MAMA TESS UPDATE!

The Founder Warrior was not able to come out for this trim, so Dr. (Dreamy) De la Cruz came out to tend to Tess.  She loves him…  I think Tess loves him because he talks to her throughout the appointment.  He understands when she is hurting or tired.  Dr always lets her rest… but does ask her to be giving when he needs extra help from her..

Tess seems to really respect him.  Having any vet come visit her usually sets Tess on edge.  So, for me, having her apprehensive but agreeable, is good.

THE TRIM

I know it probably sounds crazy to have vets come out (the Founder Warrior is a vet as well) to trim MT, but with all of the medical concerns inside her feet, a farrier would be overwhelmed.  MT generally needs sedation (and I usually need supplies) so having a vet here is very useful.

Anyway, Dr. Dreamy started on the back feet which were completely healthy and nice.  Easy.  Then he moved to the left front.  This is her worst looking foot. And today, we think it was the most unhealthy, too.  We need to get some Team Maggots back to clean out the infection path – again – and her foot needs to harden.  I don’t know what I did differently this time, but her left sole was more soft than ever before.  I will spend this next few days making sure that sole stays dry and hardens.  The maggots, when they arrive, will help the process by cleaning the wound.

The right foot looked fairly normal, but we know it has a coffin bone infection (the Naxcel is working on that, we hope).  We didn’t do much to this foot besides the trim.  I had a new boot which fit really well so we left it on her.  When I rewrap her feet tomorrow, I will cut holes in the new boot to give her hoof more air circulation.

NAXCEL

I asked Dr. De la Cruz if he has heard of using Naxcel for coffin bone infections.  He said that he uses it as a ‘big gun’ to help with infections, but he has never used it to attack a coffin bone infection.  He didn’t think any drug could cure a coffin bone infection due to the lack of circulation in the hoof.

Dr said that he actually loves the drug but uses it sparingly because he doesn’t want horses to build up an immunity to it.

I told Dr that Tess had the injections last week and that she perked up tremendously.  He told me that he uses it IV and it usually works – but again, he has no experience with it working on coffin bone infections.

WHEN IS THE TIME TO EUTHANIZE?

The Dr and I spent some time talking about euthanasia and what to do when the time came.  I cried but not in a weepy way – more in a resigned but sad way.  It is always good to face what you don’t want to face, just to take the fear away.

But the bigger questions was… when?  When is the right time?

Dr agreed with me that many horses with hooves in better condition than hers have been  euthanized far sooner.  And, that no vet, looking at her hoof anatomy, would not agree that it was very bad.

However, he also agreed with me that Tess seems to be less bothered than most in her condition.  He watched her after he was done (because we needed to check on Dodger so we had more time to observe Tess as she moved outside and around…) and could not believe how Tess carried on.  He shook his head and smiled and said that she was simply not ready to give up or give in.  She was still very engaged in her life.  Looking at her with her feet wrapped, you would never know the condition of her hooves.

In a sense, I was relieved that I wasn’t being a selfish owner – keeping her around for my well-being (which isn’t even near the truth because there is much stress with hospice care for a horse).  But, I was also sad that he confirmed that her feet were, in his experience, unfixable without a miracle.

I wonder in what form the miracle will arrive?  I’m not saying she will be miraculously fixed…  But I am confident that this journey will have a meaningful resolution.

All I can say is that I wish I had known about Naxcel 2 years ago.

I used Naxcel injections to fight Mama Tess’ coffin bone infections.

Caveat:  Just to make this perfectly clear, I am not a vet – but I know my horse.  After 8 injections, she feels like a new horse.  I do not know for sure that Mama Tess’ coffin bone infection is gone.  All I know is that I started the shots over a week ago, and today I have a different horse.  She is that much better.  Also, I don’t know how long this benefit will last… I don’t know if she will need another dose or a monthly dose or what…  And, for sure Naxcel will not cure the current damage to her coffin bone due to the infection.  But, I swear to you, she is much improved after 8 shots of Naxcel.  And for the price, everyone who has a horse with a coffin bone infection should try this before surgery.  Could it hurt?  Not from what I have read or been told.  Could it help?  It already has.

Of all the remedies I’ve tried over 2.5 years (including coffin bone surgery), these Naxcel shots have shown the most improvement.  I would also project that Naxcel shots in combination with the Theraplate would be a grand slam – circulating the drug for an even greater effect.

NAXCEL FOR COFFIN BONE INFECTIONS – Please run out and tell everyone you know who has a horse with a coffin bone infection to try Naxcel injections!

None of the vets and specialists that have treated Tess have ever mentioned Naxcel as treatment for her coffin bone infection.  I was told repeatedly and as recently as 12 weeks ago, that the only cure for a coffin bone infection, was surgery.

Now, this may be true.  But, I would much rather give Tess shots of Naxcel once a month (if needed) to see this result, than endure coffin bone surgery.  As you all know, 2 years ago, MT had coffin bone surgery on her left foot and the recovery was difficult.  In fact, in her case, that foot has never recovered from the very invasive surgery (although the infection was halted for a time).  I’m not against coffin bone surgery; many horses have been helped.  But, if a non-invasive injection can do the same thing, why not?!

Yes, coffin bone infections are very difficult to cure, for sure, because the very nature of the injury (founder/laminitis/abscesses) creates restricted blood flow to the foot, which in turn inhibits any antibiotics from reaching the far extemities – like hooves.

But, the Naxcel injections, somehow, are working!  So please tell everyone you know in case this can help another horse in dire need.

IT STARTED WITH BOVINE P3 INFECTIONS

Of the research I have been able to find online, Naxcel injections started with Bovine founder.  I don’t know how it crossed species to horses, but I do know that a few vets on the East Coast have been trying it on foundered P3 infection equines with great success.

This is how I learned about Naxcel.  I don’t think there are any papers on it… and I don’t think this protocol is well known.  But, MT had nothing to lose and everything to gain, so I tried it.

MAMA TESS’ ROAD

For those of you who are not familiar with Mama Tess founder… MT suffered fatal founder 2.5 years ago.  After finally determining the cause too late, I was advised by several vets and specialists to put her down,  She had no chance at a life worth living, I was told.

I looked at MT, and she said, “Get me outta here!”

And that was what we did.

For sure, my team of vets was just trying to spare me the heartaches and setbacks (and financial burden) that occur with trying to cure incurable founder.  But, for me, I wanted to give my horse a chance since she was still fighting to live.

Mama Tess has had some excellent days and some very difficult days.  For a time there, I thought she would survive this… but now I feel that the infections have ravaged her bones to the point that she will never live without some pain.

However, with the spunk she has shown after the Naxcel injections, I once again have hope that with pain management, she could survive this…

Or, at least her legacy may survive.  If this news about MT getting better due to Naxcel shots saves other horses, it has all been worth it.