Horse Issues

Thought I would put in an update on Nick after our trip to the vet yesterday.  We loaded him up about 11 a.m. in one of the worst windstorms we have had here in ages.  I sat a couple of flakes of hay on the ground while I closed up the back of the trailer and when I turned around they had been blown clear across the road!  So much for them!  We got some more and put it in for him plus he was all cozy in his nice new belly band type blanket.  I don't know where I have been as I didn't know they had this kind of blanket and thought it was something new.  Wrong.  Guess they have been around for a long time and I just had never seen them.  The belly band will really add to the warmth of the blanket by keeping his tummy warm.

We arrived at the vet's office and they were ready for us.  We unloaded him and took him inside and he was a good boy even when the big overhead door came down.  His spine was still very tender to the touch.  They took x-rays of it and the places showed up that are tender.  You could see the white around the bones that are affected.  My vet went into lots of detail as to what the shots to the spine would involve and it sure didn't sound like a picnic.  Huge syringes are used as lots of 'stuff' has to go in to each spot.  There were to be six shots.  Infection can be an issue so it has to be done at the vet's office, not the barn.


Before he did the shots he wanted to check one more thing.  He said sometimes the hocks can have some problems that will cause back troubles and asked if I minded that he shoot some more films.  Obviously I didn't mind as I wanted to cover all of the bases.  When he came back he was smiling and chuckled as he asked us if he could pat himself on the back as there is indeed a hock issue!  He has a chip off one of the hock bones and it is floating around in there causing lots of trouble.  In taking weight off that hock it's putting pressure on the wrong places in his back which in turn has made his back sore.


So we will be going to New England Equine Clinic in New Hampshire which is a top notch facility sometime in the next few weeks for his surgery.  We will be there two or three days.  Don't like to travel with my horses in the winter time here in Maine but it has to be done and that is the best place to go.  It's about four hours from here and we will be watching the weather so that we don't get caught up somewhere due to a storm.  Nick will be all bundled up for the trip with an extra blanket on if need be and we will have plenty of food and water with us.


So that's where that stands.  Will let you all know when we go so that you can keep us in your thoughts and prayers.  Thanks!!