Tag Archive for: Dr. Julia Simonson

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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.

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Kindness, the Language of Love

Nicky is another senior Thoroughbred mare we recently rescued, from the same farm where Aries and Raz formerly resided. Nicky hadn’t been doing well but the owner would not release her – she would not eat the hay that had recently been brought to the farm and she refused to walk to the waterer, so food and water had to be taken to her in her paddock. This went on for several days and she still showed no signs of improvement. On Sunday, we finally received the call – Nicky was no better and was being released. She needed a place to go where she could get the help she so desperately needed, so Nicky is now a member of our beloved little Sanctuary herd.

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The day Nicky arrived, we looked forward to reuniting her with her friends, Aries and Raz. We brought her to their paddock but she showed no interest. She was weak and unstable and her back legs were swollen, especially the left. I opted to put her in a paddock by herself, next to them, for a few days, so she could settle in, get a bit more stable, and get to know her new surroundings.

Once in that paddock, we led her to the waterer and she drank a good amount. Then we let her go. Ears forward, she didn’t walk off, but rather, put her head down and nibbled on a little grass and then unsteadily walked in a circle and stopped. She stood there, ears forward. After awhile, I walked her out into the paddock and told her that she would be okay as I gently removed her halter.

Ears forward, she walked in a circle a couple of times, still unsteady on her legs. She then stopped and stood. I brushed her and told her she was very much loved and would never be hungry again. Then I let her be.

I checked on her often and she was still standing there, ears forward. Twice, I saw her weakly walk in a circle and then stop and stand, ears forward. After awhile, I took her some water and a mash. She drank and slurped up about one half of the mash. I was relieved that she did drink. I was worried about colic which can be an issue with a starved horse that has a lot of sand in their gut and is fed coastal hay (before she came to us). A horse that Nicky had lived with prior to her arrival, suffered an impaction colic the day before. Dr. Rullian tubed and oiled the mare, fluids were run, but sadly, she didn’t make it.

The rest of the day, the volunteers and I checked on Nicky often and took her more water, forage, and mash. She still had no interest in hay. She continued to stand there all day, ears forward.

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When I tucked her in that night, I walked her to the waterer and left her with a tub of forage and a bag of hay. She refused the hay but did nibble on a little forage. The next morning, I discovered her ten feet away from where I’d left her the night before. The tub of forage had been knocked over. I put a halter on her and walked her around the perimeter of her paddock, in and out of the shelter, and then to the middle of the paddock.

I took her halter off and she stood there, ears forward, and then I knew – she couldn’t see. I thought to myself how humble and trusting this precious mare is. I realized then, why, out of so many horses, this particular mare came to us – it’s because she is very special and needs a little extra special care!

I thought about how scary it must be to be a blind horse in an unfamiliar place, separated from a herd that you had lived with your entire life, surrounded by new humans. I told her how brave and beautiful she is and then walked her around the perimeter of the paddock again and in and out of the shelter.

We took her water every couple of hours. She still refused hay but would slurp up a little mash. That night, I put a halter on her and walked her into the shelter. She put her nose down and found the tub of forage, a bag of hay, a bucket of water, and a salt block. She planted herself at the salt block. When I left her, I said a little prayer that she’d be okay there and as I walked away, she was still licking that salt block, ears forward.

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The next morning, she was still there, under the shelter, ears forward, looking content. She didn’t put her head up or respond when I approached her. She had eaten some of the forage. The water tub was only half full, so at least she was drinking.

I talked to her and when I reached out and touched her neck, her eyes opened wider, but then she relaxed. I clapped my hands next to her ears and that’s when I realized that she couldn’t hear. What a very special mare she really is!

Nicky was examined by Dr. Julia Simonson yesterday. I’ll continue Nicky’s story later today after we get her lab results back. I’ll also post an update about Aries and Raz.

Please keep Nicky, Aries and Raz in your prayers. They all have some challenges to overcome, especially Nicky, but I believe they will!

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Thank you to all who have donated toward the three mares thus far. Your donation is so very much appreciated. If you have not yet done so, you may simply click the button below. Please note that your donation is for “Year-End Campaign or ‘YEC.'”

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Thank you all, and God bless.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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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

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Niña

We’re calling this precious mare, Niña. She settled in well overnight and made new friends from a couple of fence lines away. Yesterday, she made new human friends who really liked her.

Gail held Niña while Dr. Julia did an exam on her and she was very cooperative. She’s underweight, has a heart murmur, her temperature was a bit low, and her teeth need attention by Dr. Bess. Niña also has a couple of summer sores that we’ve started treating and we’re so very thankful that we have a pair of Silver Whinnys (SoxForHorses) on hand that fit her. Dr. Julia estimates her to be at least 30 years young. We will know more when the blood test results come back, hopefully, tomorrow.

Many thanks to those who have donated to help this grand older gal! She’s going to need ongoing support so if you’re interested in signing up to become a monthly sponsor for her (no matter what the amount is – lots of little bits add up to make good things happen), you may do so here on our website.

Donate Now

You can also forward a donation via PayPalMe. If donating via PayPal, please designate your contribution to ‘Niña.’ 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.

PayPalMe

Thank you, all, so very much!

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A Lonely Life

We were contacted about a mare that has lived alone for many, many years. She needs everything – an initial vet exam with bloodwork, dental and farrier work, as well as assistance with her aftercare. Bringing a horse in is just the beginning. Dr. Julia is scheduled for Monday to pull Coggins on some of the horses and I’d like to get this mare here before then so she can be vetted. If anyone would like to assist in helping with the initial and ongoing expenses of this sweet mare or contribute toward the Coggins tests (total $395) on our other ‘Velvet Nosers,’ it would be so greatly appreciated.

Donations may be forwarded via various means here on our secure website. If you wish, you can also sign up to make an automatic monthly donation of any amount which may be discontinued at any time.

Donate Now

You can also forward a donation via PayPalMe. If donating via PayPal, please designate your contribution to ‘Lonely Mare’ and/or ‘Coggins.’ 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. If you’re not in a position to donate at this time, we completely understand, but you can still help by sharing this need via social media or amongst family and friends (see links at the bottom of this post).

Thank you!

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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!

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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.

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If it’s not one thing, it’s another + A New Match Game

Mishka, has had a few bumpy weeks between dealing with allergies to no-see-um’s and experiencing front right foot lameness. To help with allergies, he was gifted supplements, a flymask with ears, and a really nice flysheet and neck cover that’s cool, soft, and doesn’t weigh a ton – he’s huge (2000 lbs) and to get one over him is truly, quite a task!

When Mishka became lame a few weeks ago, it was thought to be an abscess. We moved him to a small paddock by the barn and his foot was treated many times to try to draw out an abscess. We weren’t making progress and Mishka wasn’t happy being away from his friends so Dr. Cardona came out and did x-rays. The results were not great, but they could have been worse. Mishka has side-bone in both front feet which is not uncommon in draft horses. There is a slight rotation in both, his sole’s are a bit thin, and there was a suspected gas pocket in the right foot.

Once we had the x-rays, coupled with recommendations from Dr. Cardona, we called Jason Wayne Hunter (Back to Basics Equine Podiatry) to help Mishka. When Jason started on Mishka’s right foot, an abscess at the toe opened up and when Jason began working on the left foot, another abscess at that toe opened up! Mishka experienced immediate relief! Jason put wraps on both feet and Mishka felt so much better now that he was able to go back out with his friends! This made us all very happy! We’re very appreciative of Jason, his work, and his patience with Mishka. And it was great to see Kyra (she used to be a vet tech with Dr. Ted) again – we appreciate her patience and kindness to Mishka too! Many thanks to both Jason and Kyra! Jason’s Facebook page is ‘Back To Basics Equine Podiatry.’ Now that Mishka is on track to getting better, we really need to reach out for help ($425) to cover his vet bill, x-rays, podiatry needs, etc.

Whenever one issue is resolved, however, another seems to pop up as in the case of Warrior. Dr. Julia was here earlier in the week to treat our precious little guy’s ears which are covered with oozing blisters and nodules due to his constantly being bitten by flies and gnats. I now spend a great deal of time daily, cleaning and treating his ears while trying to discourage him from rubbing on anything in sight to relieve his ‘itchies.’ I have not as yet received a bill from Dr. Julia but that is yet another forthcoming expense.

In addition, the farrier will be at Beauty’s Haven today as well as on Monday, for another round of hooficures and once again, Bob will be making our weekly hay run this afternoon which, like last week, will cost another $900. As donations have been down considerably, I am beside myself with worry but thankfully, two wonderful friends and supporters have joined forces and are offering a MATCH GAME to assist with our many needs! All donations up to $325 will be matched dollar for dollar! If you would like to participate in the Match Game, there are many ways in which to contribute. You may forward your contribution via our PayPal address: bhfer@earthlink.net, via theDONATE page on our website or via PayPal Me. If donating via PayPal, please designate your donation to ‘MATCH GAME.’ 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.

Thank you, all, so very much, for your love and support!

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TINSEL’S LONG AND WINDING ROAD TO RECOVERY

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April 24th, 2018

Dr. Ted did x-rays on Tinsel’s hock again yesterday. She continues to fight a joint infection but her recent SAA numbers have been much lower than they were initially, albeit they’re still elevated. She will, therefore, remain on IV antibiotics.

Tinsel appears to be a content horse. Her temperature is normal and she has a great appetite. Her eyes are bright and she’s interested in everything that goes on around her. She walks on her toe much of the time, but when she does put weight on that foot, she walks quite well.  She walked really well the day after she received an acupuncture treatment by Dr. Julia last week.

All of this sounds positive, but Tinsel’s prognosis remains guarded. She is not out of the woods by far, and we don’t know how this will resolve. She came to us in very poor condition – underweight and with a horrible eye infection. But she beat the odds – we were able to save her eye and she blossomed into a beautiful mare.

Dr. Ted, Dr. Julia, and the rest of our care team are not giving up on Tinsel. And very importantly, Tinsel isn’t ready to give up either. She’s come so far and we are praying for a miracle. Tinsel needs good thoughts and prayers. A day at a time.

Thank you for caring. Believe…
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April 26th
Dr. Ted gave the ok for Tinsel to hand graze for which she is really appreciative. One of the complications that can arise when a horse puts all their weight on the right or left foot versus distributing it evenly on both feet, is laminitis.
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I am putting Rock Tape on Tinsel’s bad leg and I do believe it’s helping. Please click here to learn about this amazing product.
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Yesterday was LouAnne’s last day for awhile. We’re going to miss her and Lance but they will be back at the end of summer. We truly appreciate all of their help and wish them safe travels.
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Volunteers-needed
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Volunteers are key to what we do here and we need more! It is one of the primary reasons that we are going to relocate as soon as we find suitable property that is closer to the vet school. And right now, until I am out of a cast, we need help even more!

#volunteersneeded
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ELYZA ROSE UPDATE AND EAGLE RARE LIFE AWARD

BHFER St Patricks

It’s time to update everyone on Elyza Rose – I think we’re “over the hump” now. After she came to us, Dr. Julia Simonson did a physical exam on Elyza, including blood work. Elyza was obviously underweight, her feet needed trimmed, her teeth were a mess, she was dehydrated, and her coat was long and matted. It’s possible she has Cushing’s disease but we didn’t test for it – sometimes unhealthy coats just need good nutrition. When Dr. Julia checked Elyza’s eyes, the only thing noted was that she had a weaker menace reflex in her right eye (that was Betsy Rose’s bad eye). Elyza had an “I just don’t feel good” demeanor which was understandable – not only had her basic needs been neglected, she had witnessed some of her pasture friends die.

After blood was drawn, we started Elyza on our routine intake refeeding and supplement program. Supplements include milk thistle (helps detox the liver), APF-Pro (supports overall immune system), aloe (helps the GI tract with its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties), etc. Blood work results were typical for a starved horse – there were some high values as well as some low. But what was most concerning were values indicating issues with her liver, kidneys, immune system, and digestive system. Additional tests were done to rule things out such as Theiler’s disease and fatty liver which came back negative. It is believed that Elyza ingested something toxic – many toxins can cause liver disease. The liver plays a vital role in the digestive process and nutrients that are absorbed in the GI tract pass through the liver. Toxins can also interfere with immune function and cause blindness. Sometimes, clinical signs of poisoning may not appear for days, weeks, or even months.

A few days after Elyza Rose arrived, her eyes became irritated. We thought it was from dust blowing off the road so we put a flymask on her. One morning, I found her lower right eyelid torn and bleeding but it wasn’t bad enough for stitches. We treated it with triple antibiotic multiple times a day and we put a hard cup mask on her to prevent her from rubbing and causing more damage. The next morning, I found her with the left side of her face wet from that eye draining which indicated possible injury. I thought this odd because she’d been wearing the hard cup mask. Dr. Julia came out and stained both eyes and found a very small ulcer in the left eye. She defined a treatment plan and advised that she was going to go out of state for several days. The plan was for her to recheck Elyza’s eyes when she returned from her trip unless the eye got worse in which case we would call another vet.

We checked both eyes daily and treated her left eye multiple times each day. A few days later, Elyza started to run into things on her left side. This brought back memories of Cookie and how she suddenly went blind without warning or known reason in her right eye.

The next morning, I found Elyza’s left eye cloudy and there appeared to have blood in it. We had already arranged for Dr. Cardona to come out that day to see Tinsel and Warrior and when he did, we asked him to examine Elyza’s eyes. He found her right eye to be ok – the torn lower lid had healed nicely. However, he found uveitis of the left eye. It was cloudy, unresponsive to manipulation, and the ulcer was worse so we adjusted her treatment plan.

Dr. Cardona also did another round of bloodwork to see how Elyza was progressing with her immune system and other issues. We were very anxious to get these results back to see how they compared to the first set of blood work that was done on February 22nd. Well, we’ve gotten the results back and I’m very happy to report that things look much better and Elyza’s eye is healing nicely, too, which is a huge relief!

Elyza is getting stronger, her coat looks healthy, and she’s gained some weight! She’s taller than Betsy Rose and she has a heavier frame but her mannerisms and expressions – well, it’s like déjà vu at times. Love this little mare!

#ElyzaRose #BetsyRoseStrong #believe #bhfer

When Elyza Rose came to the rescue, she got a physical, including blood work, by Dr. Julia Simonson.
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Elyza Rose had more of a menace reflex in her left eye than she did in her right. Betsy Rose’s bad eye was her right one.
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Elyza Rose tore the lower eyelid.
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The right eye got cloudy and there appeared to be blood in it – I became VERY concerned, knowing that she had ingested something poisonous – sometimes effects aren’t seen until days or weeks after.
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Dr. Cardona found Elyza’s right eye to be ok – the torn lower lid had healed nicely. However, he found uveitis of the left eye. The eye was cloudy, unresponsive to manipulation, and the ulcer was worse so we adjusted her treatment plan.
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We’re happy to report that Elyza Rose is doing well!
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Elyza has put on some weight and her coat is healthy looking. She’s bright and alert. She seems to be a very happy little mare.
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We would like to offer our congratulations to the winners of the #EagleRareLife Award contest. There were so many inspiring stories – they are all winners in my book! While we didn’t win this year, we do thank all of you who voted for us. You’re all winners in my book too!
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