|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 3, 2005 17:43:30 GMT -5
She has West Nile and is very underweight. I want to make her as comforatable as possible while she is still alive.
|
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 3, 2005 20:06:27 GMT -5
I walk into the clinic very quickly to the stall with the nameplate labeled "Last Breath". I look in to see my Arabian Mare dozing in the back. I open the latch quietly so I won't startle her. She heard me and her eyes opened slowly. They are so dull. I try giving her some feed that wouldn't be too bad for her system while still helping her gain weight, but she doesn't touch it. I don't want to move her but I know I have to give her a little exercise so the fluid wouldn't stock up in her legs. I walk up to her slowly as not to startle her with my hand outstretched and the halter behind my back. She sniffs my hand but then turns her head away. I gently slip on her halter and lead her out of her stall and walked her up the aisle once. I placed her back in her stall and tied her leadline to the ring in the stall. I went and quickly grabbed the grooming bucket labeled Last Breath and brought it to her stall. There I spent an hour gently grooming her and talking to her so she would be clean and get used to me. When I was done I placed the grooming bucket outside her stall and went back in to grab her water bucket. The bucket was half emty! At least she was drinking.I went to the sink and washed her bucket and then filled it back up with fresh water. I followed the vets instructions and administered the IV into her neck. All the while I talked soothingly to her and she relaxed slightly. Then I worked around her, not asking her to move, and cleaned her stall. Then I talked to her for the next hour telling her about her future and what we would accomplish with eachother, she just had to keep fighting. Then I had to say goodbye and go home. I gently patted her neck and let myself out of her stall. She actually put her head over the half door and watched me go! I didn't want to look back for fear of never being able to leave her! I knew in my heart that if she doesn't make it...I don't know how I would live.
|
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 4, 2005 15:14:44 GMT -5
"Hey Baby...how are you?"I say quietly into her stall. She just looks at me with her head alittle higher than it was yesterday. Her eyes are bright er too. She walks up to me and puts her head in my hands. I gently stroke her face, surprised at how friendly she is to me after all she's been through. I step out of her stall and close her door adn walk to the feed room. I scoop one cup of grain into the scooper and bring it back to her stall. I pour it in her navy bucket and quickly return it to the chest of food. I hurry back to her stall and to my surprise...she's eating her feed! I am so happy! After she was finished I got her halter and gently placed it on her head. I clipped the leadline on her halter and walked her to the crossties. I administered her IV and talked soothingly to her as she stood looking around. I put a tablet of Bantamine in my hand and offfered it to her. She ate it right out of my hand! It was almost as if she knew that it would help her. When the IV was empty I put another one in her and since she was standing quietly I quickly went to clean her stall. I finished cleaning it and went to clean her water bucket. I scrubbed it clean and filled it with fresh water and put it back in her stall. I quietly walked up to her talking quietly so she wouldn't spook. The IV wasn't empty yet so I leaved it in her while I groomed her. I carefully worked around the IV and started grooming her with a soft brush. I finished that and started with her mane and tail. Once they were all brushed out they looked beautiful! I gently picked out her feet and applied the cream the farrier gave me. Then I put hoof oil on her hooves. I placed her back in her stall and took off her halter. I gave her a gentle pat and a kiss on the nose and said goodbye. " I'll see you later girl!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 4, 2005 20:48:49 GMT -5
" Hey my beautiful girl." She looked over her door and whinnied at me. Granted...she might be feeling good because of the Bantamine and the IVs but hey, this is an improvement. She looks so much better and I think she's gaining a little weight. But I could just be imagining things becasue I want her to get better. I just don't want to get too excited in case something bad happened to her. I brought her out and gave her a thorough grooming and hoof cleaning. Then I placed her back into her stall and went to get her scoop of grain and her IV. As she was eating her grain, I inserted the IV into her neck. She didn't even flinch. I just went on stroking her. Then I put on her stable blanket then her winter blanket...it was supposed to be cold...and started massaging her neck. As I felt her relax I stepped away and out of the stall. Then I closed the door and walked quietly way...she was half asleep!
|
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 5, 2005 13:42:07 GMT -5
I saw my mare looking over her door at the horse across from her. I guess she actually is getting better. I went up to her with her Bandamine tablet and held it out to her. Just like before she ate it right up. " Was that good girl. I bet you'll be out of here in a month or so. Won't that be great? Then you can finally come home!" She just looked at me with her big brown eyes like she understood everything. " I love you girl!" I decided that I would walk her around the indoor for a little while because she seemed a lot better and seemed like she could handle a few minutes walking in the indoor. So I put her navy halter on and attatched her leadline and led her down the aisle taking my time. Suddenly she caught sight of the open door and started trotting over to it! " Easy girl...what are you doing?" She stopped and looked at me and then the door like she was saying I want you to take me outside! I checked her over first to make sure she didn't hurt herself(she didn't) and took her outside to the indoor. There we just walked quietly around the ring for 5 minutes. Then I decided that we should head in. I led her back to the cross ties and put them on her. I grab the grooming bucket to go take care of her and an IV too. I brush her neck where I'm going to put the IV until it's clean and administer the IV. After that I start brushing the rest of her body. Today I moved up to a medium brush so I could really get the dirt off of her this time. SHe leans into the brush clearly enjoying it. After she's sparkling clean I pick her hooves. I apply the cream the farrier gave me and she doesn't move. " What a good girl!" After that I brush her tail until there are no more knots and they're nice and smooth. I grab her scoopful of feed and put it in her bucket. She hears it and perks her ears. " You hungry girl?" She nickers and after I clean her stall and refill her water bucket I bring her into her stall. She waits patienly while I take her halter off but as soon as it's off and I'm out of the way she lunges for it. I was holding the IV bag and I almost dropped it because she moved so fast! I took it out of her neck and put her blankets back on. I pat her good bye and closed the door. " Bye girl! See you later!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 7, 2005 15:41:56 GMT -5
" Hi baby girl. How are you!" I walk into the barn huffing and puffing from getting around on crutches. I figured today is the day she could go out into the pasture. The very small pasture. So I manage to put her halter on ( she stands a lot stiller than Hero did) and take her out to the field. She seems excited to get outside and stretch her legs. I turn her out and close the gate watching her as she walks quickly to a fresh patch of grass. I turn and slowly make my way back to the barn. Once there, I grab the muck bucket and drag it to her stall. Then I go back and grab a pitchfork and bring that to her stall. When I finally get there her stall is a mess. "This is gonna take me hours to clean!" As I start cleaning I mumble to myself about how messy horses can be and it's a good thing I love them. Or else I would be sitting at home relaxing with my foot and arm elevated! It takes me two hours but I finally finish! Then I drag the hose to her clean stall and fill her buckets up with fresh warm water. Then I put the hose back and go to the tack room to grab her grooming bucket. I bring it to the grooming crossties and since there was someone already grooming their horse I figured Last Breath could eat first. I go get her one soop of feed and put it in her bucket. It looks so emty compared to Hero's who gets three scoops. Then I hobble down to the pasture and was ecstatic as she whinnied and actually managed a trot over to me. It looks like she was still worried that I would get hurt again. ( She was there when I got hurt) I go over to her as quickly as I could and give her a big hug. " I love you girl." I then clip the leadline onto her halter and bring her back to the barn. " This was so much easier when I wasn't hurt!" I lead her into her stall and she rushes to her feed bucket. That's a good sign! After she was done I took her to the grooming crossties. The person from earlier had finished. I clip them onto her and start taking her blanket off. It turned out to be harder than I thought it would be. Thankfully someone was around to help me take it off. Since Last Breath was wary of people she fidgeted but I soothed her. I thanked the boarder and started brushing Last Breath. I could see that she was starting to gain weight. I was really happy with her progress. I finished grooming her and turned her into her stall. I put the stuff away and grabbed her winter blanket. I put it on her easier than it was to take it off somehow and gave her her tablet of Bandamine. I kissed her goodbye. " I'll see you later girl!" I needed a nap..I was really tired!
|
|
|
|
Post by Lost Hope Recovory stables on Jan 7, 2005 19:31:14 GMT -5
comes in after melanie has left. I walk over to LB's stall and look her over. She is doing a lot better from when she was first adopted. I lead a note of aprovel for melanie but make it clear she still can't leave the clinic
|
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 9, 2005 11:16:31 GMT -5
"Hey girl! Look you got a note of approval from LHRS! That's such good news! And your beginning to fill out! Good girl! What do you think of your new friends? Cute huh? I know you three will get along great!" With that I pat her on the neck and start grooming her. She's starting to enjoy it now. I curry her for the first time now that her ribs aren't sticking out anymore and she loves it! Then I hard brush her and go over her with a soft brush. She actually shined! I lead he out to the pasture after I put her turnout on and watch as she trots away. She is so much better. I muck out her stall and put three bags of shavings into her stall. I refill her water bucket and put her one scoop og feed in her bucket, I decided to give her half a flake of hay to see how she does. I go et her and lead her into her stall. At first she stare at the hay but then seems to remeber it and starts eating it quickly. After she finished it she starts devouring her food. "Goodbye girl. I love you!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 12, 2005 15:58:04 GMT -5
" Last Breath! I've missed you sooooo much! Sorry I couldn't get here any sooner! I was REALLY sick...and sore! Look! No crutches and I just have a brace on my arm! Guess what I'm gonna do with you today? Lounging! Would you like to try that girl? Lets find out how you do!" I put her burgundy halter on and attatch her leadline onto the ring and lead her to the crossties. I put them on her halter and start taking her two blankets off. "At least you had two of them on girl, it has been cold!. I take off her blankets and am amazed at how much weight she has gained! " Look at you! You're turinig into a real fatty! Well, maybe not fat or even at the weight you should be, but still you are a lot better! I can't see your ribs anymore!" I grab her grooming bucket and start currying her and she leans into the brush, clearly enjoying it. Then I grab the hard brush and go over her coat, getting all the hair the curry comb left behind. After that, I go over her with a soft brush and make her shine. She actually shines! I pick out her feet and put the cream on them for the last time. They look so much better. I put a little cowboy magic into her mane and tail and start brushing them out. Once they are free of all tangles I put her grooming kit away and throw a light sheet on her. Then I go get the wheely muck bucket and drag it to her stall. First I check in on Charley and Misty, who are sound asleep, curled up next to eachother. Then I begin cleaning Last Breath's stall. Wow! She can sure make a mess! It took me a half an hour but I finally finished. I layed down three bags of bedding and spread it out. Then I grabbed her water buckets and started scrubbing them out and refilling them with fresh water. I put them back on their hooks and went into the feed room. I decided Last Breath could get 1 and 1/2 scoops since she's getting better. As soon as she heard her feed hit the bucket she turned her head around and perked her ears. "Not yet girl! You have to wait until we are done working!" I threw one flake of hay in her stall and went to grab her loungeline. I got it and went back out to where she was standing patiently. "Good girl." I clipped the loungeline to her halter and led her to the indoor. There I went into the middle and sent her away. At first she was confused but then it seemed she remembered. She started to walk around me in a circle. I let her walk for a good fifteen minutes, wanting to be sure she was nice and warmed up before we trotted. As I asked for a trot, she threw a buck and started to canter. I was so shocked, my mouth hung open. I slew her down and said "Easy girl, I wasn't planning on you cantering today!" She settled into a nice trot and stayed that way for two minutes and then I let her walk. After that I cooled her down and walked her back to the barn. There I put her in the crossties and checked her legs to make sure there wasn't any heat or swelling. There wasn't and then I began brushing her to get the sweat off of her and she dried quickly. After that I put her fleece on and than her warm winter blankey. Then I put her into her stall and took her halter off. She started to eat her hay so I put all her stuff away. Then I went back to check on her and say goodbye. " Bye baby. You were good today. I'll come by later after I pick up your brother Hero and take him to the barn. He finished his training but I think I want to sign him up again." I kissed her goodbye and then left the barn.
|
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 13, 2005 15:30:30 GMT -5
" Hey sweetie! How are you? I can't stay long, I have to go someplace...but I have time for a quick walk." With that I put her halter on and attatch her leadline and take her outside. I decided I would take her on the trails for a little while. I walk her on the trail that has the streams running across it. Last Breath walks right into the water without any problems. She enjoys it! She loves the trail, her ears pricked the whole time. I take her for about 10 minutes and then take her back to the barn. I put her in the crossties and grab the cloth to dry her legs. Once they are dry I put the cloth to dry and then grab the muck bucket. I pick out her stall and put three bags of new shavings in it. I want my horses to have thick bedding all the time so it's not hard on their feet. I then refill her water buckets with fresh warm water and then grab her two and a half scoops of feed. I drop them in her feed bucket and then grab a flake of hay. I put it under her feed bucket and head out to groom her quick. I brush her quickly then put her fleece and her winter blanket on. I put her back in her stall and hang her halter and leadline neatly on her stall door. I close the door and walk away. "Bye gurl...I'll see you later!" Then I leave the clinic.
|
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 13, 2005 21:02:25 GMT -5
"Hey Last Breath. How are you?" I look into her stall and there she is, lying down, sleeping. She gets up at the sound of my voice. I go in quietly and start to pet her.I slip her halter on gently over her head and kiss her on the nose. I clip the leadline onto her halter and lead her gently out to the crossties. I leave her there to go get her grooming bucket. When I come back she's standing there quietly. "Still not awake yet girl?" I take off her blankets and she looks at me as if I'm crazy. It seems like she's saying" It's cold! Don't take those off!" I laugh and say" Silly, I have to brush you." She turns her head back to the barn door and stares outside. I curry her, then take a hard brush over her body, then go over her with a soft brush. She shines. I pick out her hooves and then comb out her mane and tail so there's no more knots. Then I put her grooming kit away and head to the feeroom. She sees where I'm going and nickers. "I know girl, you're hungry." I grab two scoops of feed and pour them in her bucket. Then I grab one flake of hay and put in her stall under her feed bucket. Then I clean her stall. It wasn't that bad so I didn't need to put shavings down. Then I wnet to get her and turned her into her stall. "Goodnight girl! I love you! Now I have to take care of the little monsters!" I kiss her goodbye and then head next to Last Breath's stall to Charley and Misty.
|
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 14, 2005 16:15:24 GMT -5
"Hey girl. I don't have long but I'll walk you on the trails quick." I put her halter and leadline on and walk her to the trails. We go on the short one and after fifteen minutes head back to the clinic. She's really filling out. Maybe she'll get to come home soon. Her West Nile is pretty much over with and I have only a few more IVs left. I finished her Bandamine tablets yesterday. I put her in the crossties and brush her quickly. I take her balnkets off, curry her, hard brush her and then run a soft brush over her coat. Then I pick out her hooves and comb her mane and tail till there are no more knots. Then I put her winter blanket back on. I grab the muck bucket and clean out her stall and put three bags of fresh shavings in it. I get two scoops of feed and put them in her bucket. Then I grab two flakes of hay this time and put them under her feed bucket. I grab her two water buckets and scrub them out, rinse them and feill them with warm water. I give her a carrot on the way by. The I walk over to her and clip the leadline on the ring and unclip the crossties. I lead her back to her stall and kiss her goodbye. I close the door and hang the halter and leadline neatly on their hook. I reorganize her many blankets on the side of her door so they look presentableagai. "Goodbye Last Breath! I'll see you later! I love you!" Then I leave the clinic and head to my apartment.
|
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 14, 2005 21:52:16 GMT -5
" Hey girl. I can't stay long. I'll walk you in the indoor for a little whil. I put her halter on and clip her leadline to the ring and lead her outside. I bring her quickly to the indoor because it's cold out and start walking around the indoor with her. I walk her for fifteen minutes and then trot her down a long side and then I'm out of breath. I haven't gotten any exercise since I've sprained my ankle. I walk her for five more minutes and then bring her back to the barn. I put her in the crossties and take off her blankets. I curried her, hard brushed her, and then ran a soft brush over her coat. Then I picked out her hooves and combed out her mane and tail till there were no more knots. Then I grabbed the muck bucket and cleaned her stall. I put three bags of shavings down because I wanted her to be warm for tonight. When I walked by her I put her fleece on and then her winter blanket. Then I went to the feed room and got two scoops of feed and put them in her bucket. Then I grabbed three flakes of hay and put them under her feed bucket. Then I refilled her water buckets with fresh warm water and went to get her. I led her into her stall and kissed her goodbye. "I love you girl. See you tomorrow."
|
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 15, 2005 11:33:56 GMT -5
"Hey girl. How are you?" I look into her stall and see her standing in the corner, sleeping. I walk quietly into the stall and grabbed her water bucket. She heard me and picked up her head. " Hi baby, it's nice ot see you too!" She had started to rud her head up and down my back. "Okay, okay. I have to get you fresh water." I scrubbed he water buckets out and filled them with fresh water. I put them back in her stall and go to the feedroom. I get two scoops of feed and put them in her bucket. "Here you go girl." I get two flakes of hay under her feed bucket. I clean out her stall while she's in there and put three bags of fresh bedding down. She doesn't mind having the shavings thrown around below her. "Okay girl, I ahve to go, I'll see you later."
|
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Jan 15, 2005 20:56:11 GMT -5
"Hey baby. You look so good! I can't stay long." I take her out of her stall and lead her to the crossties. I take off her blankets and brush her quickly. Then I pick out her feet and comb out her mane and then her tail till there are no more knots. Then I put her blankets back on and grab the muck bucket. I clean out her stall and put one bag of shavings in her stall. Then I fill her feed bucket with two scoops of grain and give her three flakes of hay for the night. I refill her water buckets with fresh warm water. Then I walk over to her and clip her leadline onto her halter and led her to her stall. I kiss her goodbye and then unclip her leadline and take off her halter. I closed the door and hung her halter and leadline up on their hooks. I put her muck bucket and pitchfork away and her grooming kit away too. "Goodnight girl. I love you."
|
|
