Tag Archive for: senior horse

Sweet Jo

Jo hasn’t been herself for the past couple of days. Her vitals have been normal, but she really hasn’t been interested in her meals, which is very unusual.

On Friday morning, when I took Jo’s temperature, it was elevated at 102.7 and she did not eat her breakfast. Dr. Valle came out and examined her and performed blood tests.

Jo is thirty-six years old and was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago based upon observed and documented changes over time. At first, we saw changes in Jo’s normal habits – for example, at times, she gets ‘stuck’ in one place for a while unless we assist her in moving along. At times, she forgets to eat her meals which is most unusual as she adores her meals and can never get enough, but when she has an ‘episode,’ we have to keep taking her food to her.

Jo also appears to be deaf and looks lost, disoriented, and/or confused at times. Her good days, however, thankfully, far outweigh her bumpy days.

Jo was skin on bones when we picked her up in 2019. Dancer, her very best friend, who is thirty-three years old, was also in poor shape upon her arrival at Beauty’s Haven. Both have a physical examination at the minimum of once yearly and bloodwork is performed every six months. Komanchee, our resident forty-year old pony, has also been diagnosed with dementia.

Lastly, I am so happy to report that Jo is pretty much back to her normal self today. Her bloodwork, however, indicates that her liver is a bit stressed. We are witnessing changes that are a part of life and aging, not only with Jo, but with others here too, including Dancer. You can’t negotiate with Father Time, but we will always support them nutritionally, physically, and in any way possible until their quality of life becomes an issue. That is the promise we make to each and every precious being who enters through our gates ~ ‘that all of their tomorrows will be everything that their past should have been.’

Sincerely,
Theresa

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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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Thanksgiving Rescue

We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Day. Ours was very busy. We weren’t planning to take in more horses for awhile as COVID has taken a toll on donations, but we simply couldn’t walk away from these two Thoroughbred sisters.

Very cold temperatures are headed our way in the coming days and they have no body fat to help them stay warm. We went on faith and a prayer that help would come. I’m sure they will be grateful to have a warm blanket and hay before them.

The mares require everything – physicals, blood work, dental, etc. Monthly sponsors for their ongoing care are desperately needed. They are in their late 20s.

If you are in a position to help, you can sign up to make an automatic monthly recurring donation via our secure donation form, which you may cancel at any time. There, you also have the option of making a one time donation which may be in honor or memory of someone.

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Or, you can donate via Network for Good or JustGiving – these links can be found on our “Donate” page along with our snail mail address. You may also contribute via PayPal.me. Please note that your contribution is to be applied towards “TB Mares.” All donations are greatly appreciated and no amount is ever too small. If you’re not in a position to donate, we completely understand, but you can still help by sharing this post with friends and family.

Thank you and God bless.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Sisco, Back in our Care

Some of you may remember Sisco – he came to us in 2013. He had squamous cell carcinoma under his tail. Dr. Porter removed tumors and treated the areas with cisplatin and Sisco did remarkably well. Sisco has pink skin and we have lots of sun which is not a good combination. We prayed for a home offer to come along that could provide Sisco with nice green grass, lots of shade, and another equine friend. We were very happy when one of our adopters, Sue, offered the perfect environment for him. Sue had adopted Nash from us many years ago and after Nash lost his pasture companion, Sisco went to live with him, with the understanding that if SCC returned, we would bring him back to the rescue. Sadly, it did return, so we picked up Sisco yesterday, and he settled right back in at the rescue. We appreciate Sue for giving him a good home and lots of love for the past few years.

I had arranged for Dr. Templeton to come out yesterday afternoon to assess Sisco. Meanwhile, while we awaited her arrival, Laura was here doing hooficures and worked Sisco into her schedule. Sisco has an abscess in a front foot which we are treating. As Laura was finishing up Sisco’s trim, Dr. Templeton arrived. Sisco was a really good patient for her – he’s always been a good boy. His heart and lungs sound good. She drew blood – we should have those results late today or tomorrow. Sadly, SCC is on his lower lip and there is a mass by his anus again. Dr. Templeton debrided the area on his lip. We are treating the areas with a topical for now.

We don’t know how things will turn out for Sisco, but here is what we presently know – he is in good spirits, he’s eating, drinking, prancing around at times, and talking up a storm. We will review his physical assessment and bloodwork results with our care team and we will lay out a plan for him.

Sisco isn’t a youngster, he’s 30 plus years of age. We won’t ask much of him and we won’t let him suffer, but we will give him as many good days as possible – they all deserve that. He’s comfortably eating soaked hay in a small paddock with a nice shelter while enjoying the cooler temps and seeing old friends.

We are still trying to recover from our recent losses of Bria, Nina, Little E and Mini Magic. I haven’t had a chance to share what happened with Mini Magic (she was adopted out years ago) yet, but I will do so in the near future.

Sisco needs help with yesterday’s vet bill, as well as sponsors to help with his daily care needs. If you would like to help, please click the ‘Donate’ button below. Please also note that your donation is for ‘Sisco.’ All donations are tax deductible and no amount is ever too small.

Thank you, we appreciate all of you.

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.

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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.

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Thank you, all, so very much!

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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.

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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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Welcome Home, Jo!

Jo loaded like a champion and unloaded just fine too. She’s a 35 years young QH mare that’s likely, a “been there, done that,” type of horse. I don’t know how much longer she would have lasted and yes, reaching out for help should have come sooner, but she’s here now and she has a chance. Please keep Jo in your prayers. She’s truly a very sweet and kind old soul.

Jo’s First Meal

It’s always very gratifying to watch a horse enjoy their first meal here. The look on their face is priceless and it reassures us that we are making a difference. And we are only able to do what we do because of help from others – we operate totally from donations. So, know that all of you are making an incredible difference in Jo’s life. We don’t know if Jo has days, weeks, months, or hopefully, many years left on this earth, but we do know that she will get the best of care in her sunset years.

We have had many calls about horses that need help lately and the cold season isn’t even upon us yet. Hay is expensive here and the calls for help always increase when the grass goes dormant – many people just can’t afford needed hay and the horses suffer. Sadly, we expect the number of calls will only increase over the next couple of months.

Skin on Bones

Jo’s vetting will soon be done (including bloodwork), to identify issues, including if there is damage to her organs. Weight loss can be due to dental issues, chronic infection, parasites, cancer, or other issues or a combination of issues. When a body starves, it feeds off its own fat, then muscle, then organs and once a horse reaches a body condition score (BCS) of 1, its prognosis for recovery is very poor – Jo’s BCS is 1. Other than being skin on bones, her skin is unhealthy with open sores, and she needs to see the dentist and the farrier.

The “Other Two” Horses

We weren’t planning on taking in any horses for awhile, our paddocks are full and resources are very tight, but this mare needed help and it was obvious that time was of the essence. There are two other horses where Jo came from – a mare that is somewhat underweight and a gelding that is slightly underweight. We need to find a good home for the other mare – we’ll be working on that. We’re not 100% sure if this will change, but the gelding isn’t looking for a home at this time. However, in the meantime, we want to take 2 salt blocks and 2 large compressed bales (est. 800 lbs each) of hay to the 2 horses on Monday. They live in separate paddocks and can’t share a bale. This will cost at least $210 but the hay should last at least 2 to 3 weeks. If anyone can help with hay for the other 2 horses, please designate your donation for “The Other 2.”

Also, the farrier is coming on Monday to do several horses and we need help with that as well. If you would like to help any of the horses with their hooficures, please note that your donation is for “hooficures.”

Jo is also in need of sponsors so it you would like to help Jo, please note “Jo” on your donation. You may forward your donation via various means here on our website or via PayPalMe. Donations are tax-deductible and no amount is ever too small.

Many thanks to everyone – you are all amazing and we truly appreciate you!

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