the never ending saga of sick critters

lizardlady · Jan 14, 2024 at 04:51 PM

It seems the animals here are taking turns being sick. This has been going on for months. My credit card tries to hide now when I try to take it out of my wallet. My emotions are even more drained than my bank account.

First it was Beeg with his third tumor and dying.
Hazel had to have surgery to remove a couple of growths. Then she hurt her ACL with the possibility of surgery in the future.

The cats caught an upper respiratory infection and passed it around. Which in turn set off Mikey's asthma.

Miette had to have surgery to remove a mast cell tumor and another unknown growth.

This morning when I went out to feed the horses Kieren was standing around acting mopey. Checked him out, but couldn't find anything obvious. He did not want breakfast. That lead me to wonder about colic. Walked him around the pasture a couple of times. He seemed less mopey so I put him in the yard where I can keep an eye on him. Set his breakfast where he could reach it. Put his waterproof blanket on him because the temp was dropping and it started to rain. He picked at his breakfast. When I peeked at him a few minutes ago he was grazing a bit.

I'm stumped. Not wanting to eat makes me think colic, but he doesn't have any other signs of colic. The new vet I started using for the horses (previous vet passed away) does not have an emergency number. Yeah, I know wtf???

Am going to just keep an eye on Kieran overnight. If he is still acting odd in the morning I'll call the vet. I'm just worn out by all of it.

CANDC · Jan 14, 2024 at 06:09 PM

@lizardlady I can empathize with how you feel. Vets are getting to be as expensive as regular doctors.

Hope you find a way to care for the animals and not break your bank account.

@CANDC

[If you want me to see your reply to this post please include @CANDC in your message - not in requoting my message]

lizardlady · Jan 14, 2024 at 06:59 PM

@CANDC, it's not so much the cost, it's the, what feels like neverending, stress of it all. I'm emotionally worn out.

He only ate a tiny bit of his breakfast and didn't much want dinner, but he is wandering around the yard grazing. Frankly, I'd rather he graze. There's water in the grass as opposed to dry grain.

Y'all are gonna think I'm weird. I jumped up and down and cheered "we have achieved poop!" last time I checked on him. Pooping IA a good sign when they are off their feed.

unaluna · Jan 14, 2024 at 10:09 PM

Im glad to hear the good news. I was afraid you were gonna have to go all "All Creatures Great and Small" on him and stick your arm where the sun dont shine. I love that show but omg.

rechu · Jan 15, 2024 at 07:16 AM

I completely understand. I've rescued many cats and dogs over the years. Some stayed, others were adopted out once they were ready for a new home. I've gone through those periods where I feel like I'm running an animal hospital, especially with recent rescues that often come with parasites or other issues. I've also cared for bottle-fed kittens and puppies that needed to be fed every 4 hours. In the end, it's the commitment we make to them. But that doesn't mean it's not emotionally and mentally draining.

lizardlady · Jan 15, 2024 at 09:55 AM

Una, vet stuff with horses can be gross. It stopped bothering me a long time ago, but I do understand it makes non-horse people sick.

Oh, I would not be the one poking my arm up his butt. I leave that for the vet. Too much chance I could do him harm.

lizardlady · Jan 15, 2024 at 09:57 AM

Kieran is not his feet and grazing this morning. I haven't been outside yet so have not given him a good going over yet.

eskielover · Jan 15, 2024 at 11:42 AM

Oh, I understand the stress. Went through it from Aug 2018 (when Leo was diagnosed with lung cancer, 3 more of my eskie dogs & my horse) thru Nov 2022. Then my daughters doggie had heart failure & of course mom helped with those vet bills over what her insurance covered. I was so totally exhausted & needed a total break which lasted only 2 months. Not long enough but couldn't say no to Sophie.

No longer on the never ending sick critters but Cote runs a challenge on my energy but that is so much less stressful than "sick".

Izzy (horse) had mild colic right after I moved her over & up the steep driveway to the neighbors farm in the really cold winter. Gave her liquid banamine & some corn oil they had at the barn. Walked her around & around inside the cold barn. Took awhile but we finally had poop & she settled down after that. Knew when she didn't eat the carrots at first something was wrong. Never thought seeing a pile of horse poop would be such a relief. The whole 2 years I had her with me was just one sick after another. Exhausting physically & emotionally

lizardlady · Jan 15, 2024 at 03:20 PM

Oh, I hear you about being happy to see horse poop Eskie!

He is back to normal today. Was yelling at me to give him his bloody breakfast this morning. He got a really soupy bran mash. Probably going to get mashes for the next couple of days.

Walking around the yard checking things out he pooped about eleven zillion times. From the condition of the poop I think he was constipated, then things moved along. I've been told by non-horse people that horse people have a strange fascination with there poop. I don't think it's strange. It gives us good insight to what's going on with their insides.

I'm relieved he is okay now, but am worn out from worrying.

eskielover · Jan 15, 2024 at 04:38 PM

Horse people & critter people in general know how to read all the signs from food intake to output along with how they are acting. I have a friend who doesn't trust her horses, donkeys or sheep with many people but she knows I watch them closly & observe behaviors to know if anything is wrong. That was a huge complement to be trusted like that

lizardlady · Jan 15, 2024 at 10:41 PM

When I went out to give the boys (horses) dinner Kieran's right eye was swollen and tearing. 🤯 Checked the eye but could not find a problem. When I went back to turn them out it wasn't tearing anymore and couldn't see any swelling. Eye injuries are an emergency situation with horses but no way to contact the vet after hours and the eye looks OK now. Will decide about the vet in the morning. *sigh* I'm hoping he just bumped it on something and it is okay.

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unaluna Elder Harridan x-hankster Member Since Jun 2011 Location: Milan/Michigan Posts: 39,872 (SuperPoster!) 12 66.4k hugs given	Jan 14, 2024 at 10:09 PM #4 Im glad to hear the good news. I was afraid you were gonna have to go all "All Creatures Great and Small" on him and stick your arm where the sun dont shine. I love that show but omg.
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lizardlady Legendary Member Since Nov 2002 Location: Mid World Posts: 17,497 (SuperPoster!) 21 7,517 hugs given	Jan 15, 2024 at 09:55 AM #6 Una, vet stuff with horses can be gross. It stopped bothering me a long time ago, but I do understand it makes non-horse people sick. Oh, I would not be the one poking my arm up his butt. I leave that for the vet. Too much chance I could do him harm.
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lizardlady Legendary Member Since Nov 2002 Location: Mid World Posts: 17,497 (SuperPoster!) 21 7,517 hugs given	Jan 15, 2024 at 09:57 AM #7 Kieran is not his feet and grazing this morning. I haven't been outside yet so have not given him a good going over yet.
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