The Founder Warrior drove the 6 hours round trip to see Tess last week, bless her.
We took Xrays and trimmed her fronts. We both agreed that one more Team of maggots would probably take care of the necrotic tissue so we had the little buggers on hand to insert as soon as we were done.
Tess was sore on both of her fronts, which we didn’t like… but, as with these cases, some days are better than others. This day was not the best day. However, Tess was a trooper and never complained. She did everything she was asked – we politely switched feet often, whenever she indicated it was time.
When we were done trimming, we flushed out the foot and added the maggots. I love that the maggots go about their business – day and night – to help this mare’s foot, without any help from me. And, they never complain… I just open the wrap after a few days and they are done! The wound is clean and sparkly.
So easy!
You can see her coronet band is growing hoof. It is lumpy and not pretty, but it is growing! The left side was 3 weeks previous to the right side. I think the Theraplate is responsible for her extreme growth here and on her sole.
XRAYS
The Xrays didn’t show anything in particular. Nothing new. So, we figured her pain was associated with the multitude of issues going on inside of her hoof as it heals.
You can see in the 2nd Xray pictured below, the maggots are cleaning out pockets of necrotic tissue that no surgeon could find easily. Those maggots are Nature’s Wonder, I swear!
This is her good foot which has healed fairly well from its extreme founder. This is her sole AFTER the trim. We carved out a small area on her sole because it looked bruised and we wanted to see what it was.
The is her bad left foot. You can see the channels where the maggots cleaned out the dead tissue above her sole and under her coffin bone. This shot was taken AFTER her trim. Again, she had mountains of sole.
THIS WEEK, MY FARRIER TRIMMED HER REARS
This week Tess was feeling much better so I decided to have my regular farrier trim her rears.
Tess had never met my regular farrier, Brett, so she was a bit apprehensive. Luckily, Brett is very kind. And he is in awe of Tess and her feet. (He has watched her from afar and I’ve told him all about Tess’ journey.) Brett is one of Tess’ biggest fans and totally wants her to recover fully. So, he was an angel with her. He switched between back feet whenever she wanted and we were able to trim her toes and heels.
Next week, he will come back to trim a little more until he can get the rears where he wants them.
She was feeling much better after the maggots were done so I had the farrier out to trim her rears. He could not believe her growth. He thinks the Theraplate is magic.
TONIGHT
Tonight, unfortunately, she is sore again. I’m not sure why. I think she has an abscess brewing but luckily the Theraplate seems to make those events minor in comparison to before.
I’ve covered her feet with poultices and wraps that help draw out abscesses. Can’t hurt, could help.
This is MT tonight. She was scrounging for remnants of her dinner that she spilled on the Theraplate.
But, this is the thing with long-term recovery from devastating founder… some days are good, some days are not so good. And, I’ve learned to just roll with it because I often don’t know exactly why she has random pain.
–Is it an abscess? Is it laminitis? If so, why? Is she favoring the other foot too much? Are her wraps bunched up? Does she have an infection? … the questions that run through my mind are endless. I constantly Google signs and symptoms. Oy.
But. usually, the best thing for me to do is to be quiet and calm and open my mind to the possibilities. If I calm down and just think it through, usually I am close to right…
I do what I can and most often, the next day she is better – or the cause is obvious.
Patience is key here.
Here she is moseying out to her Veranda to spend some nice evening time outside.
She really wanted me to give her the small bit of hay she had left outside…
One day soon, I will write a book. I think I will call it: “MAMA TESS’ SURVIVAL GUIDE TO UNRECOVERABLE FOUNDER” – or something like that… I’ll tell you everything I’ve learned.
What? You’re gonna sit there and make me get that little tuft of hay myself?!
There is so much I’ve learned.
But, the most profound lesson has been, “Work through this – one day at a time.”
As she munched her tiny ration of dry (tested) hay, I groomed her and we had a very pleasant chat… Life is good.
Hay is gone – shavings in mane, almost gone.
THE MAMA TESS ‘STAND IN THE LIGHT’ PENDANTS ARE BACK IN STOCK!!
Finally, I have a new order of pendants! MT’s sterling silver charm has her initials and a crown on the front and Tess’ words “Stand in the Light” on the back… All proceeds go directly to her care. Click here to order!
Mama Tess’ pendants are back in stock! Click image to order! All proceeds go directly to MT’s care. It can be on a necklace ring, a small lobster to clip onto a bracelet or necklace… or on an extra large lobster to fit on a saddle or bridle or keychain or anywhere! Thank you!
The charms at the bottom should read ” Ride the Termaplate” .
She is looking good! Shiny and muscles.
Keep the faith!