Now that we have a plan for Ambrosia it’s time for us to share it. I spent a good part of yesterday at the hospital again. They did not have to drain anymore fluids yesterday or today. A few more tests were done and we reviewed her case to determine where to go from here. We’ve given her time to see how (if) she improves and she amazes us – each day she is stronger. She is eating, drinking, and has even started whinnying when she wants something – different hay, mash, etc. She gets hand walked – she loves to graze. Yesterday we gave her a bath which she adored. Her care team says that she is a very strong mare and is ready to move forward in her treatment.
The issue is two abscesses, one on each side, that need to be surgically removed. Since she has been at the hospital, her heart rate, which was in the 70’s, has gone down and maintained into the 40’s. Her temperature has been normal. She is eating and drinking. She maintains a positive attitude. Her care team has commented more than once about what a strong willed and sweet mare she is. She has a lot of determination. Her eyes are brighter–she’s a fighter.
While Ambrosia has come a long ways in her recovery she has a ways to go. Antibiotics are not enough at this stage due to the accumulation of fibrin (an insoluble protein that’s the result of the inflammation process) and abscesses (as the body walls off the bacteria). While both the fibrin and abscesses are good things in the short run, in the long run they lead to the accumulation of fluid around the lungs and cannot be treated successfully by IV antibiotics—there are simply too much and too isolated from the blood stream. Her body has worked to her advantage and walled off the abscesses.
Ambrosia needs two surgeries – one for each side. Each surgery basically includes removing a few inches of a rib to allow the surgeon to reach into the pleural space (area between lungs and ribs) and manually clean the fibrin and abscesses out and flush out the remaining material. Cleaning these areas out is something we will have to continue to do here, along with the flushes, daily for about 30 days. The commitment it is going to take from us with her aftercare is a big one. But it is what it is. We hope to get some UF students that want to get into the vet school involved to help out. We have students that do volunteer and this will be a good learning experience for them. This is our first case like this and we want to share it in hopes that others that may be put into a position such as this will have something to refer to.
The surgery is fairly straightforward but she will need treatments daily – we will continue to have to clean out the two cavities until they heal over. It could take up to a month. She will be on antibiotics. She should be able to come home a few days after surgery. Dr. Stieler, Dr. MacKay, and her care team are doing a great job and they say Ambrosia is ready. This is the only way she will have a chance to recover and live a comfortable life. Her attitude is great and we all agree that Ambrosia truly is quite the mare. She deserves a life if we can provide what she needs. She didn’t ask to be dumped and neglected. No horse deserves to be neglected as she was. God put her in our path for a reason and I have to have faith that the means will come to provide for her and her surgery. It’s a miracle that she survived until she could get help. And so we move forward…
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
