Category Archives: Mama Tess

Mama Tess UPDATE #2!






NO ROTATION!!!!!!

Such relief!

You see, it was the third day of the new protocol to help MamaTess through her laminitis (see protocol here) and she was only slightly better – or so it seemed to me.

I had done everything correctly so far… Her new boots had just arrived and both were on her feet…. I’ve  soaked all of her hay, she’s had hay around the clock, I only gave her exactly 3 cups of the prescribed grain supplement, she’s had all the megadoses of coxes plus the Regumate… WHY WASN’T SHE PERFECT?

Or at least better?!  Or better-better.

Ahhhhhrgh.  Why does it take so looooong?!

To top it off, besides my impatience, when it comes to my animals, I am also a supreme worrywart.

…I’m going away this week.

–As an aside, I just want to say that as soon as you purchase the airline ticket, either you get a big job or an animal gets really sick…, right?–

Anyway, I knew I was going away so I had to understand how bad it was and if there was any rotation.  So, I called the vet and asked for Xrays.

Standing soundly but not walking soundly - yet.

Standing soundly but not walking soundly – yet.  Please forgive the mess of the barn… she likes to topple everything and I set it all back up every day – just to give her something to do. (Do you see Bagheera the Barn kitty?)

XRAYS

I remember one vet telling me that they can ‘sink’ in 24 hours.

Gulp.

I was very apprehensive for these Xrays…

And, when the newish vet came out today, I actually heard her say ‘sinker’ to the technician.

Not good.

Not good to hear and not good that she said it within my earshot.

Anyway, you can imagine my trepidation.

But, I held onto my fear and waited because I knew we had been down this road previously –

Both the vet and the technician were prepared to see the worst.  And, luckily, they were both quite surprised when the Xrays showed no rotation.

THANK HORSEGOD.

Full weight on her fronts.  New Soft Ride boots... Constant, soaked hay in small holed nets, lots of fresh water to help her kidneys/liver deal with the meds and intense hope...

Full weight on her fronts. New Soft Ride boots… Constant, soaked hay in small holed nets, lots of fresh water to help her kidneys/liver deal with the meds and intense hope…

SLEEP MORE SOUNDLY

Now I can sleep more soundly.  Now I know that she has inflammation, but if I keep on the protocol, she should recover.  Now I know I don’t have to run down to the barn every few hours to make sure she is still upright.

Now I can go away knowing that my feederperson – who is very anal and compulsive  – will follow my instructions to a ‘T’ and she will be OK.

I have stashes of hay (in small holed nets) all over the barn so that she will walk.  By each hay net is a glass of water...

I have stashes of hay (in small holed nets) all over the barn so that she will walk. By each hay net is a glass of water…

INTERESTING

As another aside, I was sent so much great information… and then I was actually sent some remedies!  They came in the mail!  Gifts for Tess!

–One was from Skodes Horse Treats!  She sent Yarrow leaves for Tess!

(If you remember, Skode’s burned down a few weeks ago…  Out of the blue, Lori sent some herbs that she felt would really help Tess.  Can you believe it?)

Skodes is open for business (simple goodies for now…) so please go to her website and order!

Well,  Tess loooooooves the Yarrow!  It was like candy for her!  I think her diet has been so blah that the Yarrow was a huge pickmeup!

Yarrow plant

Yarrow plant

Here are the generic medicinal uses –

Use flowers, leaves and stems.

  • A piece of the plant held against a wound will staunch bleeding.

  • An infusion can help to break a fever.

  • A tea made from yarrow with peppermint and elderflower can be used to fight colds and flu.

  • Yarrow can be of benefit in mild cystitis.

  • Promotes digestion.

  • Improves circulation by acting as a vasodilator.

  • Lowers blood pressure.

— The next interesting item that arrived in the mail was Raspberry leaves.

Sherie from EquiSpa thought that Raspberry leaves would be great for Tess’ hormonal imbalance which we believe is what triggered this (and all) of her bouts with laminitis (at the end of her pregnancies and twice in early Spring).

Tess went bananas over the Raspberry leaves!!

ApeBananas!!

She forced her way into the tack room and took a big sniff of the bag!  I have to say, the leaves did make the tack room very fragrant.

Tess gobbled up her soaked beet pulp (and hidden Bute – undetected due to the intense fragrance and flavor of yarrow and raspberry).

Bulk raspberry leaves are very fragrant and cushy soft!

Bulk raspberry leaves are very fragrant and cushy soft!

Here are the medicinal qualities of red raspberry leaves for Tess:

The nutrients in red raspberry leaves are vitamins C, E, A, and B complex, minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and iron and antioxidants. Red raspberry leaves also contains tannins a natural astringent that can help cleanse the outside and inside of the body naturally. These leaves even contain anti-inflammatory properties that can help ease pain and inflammation safely and naturally.

Health Benefits of Red Raspberry Leaf Tea for Women

Woman and teenage girls should drink red raspberry leaf tea daily if their menstrual cycles are irregular because the nutrients in the tea can help regulate the cycles and help ease the symptoms that come before and after the menstrual cycle such as mood swings, bloating and cramping.

 NOT OUT OF THE WOODS, BUT THE SUN HAS RISEN ON ANOTHER DAY…

Clearly, Tess isn’t out of the woods and she will have to be watched closely and fed and watered meticulously.  She is insulin resistant and hormones are a trigger.

Thank horsegods she is tenderfooted and not stoic.  I am so happy that we caught this very early.

Sally, one of the barn kitties, calls to me as she inspects Tess' stall.  Note: another water bucket...

Sally, one of the barn kitties, calls to me as she inspects Tess’ stall. Note: another water bucket…

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MamaTess update.






I started writing this blog because of an illness of MamaTess’.

Four years ago, she suffered from Canker so badly that after a year of surgeries and treatments by specialists, I was told there was nothing more we could do.

With nothing to lose, I tried a remedy created by a farrier – made from a jungle tree sap.

The wonderful farrier sent his concoction overnight to me.

Within 3 days she was better.  Within 2 weeks, she was cured.

–Because so many other owners had gone through what I went through, I decided to write about it.

Thus begat HORSE AND MAN, the blog.

Here is that original post.

It has helped many, many owners…  That farrier ships his ‘Purple Mush’ Equine Canker Cure around the world now.

I HOPE THIS IS ANOTHER CASE OF TESS HELPING ME HELP YOU.

Right now, Tess is suffering with laminitis.

Nothing is really working and her laminitis is worsening.

Light laminitis has happened to Tess every time she was pregnant (6) and a few Springs (maybe 3).

Usually, I notice right away – like I did this time – I put her in a heavily bedded stall, ice/pad her feet, give her a double dose of Banamine and Anti-Flam and she is on the road to recovery.

Not this time.

I am beginning to worry – but I know that isn’t good for either of us.

What I have to do is search far and wide – I have to do my best for the both of us.

Yesterday she would walk from one end of the barn to the other...

Yesterday she would walk from one end of the barn to the other… Not today.

REGUMATE-?

My vet thought this Spring’s bout of laminitis might be tied to her cycle.  So, we gave her Regumate to stop the madness.

It seemed to work – a bit.

But, I have since found myself having to dose her heavily with the Regumate every 6 hours.  And it doesn’t make her sound.  It just makes her less ouchy.

I think…

I’m actually not sure.  Sometimes it seems to work and other times it doesn’t seem to work.

Very confusing…

Banamine doesn’t seem to be working.

Bute doesn’t seem to be working.

Nothing seems to be working (ice, pads, supplements) – except the very heavy doses of Regumate – maybe.

NEXT IDEAS

Now I’m scrambling.  I know I’m running against the clock.  I know I have to stop this NOW.

I’ve emailed Dr. Reilly at Equine Medical and Surgical Associates to see if there are any new drugs that I can try.

I’m also going to let Tess use my ArcEquine.  The owner of the company says that they have had success with laminits.

So, I am charging my kit now.

Onward!

tess

 

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

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HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth... if you like this, please pass it around!