Tag Archive for: Dr. Bess Darrow

Walker & Waylen

Our newly acquired Mules have settled in nicely here at the rescue. We have named the younger of the two, Walker, and the senior wise old soul, Waylen.

Upon his arrival, Walker had been having a tough time eating. He would merely nibble on just a tiny bit of food and then walk away. We have been treating him for ulcers and thankfully, just a few days ago, he started to perk up and finish his meals. He is now much more animated and seems to be quite the happy boy. Waylen is just a kind, sweet old soul. I’ll bet he could tell us countless stories from his past as an Amish working mule. He’s just a big love bug and he so reminds me very much of our sweet Penny. Oh, and he loves to serenade us quite often – even into the wee hours of the morning!

Dr. Bess of Tune Ups Veterinary Equine Dentistry and Services was scheduled to perform an examination on both boys. She determined that Walker is approximately 16 years old, while Waylen is approximately 25 years old. Waylen is missing some teeth so he is being fed soft meals which he truly enjoys, and little Walker is now thankfully a member of the “Clean Plate Club!” Just the other day, Walker and Waylen were treated to a bit of grazing time which both so enjoyed! We also scheduled Dr. Julia to examine and run blood and other tests on Walker and Waylen and we will update once we regroup to discuss the results.

Walker and Waylen are both still in need of sponsors and/or a one-time donation which can be forwarded by clicking on the ’DONATE’ button below. Please designate your contribution to ‘Mules.’

$
Dedicate this Donation

Honoree Details

Select Payment Method
Personal Info

Credit Card Info
This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.
Billing Details

Donation Total: $50 One Time

Thank you all so very much for your love and support. I am most certain that our beloved Minnie is smiling down on Beauty’s Haven from the heavens above.

Sincerely,
Theresa

/by
, , ,

Jo’s Wish for Christmas

We brought Jo to Beauty’s Haven on the evening of October 20, 2019. Time was truly, of the essence, as we did not know how much longer she would have survived. At the time, we were unsure if Jo had hours, days, weeks, months, or hopefully, many years left on this earth, but we did know that she would get the very best of care in her sunset years.

Jo’s initial vetting and bloodwork were performed soon thereafter and revealed that her kidneys and liver were stressed and she was fighting infection. She had a heart murmur, severe muscle atrophy, and was at least 300 pounds underweight with a Body Condition Score of barely a 1. She had a poor coat, patches of rain rot, and she was treated for stomach ulcers.

During her first days at the rescue, Jo received a much-needed bath and spa treatment which she thoroughly enjoyed, and she even seemed to hold her head a bit higher afterward! Her sores were treated and her mane and tail were brushed.

Jo also received necessary farrier and dental care; Dr. Bess Darrow, our equine dentist, determined that many of Jo’s issues arose due to the condition of her teeth. Ulcers were discovered in Jo’s cheeks, gums, tongue, and soft palate due to sharp points.

One sharp tooth point put the palatine artery at significant risk of being cut which could have caused Jo to bleed out. There were large “ramps” and her front teeth were on a slant due to misalignment which physically obstructed the motion she needed to properly chew. Because Jo couldn’t chew, it decreased the ability of her digestive system to extract much needed nutrients from any food she did manage to get down. It also put her at risk for choke and colic. The day after Dr. Bess did Jo’s teeth, it felt wonderful knowing that she could finally use her mouth without the pain and discomfort that she had experienced for quite some time. Jo actually looked brighter and happier!

Jo, thankfully, overcame her most recent crisis, thanks to our amazing care team, coupled with the countless heartfelt prayers offered by our wonderful village of supporters. Jo is now able to graze, once again with Dancer, her very best friend, both experiencing the innate joy of ‘just being a horse.’

Jo’s wish this Christmas is for contributions toward her vet bill, coupled with her much needed supplement, Cosequin.

If anyone would like to contribute toward such, it would truly warm precious Jo’s heart! And, a very special ‘Auntie’ has offered to match all contributions up to $500 in order to help fulfill Jo’s Christmas wish! Just click on the ‘Donate’ button below and note your contribution to ‘Jo.’

$
Dedicate this Donation

Honoree Details

Select Payment Method
Personal Info

Credit Card Info
This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.
Billing Details

Donation Total: $50 One Time

Wishing you a Blessed Christmas.

Sincerely,
Theresa

/by
,

Open Wide!

Peggy Sue, Luiji, Cloud, Nickers and Lucy are on the dental treatment list (Dr. Bess Darrow of Tune Ups Veterinary Equine Dentistry). Nadia, Venus, and many other members of our little herd will also be scheduled for their dental examinations in the upcoming week. We estimate each treatment to be approximately $125 to $200 per horse depending upon the work that needs to be performed, coupled with the amount of sedation required. Any donations beyond the amount needed for the upcoming visit will be set aside in our “Happy Teeth Fund,” an escrow account for future dental needs.

If you would like to assist with this need, donations may be forwarded in a variety of ways here on our website, simply CLICK HERE. If donating via PayPal, please designate your contribution for “Happy Teeth Fund.” Thank you all for your love and support!

Sincerely,
Theresa

/by
, ,

From hooves to teeth, rescue care from the ground up!

It was a very busy day at the rescue this past Thursday. Dr. Bess Darrow (Tune-Ups Equine Dentistry) spent a good part of the day at Beauty’s Haven taking care of many teeth. Scooter and Simba did great as did Belle Star, Chloe and Nicky, our very sweet blind mare. Actually everyone was good, except for CaryLou who decided he didn’t want to cooperate and opted to make faces to share his displeasure. He’s always starting or getting into something – he’s a hoot! Peaches’s examination revealed that she has not lost any additional teeth and thankfully, all was fine with Luiji as well. Lucy and Peggy Sue were rescheduled for another day as they were not sweating. It truly was a very productive day!

If anyone would like to help with our dental bill, it would be so greatly appreciated. We have already received a number of donations but we are still in need of $750 to have the entire bill covered. Donations can be made via the ‘Donate’ button below. All donations are greatly appreciated and no amount is ever too small. If you are not in a position to donate at this time we truly understand, but you can still help by sharing this with family and friends. Thank you all, so very much!

Sincerely,
Theresa

$
Dedicate this Donation

Honoree Details

Select Payment Method
Personal Info

Credit Card Info
This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.
Billing Details

Donation Total: $50 One Time

Hooficures Part Deux

A big Thank You to our wonderful friends and supporters who contributed to the first round of this week’s “Hooficures”! As promised, we are now seeking sponsorship for the remaining members of our herd that were on the farrier’s schedule this week, including CaryLou, Lucy, Bouie, Frodo, Sassy and Scooter, to name but a few. The average cost is $35 – if you can help, we would be forever grateful. Just visit our Donation page for multiple options. Please note that your contribution is for “Farrier.”

Bonus! Remember, everyone who donates toward farrier care will be eligible for a chance to win a lovely necklace created by a very dear friend and supporter. Once the “Hooficure” fundraiser is complete, three names will be randomly drawn. The winners, in order of selection, will then be notified via email or social media private message as to which necklace they would prefer. (Please note, these necklaces contain faux gemstones.) For more details, click here.

/by
,

Teeth Twofer – Ford & Elvis Get Dental Care

Ford and Elvis had their teeth taken care of on Thursday which both so desperately needed. While Dr. Bess worked on Ford, Elvis was a very good boy standing patiently just outside the trailer awaiting his turn. We are happy to report that both of these precious boys have settled in nicely.

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday!

Sincerely,
Theresa

Got Hay?

We are less than halfway there to reach our goal for this week’s hay run for a ton of orchard, 21 bales of coastal, two bales of alfalfa and three big half-pasture bales, for a total of $1180.

If anyone would like to help with this need, please click on the ‘Donate’ button below. Or, if you would like to offer a Match Game, it would truly make our hearts sing!

$
Dedicate this Donation

Honoree Details

Select Payment Method
Personal Info

Credit Card Info
This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.
Billing Details

Donation Total: $50 One Time

/by
, , ,

Eat. Play. Love.

Remi has reached yet another milestone! She’s finally decided that she likes her milk pellets. Soon it will be bye-bye bottle! Remi is a quick learner. She’s very curious and likes to learn and experience new things and she simply, loves to please. She loves to snuggle too! Remi is growing like a weed and it is quite amusing to see her run like the wind when she gets her “zoomies.”

If you click on the image above you will see, firsthand, what a good little girl she is!

When Dr. Julia came out yesterday to examine Jo, Remi got lots of hugs and kisses. The child just plants herself in front of you and gives you that “gotta love me’ look and it’s automatic – you just want to hug her! She wraps everyone around her little hoof.

Remi was a “dummy foal” and didn’t receive colostrum from her mom – she couldn’t nurse. She was in a very bad way when she came to us 24+ hours after birth. Her white blood cell count was only 1 and her blood glucose level was only 2! The odds were stacked against her. She received plasma, around the clock care, and many prayers were said for her.

Remi is our little long-ear miracle girl who didn’t give up and a perfect reminder of why we do what we do.

This is made possible by your kind and most generous support. You all make an incredible difference.

 

An Update on Jo

We brought Jo to the rescue in October, 2019. She was fighting infection – her kidneys and liver were stressed. She had blotches of skin without hair, no fat, and severe muscle atrophy. Jo was at least 300 pounds underweight – her immune system was weakened due to malnutrition and starvation. Her feet needed attention and her teeth were in such poor condition, it wasn’t possible for her to chew. And when she did try to chew, it was very painful for her.

Dr. Bess Darrow, our equine dentist, discovered ulcerations in Jo’s cheeks, gums, tongue, and soft palate, due to sharp points. One sharp point put the palatine artery at significant risk of being cut which could have caused Jo to bleed out. Jo’s front teeth were on a slant due to misalignment. This caused limited mobility of her jaw and physically obstructed the right/left and forward/back motion which a horse needs to properly chew. Jo was starving to death.

About two weeks after Jo arrived, we were able to bring her best friend, Dancer, to Beauty’s Haven. Dancer was also in poor condition but, together, they grew strong and healthy and have been doing well. Both are in their 30s. Jo does require multiple smaller meals a day due to her teeth.

A few days ago, Jo seemed a little off, but she was eating and didn’t have a temperature. It was a day after a pretty bad thunderstorm. Jo got back to normal over the next couple of days and was doing okay. We had another thunderstorm in the wee hours of the morning and a couple of hours later, we found Jo off again.

She reminded me somewhat of what Frodo and Victoria were like after they took indirect lightning strikes several years ago.

Dr. Julia came out to examine Jo on Friday morning although Jo did seem to be her old self at the time. We should have bloodwork results back today and I’ll update again once they are reviewed. Jo does need to have her teeth re-checked which will get taken care of next week.

Jo could use some good thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

/by
, , ,

Update on Aries and Raz

Here’s a quick update about Aries and Raz, the two Thoroughbred mares that we recently took in at the rescue. They had a spa day yesterday. Their physicals were done. They both scored a 1.5 (barely) on the Henneke scale. Their teeth need help badly and Dr. Bess will hopefully be out this coming week. Raz appears to have had a couple of her top front teeth knocked out at some point. There is a large gap which has caused her bottom teeth to grow up and out, which, in turn, have irritated her upper lip.

We will better know what is going on once we get the blood tests back, but both Aries and Raz appear to have jaundice, are likely anemic (they were loaded with ticks), have uterine infections, heart murmurs, horrible rain rot, very loose stool, lots of sand in the gut, etc. I’ll post an update about their blood work once we receive the results and consult with Dr. Julia.

After their physicals, Aries and Raz each got a much needed warm bath thanks to Jenny. She managed to get the knots out of their tails and their sores/rain rot were treated. The mares already look much better and I truly believe they feel much better as well.

Many thanks to Equiderma – they recently made a very nice donation of products which are truly making a difference to many members of our beloved little herd.

Then it was time for the farrier. Aries’ and Raz’s feet were absolutely horrible. The impact of their long feet upon their tendons, ligaments and whole body was quite significant. Raz had gone down in the trailer on the way to the farm and was a bit sore, so it took Stephanie quite some time and work to get her feet as good as possible on this visit, but she did a great job.

Raz went first and after her trim, she stood there for a bit like she knew something was different and had to adjust. Then she took a couple of steps towards Stephanie and put her head down in front of her as if to say ‘thank you.’ Then she looked at me and yawned and yawned which is a very good thing. Aries was a very good girl as well, and you could also see relief in her face as she walked away with her ‘new’ feet.

Raz and Aries have a ways to go in their rehab, but they have strong wills and the light in their eyes gets brighter each day. We appreciate the love and support for Raz and Aries – they are truly deserving.

We have promised them that all of their tomorrows will be what all of their yesterdays should have been – their needs will never be neglected again.

Thank you all so very much & God bless.

Sincerely,
Theresa

/by
, , ,

Tilly & Warrior

Tilly settled right in upon her arrival, almost like she’s been here before. She’s just as sweet as she can be and very vocal. She has a rather large lump on her right side – likely a hernia. Her feet needed attention, so on Sunday, she got a hooficure by Laura while Judy and Millie lovingly, pampered her.

Tilly has a great appetite, but she does quid – she wants to eat, but it must be very uncomfortable to chew because as she starts to eat, she then suddenly, just stops. Her teeth have likely been neglected. Tilly’s very thin which will change, I’m sure, once her teeth issues are addressed. Dr. Bess Darrow, our Equine Dentist, will work Tilly into her schedule as soon as she can.

Yesterday, Tilly was examined by Dr. Julia Simonson. The lump on Tilly’s side is believed to be a hernia but additional diagnostics are needed. She’s emaciated with a Body Condition Score of ‘2.’ Her respiration and heart rates were normal, but there is an issue with her lungs which also requires additional diagnostics. We hope to have her blood test results by the end of the day.

If anyone would like to become a sponsor for this little girl or help with her initial expenses and ongoing needs, which will not be inexpensive, it would be so greatly appreciated. Donations are tax deductible and can be made here on our website’s secure donation form, where you can also sign up to make an automatic monthly donation of any amount which may be discontinued at any time. You can also forward a donation via PayPalMe. If donating via PayPal, please designate your donation to ‘Mini Mare.’ If you select the tab, ‘Send Money to Friends or Family,’ no fees will be deducted from your contribution. All donations are tax deductible and no amount is ever too small. And please share this need amongst family and friends – perhaps others would like to help as well. Without your assistance, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.

While Dr. Julia was here to examine Tilly, we asked her to look at Warrior’s eyes as well. Warrior’s right eye has been weepy – I thought perhaps, that his tear duct may be clogged, but at times, there’s a yellowish/greenish discharge which makes me think the issue may be allergies. Dr. Julia also listened to Warrior’s lungs and detected something which requires additional diagnostics. He is an on and off non-sweater and at times, he experiences breathing issues during the spring/summer months. Warrior has allergies to no-see-ums and flies and had a terrible time with sores in his ears two summers ago. It took us quite awhile to get the sores to heal, so since then, he wears a mask with ears to help prevent further issues.

Dr. Julia believes that Warrior’s current issue could very well be summer sores in the corners of both eyes. She will be consulting with Dr. Mangan, our Equine Ophthalmologist, who is scheduled to come out later in the week. In the meantime, Warrior’s eyes will be stained to rule out possible ulceration and, if there is no stain uptake, we will be applying neo-poly-dex ointment to his eyes 3x’s a day. I’m hoping the issue is not summer sores but something else that can be treated and healed much more quickly.

I love to schedule the vet whenever we have volunteers here who are learning about the way in which to care for horses. Education combined with hands-on experience can prove to be very valuable for future horse owners. I am so very grateful to our experienced volunteers who are always happy and willing to guide them each step of the way!

/by
,

Jo’s Long Awaited Update

I apologize for taking so long to post this update. The daily chores/needs we tackle here each day are many and there is little extra time. Those of you who have been with us for a long time, know I used to post often throughout the days/nights. Now, I try to post at least a couple of times a week when I am able to make time before calling it a day. Hopefully, soon, I’ll be able to post more routinely again.
And now, for Jo’s long awaited update

Jo’s kidneys and liver are stressed and she’s fighting infection. She has a heart murmur, severe muscle atrophy, and is about 300 pounds underweight. She has a poor coat and patches of skin without hair. Her coat, thankfully, is actually looking slightly better already. Her appetite is good and she’s drinking and getting the supplements that she needs. She’s also being treated for ulcers. As I mentioned in my update yesterday, Jo’s feet needed attention, too, but they were taken care of the day after we brought her to the rescue.


Like most horses, Jo walked right into the stall in Dr. Bess’ dental trailer. She was an absolute angel the entire time.

Most of Jo’s issues came about due to the condition of her teeth. Dr. Bess Darrow (Tune Ups Veterinary Equine Dentistry) found ulcers in Jo’s cheeks, gums, tongue, and soft palate due to sharp points. One sharp point put the palatine artery at significant risk of being cut which could have caused Jo to bleed out.

There were large ramps and her front teeth are on a slant due to misalignment which physically obstructed the motion she needed to properly chew. Because Jo couldn’t chew, it decreased the ability of her digestive system to extract much needed nutrients from any food she did manage to get down. It also put her at risk for choke and colic.

Most horse owners know this, but for those who don’t, when a horse chews, it is a grinding motion that, over time, wears down the tooth surface. Sharp hooks and points form. Teeth wear unevenly which causes the mouth to close improperly which can lead to chronic colic, weight loss, quidding, bad behavior, and other issues. Quidding is when food gets rolled into balls which fall out of the horses mouth and drop to the ground. Sometimes, rather than chew with a painful mouth, a horse will try to swallow food before chewing is complete which can cause choke, colic, and weight loss. Jo was quidding. Sometimes, a horse will pack food on the side of its mouth (when they are unable to chew on that side) which can cause gum disease and tooth loss.

When a horse is younger, uneven wear can be corrected. Left unattended, the issue progresses and becomes severe as in Jo’s case. Horses’ teeth erupt and wear over their lifetime. As a horse ages, the eruption rate slows and teeth get shorter. With an older horse, there might not be any tooth left below the gum to keep erupting and teeth may start to fall out. When a horse loses a tooth, the tooth above or below it, doesn’t have anything to grind against. The teeth on each side of the empty space start moving toward each other and feed can get packed there which can cause issues that would need veterinary attention.

As a horse ages, the digestive tract becomes less efficient at absorbing and processing nutrients. Reduction in the ability to mechanically break down food (through grinding of the teeth) lowers digestibility. It’s important to ensure a horse’s diet is tailored to suit their particular needs. Senior horses like Jo, and Little E, need a complete senior feed that is easy to chew and is highly digestible. This feed can be soaked and made into a soupy mash which helps prevent choke. The increased water intake also helps reduce digestive issues. These horses benefit from smaller portioned meals that are offered more frequently throughout the day.

The day after Dr. Bess did Jo’s teeth, it felt good to know Jo could finally use her mouth without the pain and discomfort that she had been feeling for quite some time. And Jo actually looked brighter and happier!

Providing proper dental care for the entire lifetime of a horse is very important to its well-being. Routine dental care can help a horse live a longer and healthy life by preventing issues and unnecessary pain and suffering. Every horse owner has an obligation to provide this to their horse.

Jo’s previous owner said they were feeding her two meals a day, and I do believe them. After Jo arrived, she passed manure and there was grain in it. We were told that Jo’s teeth were floated about 1 1/2 years ago by a farrier. Whoa – red flag! This is a good example of why it’s important to have an equine dentist, or veterinarian skilled in equine dentistry, like Dr. Bess, to properly diagnose, correct, and treat dental problems as well as administer sedation (if needed).

We’re thankful that Jo’s previous owner finally reached out for help before it was too late, allowing us the opportunity to make a significant difference in Jo’s life. She wouldn’t have lasted much longer. Recovery may take awhile – many things happen to a body when it has been deprived of proper nutrition. But Jo has a bright attitude and we have the means (thanks to our supporters) to provide what she needs to help her through this time.

We thank all of you for caring!

Dr. Darrow is a veterinarian and is International Association of Equine Dentistry certified. She specializes in equine dentistry. Her dental trailer is awesome and most horses walk right into the padded stall. She uses a full mouth speculum and bright light, a drencher, power and manual tools, a soft chin rest and/or a head suspension system, mirrors, other instruments, and sedation (when needed). She provides a dental record and chart of the horse’s mouth which describes the work she did and also shows diagrams of the teeth. It’s obvious to us that she understands the whole horse and cares about her patients. She has been treating our horses for years!

Dr. Darrow’s website is Tune Ups Veterinary Equine Dentistry and she can also be found on Facebook. We truly appreciate everything she does for the horses, not just here, but everywhere! She spearheaded Houses4Horses, a non-profit organization that began with efforts to aid horses following Hurricane Michael in 2018 in Florida’s panhandle. Houses4Horses is also helping to provide vet care, hay and feed for horses and livestock remaining on Grand Bahama Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.

/by
, , ,

Jo, All Settled In!

It was a beautiful day at the rescue last Sunday – the weather was nice and there were no “surprises.” Jo greeted us in the morning with bright eyes and a whinny to start the day. Jenny arrived and gave her a much-needed bath and spa treatment. Jo seemed to hold her head a little higher after her bath so I’m thinking she really enjoyed it. Her sores were treated and her mane and tail were brushed out. She’s very beautiful.


Happy Feet

Jo had a happy hooficure day on Monday – she truly needed it and I am sure she felt much better afterwards!


A Visit with Dr. Julia

The vet also came on Monday to do an exam on Jo, including blood tests. We were told that she is 35 years old but I’m not sure if that is correct. There’s probably a combination of things contributing to her being so thin, but I do believe that with proper care, she has the desire, and ability, to overcome. Jo is very vocal, alert, and interested in everything that goes on around her. She’s a very kind soul.


Hope

After examining Jo, Dr. Julia visited with Hope.


A Visit with Dr. Bess

Dr. Bess came on Wednesday to do Jo’s teeth. She aged Jo to be 28 years young. I will be sharing a comprehensive update with some pretty incredible photos as to the vet and equine dentist’s findings, within the next few days.

We truly appreciate everyone’s support for sweet Jo.

/by