July 9, 2015

Gem Update: The Cast Is Off

I had a whole tirade planned about the craptastic communication from the vet, but it really isn't super important. All my local friends have been messaging me about how much they don't like this place, but they didn't want to tell me at the time. Gee - thanks!

In the end I still think it was the best place to go initially. It was the closest and with her spouting blood like a fountain time was of the essence. Dusty and I will need to have as serious talk about where to go from here and if we want to continue with them or move on. I don't know what the answer is.

In any case, the cast finally came off today. I didn't get to talk to the vet because I was fuming mad at her lack of responding to my calls, so I made Dusty do it. He didn't get a whole lot of information out of her.

She has been off bute for 2 days now (thanks for telling me that 2 days ago) and is still full weight bearing on that leg, so at least that's a good sign. According to Dusty she wasn't too worked up about the hoof, but also wasn't super thrilled either.

She had placed stents along the areas of high tension and will be removing those, but leaving the sutures in place. She worries that if she takes them out the entire thing will fall apart on us and then we are shit out of luck.

I tend to go off the deep end when it is my furry family, so I am trying to keep it together until tomorrow when we get to pick her up and bring her home for more stall rest. I was really hoping it would be healed superficially along the laceration line and just need some time for the deep tissues to follow suit.

As you will see below, that isn't the case.

Good news is that there isn't any swelling, drainage or odor. The exposed tissue remains pink and viable and none of the flap has died or completely dehisced open.

The bad news is that her hoof looks like, as Saiph put it, a Frankenhoof and my dreams of a quick recovery are pretty much smashed to pieces.

I need to really focus on long term goals for her right now and not worry about the short term, but I don't even know what her long term prognosis is. To me that looks like shit and that it will scar horribly and she won't even be able to be ridden or wear boots or do endurance ever again. I know that is just my gut reaction to a nasty looking picture and after a very stressful week of not being able to get in touch with the vet and I still don't know much because she won't tell us anything until tomorrow when we show up.

We will see what tomorrow brings.

Front right taken 7/9/15 after cast removal

10 comments:

  1. *hugs* I hope you get answers. I'll be thinking healing thoughts for Gem!

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    1. Finally! And while I think it looks really good considering how awful that wound was originally, I know I would be feeling the same way you do if I was in your shoes. It's always different when it is *our* horse, *our* pet. I hope they answer all of your questions tomorrow. I can't wait for her to be out of there and for you to not have *to deal with Tryon ever again.

      Sorry, my phone is a retard!

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    2. I was really glad to hear the cast came off. To me the wound looks bad, but to Dusty and all his vet friends it looks really good. I guess it is a perspective thing.

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  3. Wow, that wasn't what I expected when I thought about the laceration. And it does look swollen still, but not too franken, in my opinion. Has the blood supply to the actual hoof wall been compromised?

    My trainer has a Lusitano who did basically the same thing to his hind foot when he was about two. It took a while to rehab, but he is pretty good on it now. I know Gem is older and will probably heal slower, but I think there is a lot of hope for her to be sound enough to ride again.

    We have candles lit and lots of energy going your way.

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    1. The blood supply is all maintained which is really good. Thank you for all your thoughts through this!

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  4. Man, that still looks pretty gruesome. I can't imagine seeing it on one of my guys (and they're both retired!) Fingers crossed it heals well. I know it's a long wrong back, but I really have seen horses come back from much worse and go back to not only riding, but competing. I know your main concern is her being sound and pain free, but I don't think hoping for more is unreasonable. I am very, very sorry that you are having such a s****y experience with the hospital. I understand being busy, but there's no reason to let customer service slide. I'm sure they have a receptionist or secretary or someone whose job could include keeping concerned pet owners in the loop :( What a nightmare. I can't wait until she's back home in your care :(

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    1. Exactly! Busy is fine, but don't let the owners go without communication. We are the ones paying the bills after all

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  5. It's bad, but I thought I'd see worse (I had to skim the early photos!) But I know if it was my guy I would feel the same frustration and fear and helplessness. I hope she comes home soon, to your care, and maybe your local vet can then help out in a more useful way.

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    1. Thank you. It could have been a lot worse.

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