For those of you who are keeping tabs on Mama Tess’ epic journey back to health, yesterday was a banner day!
Lately I’ve noticed a new determination with MT… she seems to have hit a different kind of stride. It is as if she totally believes in herself and believes that she will get better. Tess is pushing herself more and acting like the Little Engine that Could, “I think I can, I think I can….”
Or at least, that is how it seems.
(For new readers, MT is my 24 year-old Morgan ex-show mare who foundered horribly last year. She had rotation in both front feet and sinkage in the left. All the specialists involved told me that it was time to put her down. However, she just didn’t seem like she ready for that. So, I took her home. For sure, it has been an uphill battle. But, MT is happy and, we are learning about this uncharted territory daily.)
TREATMENT
The process of recovery is slow because the tissue inside her hoof was so damaged that she has inadequate blood supply to certain areas. She can create tissue in the damaged area, but it eventually dies due to lack of blood supply – and this happens just about when the hoof has totally healed. The necrotic (dead) tissue is then trapped inside of her healed hoof which creates constant abscessing as the body tries to expel it.
Last week, we hired a huge fleet of medical maggots to come in and clean out her hoof. They did a really good job and MT was feeling G-O-O-D!
YESTERDAY
Yesterday was a banner day because every time I went outside, MT was in a different place on the ranch. She was by the pony pasture, in front of the house, up by Finn, down the driveway… On my last outing, she was up by the arena!
Amazing.
As she was coming back from her stroll to the Arena, MT clearly decided that she felt good enough to take the short path back to the barn – the very steep hill. She has not taken this path to the barn since she foundered (over a year).
I ran to get my camera to take a video of this remarkable event!
And she did it! She came down the hill one foot in front of the other. Yes, she looked lame, and yes, she did it slowly. But, she did it!
She was very, very proud of herself.
Today, she was sore, but… if I could ask her, I think she would say that she may have overdone it, but it was WORTH IT! ;)
Click here to watch the video of her walk down the steep hill.
CLICK image to watch Mama Tess challenge herself and walk down this very steep hill – the first time in over a year!
OUR NOVEMBER BUCKET FUND Newly Rescued BLM 3 Strikes Wild Burros! Saved from a trip to Guatemala! Please click image to read their story and help support them!
My vets have never used them… I wish I could speak to someone that has… From what I understand, since her issue is inside the hoof, they
might not work. However, I am very open to learn if you know of anyone.
I have a silly question. Has then been any thoughts to try medical leeches? I know they are used with re-attachments to increase blood.
If i understand correctly, they are put on the area with little to no blood flow and because they are VERY persistent at sucking blood, they help increase the blood flow to that area. When they are full they just drop off.
Tell Mama Tess she looks lovely!