|
|
Post by Johnnie on Feb 20, 2003 23:08:32 GMT -5
Poor Forest. He went for his checkup today, and they decided that now they could float his teeth. This was a surprise since we had assumed it was done when they put in his false teeth. So, they put Forest in the chute and give him some drugs, and try to start to work. Forest pitched a humongous fit and one vet reminded the dentist that they had to give him twice as much tranquilizer as a normal horse last time, so they shoot him again. That worked for about 20-30 minutes then he got tired of being cooperative and started fighting again, so they gave him some Ace. He still fought for the next 45 minutes or so. It was pretty traumatic to watch, and I was afraid the dentist was going to get aggravated at him, but he didn't. He stepped back and took some deep breaths at times, but hung in there and stayed calm and patient. He kept at it until he was satisfied that it was perfect. When we got home, Forest was still a bit drugged and it seemed he couldn't judge the step down out of the trailer. Yes, being the bad person that I am, I let him turn around in the trailer to walk out. He thanked me by trying to jump on top of me when he did finally get the courage to come out of the trailer. His stall also has a little step down into it and that took some negotiating as well. He's been trying to eat hay, but keeps spitting it out. He is getting some eaten, but it is taking a long time. This poor guy has had it so rough lately. Hopefully, this will be the end of his troubles.
On a good note, remember that filly that my trainer was trying to give away with the leg injury? The 3rd vet who saw her, when Forest had his surgery (one from our vet's practice this time) said to put her down because her injured leg would be non-weight bearing and she would break down. When we were putting her in the trailer to bring home so she could be put down at the stables, our vet came out and asked us to let him try something and see if it would work. In his words, "there is nothing to lose", so we let him try. I'm proud to report that the filly is now weight bearing on that leg with her brace, and our vet said she can lose the brace in 4 more weeks, and might be sound enough to be ridden lightly, but will definitely have a quality life as a pasture puff. We loff our vet.
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisnstar on Feb 20, 2003 23:16:49 GMT -5
awwwwl. Poor Forrest! Starman had a long day at the vet on Monday and got his teeth done too. He is thankful now and a much happier camper !
Good news on the filly.. Yeah!
|
|
|
|
Post by Johnnie on Feb 20, 2003 23:23:54 GMT -5
I really feel for Starman. I hope he has better teeth than Forest. Did his facial injury effect his teeth/bite any?
|
|
|
|
Post by ClaireLV on Feb 20, 2003 23:53:39 GMT -5
Poor Forest. Jasper is the same, always has to have more sedation and still acts up! Doesn't do anything to dispel any opinions about OTTBs down at the vets. Certainly NOT a cheap date  ! I hope Forest feels better for all of this, I'm sure he will soon. Sending hugs . |
|
|
|
Post by ZenRider on Feb 21, 2003 7:46:37 GMT -5
Glad Forest got through all that OK.
I'm soooo lucky, Flynn lets the vet float his teeth without being tranqed and Zen only gets tranqed lightly. :neens: I got such good boys.
|
|
|
|
Post by LynnC on Feb 21, 2003 8:19:07 GMT -5
Glad to hear it all ended well. Thankfully my three are good for the dentist. Poor Forest is probably exhausted after his trip. Glad to hear there is hope for the filly. That is wonderful news.
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisnstar on Feb 21, 2003 9:13:08 GMT -5
Johnnie... Star's bite seems to be OK.. the kick didn't affect his teeth.. but the paralyis of his lip makes it difficult for him to pick up his food and chew it. However, the hooks on his teeth were irritating the area where the nerve damage is... so we're hoping the dental work will help the nerves heal...
|
|
|
|
Post by Einstein on Feb 21, 2003 12:10:10 GMT -5
Yeah for the filly! That's so cool!
Poor Forest. My boys all got their teeth floated Monday too. Thay were all baad. I'm a bad owner, they hadn't been done in 2 or 3 years. Both are fat and slightly drop food. Their teeth were almost perfect, the vet though they'd been done in the last year! I was amazed. Now, as soon as it's warm enough, I gotta clean sheaths. YUCK!
I hope Forest feels better soon!
|
|
|
|
Post by Katmease on Feb 21, 2003 13:27:00 GMT -5
Sorry you guys had such traumatic vet visits. It always amazes me how different horses can be. Some of ours just stand there no problem to have their teeth done & yet we have one that hates it. I'm not overly fond of going to the dentist myself, lol.
|
|
|
|
Post by Smay on Feb 21, 2003 14:37:34 GMT -5
Hopefully, he'll be OK now for a good long while. That's amazing that at the vet they couldn't even tranquilize him enough..... It seems so dangerous, doesn't it? That is REALLY good news about your filly with the leg! What WAS wrong with her? Or how did she get injured again? Refresh us!
|
|
|
|
Post by adcooper on Feb 21, 2003 15:26:30 GMT -5
Were they really filing all that time? or was it all about getting the horse quiet? It only takes a few minutes to float Cypress' teeth. Of course, at her age, maybe there's just a lot less tooth to float!
|
|
|
|
Post by Johnnie on Feb 21, 2003 18:17:15 GMT -5
AD- there was alot of time spent filing although they said his teeth weren't bad really as far as hooks go, but he has some waving. At first they were just checking his falsies though and had another vet or 2 come look at them. Then they filed away with several different grades of files, going from a rough to fine grade for those extra smooth teeth! He did have one hook, up front that needed to be nipped off first then filed. They did some work on the bit seat area too.
SMAY- This filly has quite a long story. She, somehow, found some wire (we think), and managed to slice herself from shoulder to hoof. She really laid it open. The vet stitched up what he felt should be stitched, put in drains, did x-rays, medicated, the whole nine yards, the day that it happened. She started healing fine, but one day the fetlock blew up huge, so we took her back in. They x-rayed again and said the joint looked fine, but the vet wanted to inject something (i forget what) into the joint "just in case". Well, he put a quarter of the injection in when he realized he put the wrong thing in. The fetlock went down for awhile and looked healed from the outside; everything else healed great. One day the fetlock swelled up again, so the filly went to another vet who put her on a bute and antibiotic regiment. This helped off and on for about 2 weeks. All along the first vet said that the joint in the fetlock was fine. So after all of this, we take the filly to our show horse vet with Forest. They do x-rays and we walk into the room to look at them. I'm horrified. As soon as I walk in the door I can see that there is no joint where the fetlock should be. It's just 2 blunt bone ends basically which had started to fuse somewhat. This is when the 3rd vet says to put her down. He says that they could do a $5k surgery that MIGHT work, but probably won't because she won't put weight on the heel, and walks on the toe. If the leg fusses that way, she will break down shortly. You pretty much know everything after that. Our personal vet stops us and says to let him put this shoe on her foot that has an iron brace on the back that goes up the leg, to force the foot down into a natural position, then the joint can fuse and she will be ok. If she seems in pain, then they will put her down. She does not seem to be the slightest bit in pain. She canters around and plays with her brace on, and the vets think it's a miracle that she is doing so well. They were showing her to everyone at the practice yesterday.
|
|
|
|
Post by Smay on Feb 21, 2003 18:54:50 GMT -5
Wow, she's had a rough way to go! I think I would have given up on the poor thing, although she sounds like she must not be in that much pain from your description! That is wonderful that the vet gave her another chance that seems to be working. Good luck to her! AND Forest the tooth boy also!
|
|
|
|
Post by Lynne on Feb 21, 2003 20:58:59 GMT -5
Hoping that Forest's visit, albeit it nerve-wracking, makes the days to come much better! ;D I HATE HATE HATE horses on drugs!!! People are fine of course, but horses on drugs SCARE me. Especially after they have been completely out and then are trying to stand in the padded room? UCHT! (where is the stomach grabbing vomit face?) GREAT news on the mare though! I so love those good news stories. And you know, you're right, sometimes it just takes a few people with good mind to make it happen.  I know there are times that all the best wishes in the world don't work but thank god there's the other side of the see saw! SMay....you would not give up. Dork. |
|
|
|
Post by ZenRider on Feb 21, 2003 23:19:21 GMT -5
Poor filly, the trouble these critters can get themselves into. Sounds like she's getting the best chance she can get. Yup, SMay would give up on her like she's given up on riding Teddy.  |
|
!
