Augie isn't doing so well

[Vida]

The ground is a sheet of ice under the snow and he's not very inclined to move right now. Even the big guys are literally walking with their noses on the ground checking the footing carefully as they move about. The week before when I went to trim him he ended up with both front feet on my shoulders so decided it was either my back or his feet so bit the bullet and called a farrier who trimmed him for me. Augie is so little that it busts my back whenever I trim as I have to get down so low. Even the chiro adjusts him while on his knees! Now he's standing in some type of miserable looking hunched position like he was when he first came. He's also started peeing red. His pee has always been too dark a brown anyway but now it's an obvious red. Called the vet who said either his kidneys have shut down or the cold water is breaking blood vessels when he drinks. He rarely drinks so have been feeding him soup to get water in with warm water so it's probably his kidneys. His water buckets are always filled with warm water. At this stage, he's looking miserable on this ice out there but cute and perky whenever I go out to see him. Hubby and I are currently argueing about euthanizing as he doesn't think he's ready whereas I'm very close. When the farrier came last week Augie freaked when he saw him and I swear he thought he was the 'D' day man coming to do his job. So basically he's looking miserable and dirty when you look at him out of the window, and then looks perky and pretty (but still dirtey!) when you're out there with him. His appetite is great, still doesn't drink hardly any water which he never has, we still go for little walks most days in which he trots along in the snow. Vet is coming in a couple of weeks so maybe I'll let him be the deciding vote.

On a lighter note, was writing up a free lease ad for Eagle as decided my back just doesn't get along with his. Hubby saw what I was doing and asked if I could write another ad for him as well stating "Wanted to Lease: Blonde with big breasts that doesn't have horses"!

[Einstein]

Oh, Vida, Porter peed blood and it was from his ulcers. Long story short, it was being taken up in the kidneys. I would ave the vet pull blood and do a urinalysis ASAP. As long as he's not in failure, it can be reversed. He may need fluids and supportive care. Poor baby Augie

That's funny about your husband. I wonder what all our SO would write? Mine say he still likes the horses, even after carrying warm water to them twice a day for the winter ;D

[Lynne]

And I know you'll know when it "time". Still, its just such a tough time of the year. THe frozen ground is so hard for ALL of them to walk on, and the water dringking...well, I have to force some of mine too.

I hope that it is just the water and ground, but only you know. I guess I really am hoping that he will make it to spring and then there would be less variables in the equation. No matter what, he has had a FAR better year with you than where he was!

Keep us posted, he has a spot in my heart.

Lynne

[Smay]

But how bad would he hate to be confined to a stall off the ice and with a bucket of heated water and his hay all to hisself? He would hate being away from his pals, though wouldn't he. I hate that image of the poor critter hobbling over that ice, and I know exactly what you're talking about, we have the same crap. It's rough going even for a sound horse. Lets see, maybe you could buy him a little pygmy goat, put them together in a big stall with lots of hay and warm water and see if he's more comfortable.

[niaru]

Let us know what the vet says...We got more snow yesterday, about 3 inches on top of the existing 2 feet, looks like we'll have ice and snow until April at this rate...

[Lynne]

to bring the stray "Suphur goat" to you. I'm serious. It runs with a pack of dogs. Sulphur sin't that big...ten houses? But there's a railroad track through the middle which is where Iusually see the goat. Two dogs in the last two weeks have been hit on the track. I check for the goat on my way to and on my way back each day.


Does Auggie want a goat?

[CatB]

I would hate to see anything bad happen to that magical little unicorn. Blood in the urine sounds ominous, I'm afraid. Is he still eating okay? Will keep little Augie in my prayers.

I trimmed MY (Shelby wants a dog!) PoNee's feet last week and thought I was going to die. He's too short to prop his foot between my knees, so I end up on MY knees. My dull nippers didn't help, either. And your hubby sounds just like MINE! I've been told "It would sure be nice if you were half as interested in ME, as you are in those horses." What can I say!!

[chrisnstar]

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear this about Augie...Prayers headed your way... n

[ks]

I know you'll figure out the right thing to do. So sorry he's not doing well.

BTW - I have a Strasser certified trimmer coming on Tuesday to trim Texas. Am hoping to improve my technique.

[Vida]

Sat down this afternoon with my books and figured out a game plan of vit & min for kidneys, ulcers and a couple of other ailments he has. Made a huge concoction for the week of lots of good stuff with lots of fibre plus aloe vera juice. Put it in his soup and he ate some but not all. So gave the rest of his dinner to the other horses who had a blast licking the big bowl clean and went nuts for it! I don't like to lock him in a stall as he's so little he can't see over the top but Vance is boss this week and he looks after Augie well so then I do leave him in a stall at night but the door and barn is open so he can leave if he wants and Vancee protects him from being cornered. When Eagle is boss, I leave him in the lean-to at night. Both places have hay bedding. He's not acting morose or depressed when I'm around and is as nosey and inquisitive as ever. He's mainly standing more hunched when I look out the window. When I come out he straightens out as he knows I'll lay on his back and pull on his tail if he's hunched! The red pee thing is the scarey part. Last week, hubby was feeding one night and Augie was standing in the big stall which is 10' x 20'. He freaked as the horses didn't do their usual routine but instead all walked into the big stall with Augie. So he's got the 3 big horses and little Augie all jumbled up in a 10' x 20' stall which only has a 3' opening and trying to figure out how to get Augie out without them fighting over the top of him (dinner had not yet been served!). Were's the video camera when you need it! Will keep you updated on his progress. Also switched him to Equine Senior which he really chows on after I noticed the pee thing so we'll see if that helps out any. Mikhail loves it too and has been banging on the door for more.

[Vida]

"BTW - I have a Strasser certified trimmer coming on Tuesday to trim Texas. Am hoping to improve my technique."

Let me know how it goes. I had a farrier out here last week for the first time in years just to do Augie. Then I had him take a look at Vance to ask him his opinion as to what he'd do with his feet. He picked up the flat foot to take a look and then quickly took his knife and pared across the moonsickle area. I freaked and yelled at him not to ever touch my horses feet in that area ever, especially Vance as I'd been protecting that particular spot on that particular foot since he came to try to grow it back after all the paring that was done when he foundered. I have the farrier set up for another appointment to come back and do Augie again so we'll see if he shows up!

[LynnC]

Vida, I will say a prayer for Augie. That little guy has so much heart, hopefully this is all just a temporary set back for him. It is wonderful how your other guys watch out for him like they do.

[shelley]

So sorry about the trouble your little guy is having ...I agree with doing a complete blood workup on him...just to be sure...rule out the kidney and on the note about your back giving you trouble ....try a gaited horse... I myself have a herniated disc that would constantly go out and would lay me up for weeks of no riding.....Then I finally decided I either get a gaited horse and stop abusing my back or I might get to a point where I might not be able to ride at all which would be a sure death for me since riding is my only love and stress reliever ;D So I bought JR who is a Peruvian Paso and the love of my life I can ride him for absolute hours and by the time we're done my back is just as good as when I got on him....no crippling feeling....numb legs....pain shooting down my back and legs.....I feel great....and you can do anything you want with gaited horse just like regular gaited horses....We have fun going over the natural jumps out on the trails and gallop like the wind ....he's soooooo smooth...Just a thought and maybe it would help ....It's a hard choice to give up the regular horses and at first I wasn't sure if it would work for me....but it surely does!....and I love them....and so does my back....lol ....Good luck on your little one.....

[tina]

poor lil augie, he has been thru enough crap. I sure hope he shows some improvement soon. He is very lucky to have you Vida.

[Skye Pilot]

Sorry to hear Augie is not doing well. Sounds serious with the blood. Bloodwork would tell alot of what is happening with the little guy.
It sounds like you weren't able to find anyone for Eagle. Sounds like Red and he are soulmates.
I understand about back not taking it. Mines aching today after riding Red yesterday. Especially in this cold..... It hasn't been above 15 in almost a week and more snow...... and the wind is coming from the south.... so you must be freezing south of here.