between Now and Then
For now, Charlie's legs are just a waiting game. What keeps him most comfortable? How much turnout can he handle? Will the physitis flare back up? What's the best diet?
I am playing with those choices on a daily basis, and watching him closely. He spends time in his stall, he spends time in turnout. He comes out to be groomed, and go for walks, and graze. At the end of the day, all I want is for Charlie to be happy, healthy, and pain free. I spend every moment that I can spoiling him. He just had his first massage this past weekend, and I'll say... I don't think he minds one bit.
I'm sure the story will change between now and August. I'm truly hoping for no more bad news, to have my future partner back, and all of our dreams still be within possibility. If, for some reason, they aren't, I will love him anyway.
Here's to good health, and a long, happy, sound future.
Emma and Charlie Charles.
Sounds like you have a great vet and specialist. And a great plan. Hoping all goes well and Charlie is a fit, if expensive, yearling.