Update

I would like to thank Jayke for her words of encouragement regarding my last post.

I think I will have a vet over as soon as I can anyways, Dandy could use a physical exam and I'm affraid of possible damage to her lungs from the cough (or virus) being present for so long. It has now been over a month, maybe two since the cough started and I'm not going to take much more of it. I tried all I could to help her and it hasn't been working, I need to go to the next level. It has comforted me to see that she hasn't lost any weight and that she is still kicking and screaming, but it happens that she coughs when playing and working and I don't like that at all!

For my little dog, his eye seemed much better last night. I had cleaned it up the night before and it looked almost perfect yesterday night. I freak out when it comes to eyes. My parents didn't really make me feel better either. It was as if his eye looked like this because I must've been a bad mom. There was nothing I could do he woke up Sunday looking like that... I was as upset about it as they were but there was nothing I could do... if I could make it magically disapear, I would've long ago, but I can't. Rant over!

I will look up more info on horse cough. Dandy puts her nose close to the ground when she coughs, she always coughs three times (I don't think this is significant info...) and it's like something is stuck in her throat... it's like she's coughing enough to gag, only horses don't have that reflex. I will look up Strangles and Choke info, hopefully I will be enlightened.

One last ride

Last weekend, we went on what could have been our last ride for the winter. I don't think I will ride the Stndbrds in winter and since Dandy in sick, I will try and keep anything that could irritate her lungs more out of the way.

I've found an herbal treatment for horses with allergies, heaves, stable cough, etc. and I want to try it on Dandy to see if it will alleviate her symptoms. I will also start giving her some feed. I've had a mixture prepared at our local feed store that consists of rolled oats and Linseed meal. I will add the medicine in there to feed to her. I don't think that she can survive on hay alone so I will try to help boost her immune system and health level. In the summer, she will be on pasture grass just like this year. It worked out well for her and she was fat (well not too fat!) and shinny. After that, I will assess her health again and adjust if need be.

I will start her treatment tommorow or Sunday. The product is well rated on the market and seems to work quickly to relieve cough and help keep it that way. I will see for myself in a few days. I also have to trim her hooves and that will probably be on Sunday, weather permitting. I LOVE to trim in winter, you can give them a break and not have to clean the hoof all over again. I will take before and after pics of my trim this time... her hooves are really long, I rarely leave them get this long. Since I am not riding her and adding my weight to the problem, I think she will be fine until I get it done. Dandy's hooves grow really fast. The wall is super healthy and thick which makes for really nice hooves. I will take many pics for you guys... I have to remember the flower setting!!!!

So I'll keep you updated on Dandy's status as she progresses... She seems to be doing better since the cold came in, I will look up more closely and in daylight this weekend.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Snow Storm!!!

Wow, it is REALLY snowing out there! The horses looked fine this morning... I'm thinking they'll bundle up in the shelter, but I'm probably wrong... Dandy LOVES snow, she'll probably spend a good part of the day playing in it, rolling in it and bucking around.

For the old ladies, I KNOW they'll be bundled up in the shelter, they have a good winter coat on and should do just fine in the weather, but they spend days inside when it's nice out, so I'm thinking they should be inside right now.

I don't think we'll be able to stay at work all day, the drive in was painful and the storm had just started!!! I can't imagine driving back... I'm a bit scared. If it's bad, I'll just have to suck it up, keep calm (I've learned to control my emotions to a tee thanks to horses!) and drive carefully and making sure I am aware of every other driver.

For Dandy... what do you think I should do. I haven't been able to reach a vet yet and I want to know if you guys know of anti-inflammatories that I could buy in a tack store or feed store... is banamine good for this? I just want to get the inflammation out of her lungs so they can clear up, it might help her gain control over the situation. I will look up info today... if I can get some work off of my shoulders...

Thanks for all the comments, help and support!

What is wrong with her!

So, since you all know that Dandy is sick and has been for months (improving and getting worse again)... I think I finally put my finger on her problem!

This weekend, we had to put some hay in the feeders before big snow falls, so we feed round bales in sheltered feeders.

Dandy seemed to be fine... until we put the bales in the feeders. There was a bit of dust and she started coughing right after the bales were in. I'm thinking she has allergies to dust in hay. The hay is not moldy and a very good quality... so it is either allergies, or she has developped heaves (which would surprise me). I plan on testing my theory by isolating her from the round bales and feeding her soaked hay for a few days. If this turns out to be too much trouble (temperature wise, being below freezing), I will buy some hay cubes for her and feed her those. I just want her lungs to catch a break and be able to recover.

I am currently looking for anti-inflamatory paste like Banamine... I don't know if this would help but I will get informed... I plan to call a vet to get more info on this. The antibiotic treatment that I have given her a few weeks ago seem to have worked and totally decreased her runny nose and coughing... I will evaluate her after the soaked hay to see if there is any improvement.

I will look for a vet in my area... there isn't too many for large farm animals... so I will try to get information to help Dandy.

On the other hand, the rescues are doing great, they are ever so fat and thriving. The other day, we went to catch them for a ride and they kept running away from us... rather frustrating for me, but I felt relieved that they would actually run like that. Peg's legs seem to be doing much better lately, it shows when she runs. These old coots can be FAST! Finally brought them to me with some grain... those ex-racers!... They are still very well in their racing mindset, they wont tolerate being passed by another horse, unless reminded that they are pleasure horses now. Peg has officially been broken off of the pace, but she will occasionally do it... forgetfull mare! Pearl is still pacing, she even does a running walk, she has a nice elevated trot (when she does trot!) and a FAST run (when she decides to run!). Pearl has been in many more races compared to Peg and seems to have been more rough handled. Pearl is VERY nervous, she does not like to be saddled and is usually all over the place, weaving, pacing the floor, moving from side to side and breathing hard. Once the saddle is on, she is as insane... she usually takes the bit pretty well but she is still as amped to go. It's like her legs are burning or full of fire ants. Once the rider gets on, she calms right down (ok, not RIGHT down, but she calms down a bit). She can still jump up and do a 360 in mid-air without notice. She is nervous on the trail, but if there is another horse there, she totally relys on him.

So Peg is doing better with her legs and Pearl is still as crazy as ever... at least she doesn't rear anymore... she pretends she rears but one foot remains on the ground at all times, she just cocks up the other one to make believe she is rearing... to add to the feeling, she sits down a bit. She's such a drama queen. Pearl can't stand to stop and that's when she does her little fake rears. My sister usually rides her and has her completely under control while this happens. My sister is no longer affraid of Pearl. I strongly believe that Pearl was unknowingly thought this behaviour... weave and move on the cross-ties, while saddling and bridling probably resulted in getting out of work for her, pretend rearing probably immediatly got her out of work... over time, she learned that doing this gets her out of work. I do think they were recycled in saddle horses for a little while before going for meat... but with Pearl pregnant and crazy and Peg a little lame and stiff, no one wanted to bother to try and give them a chance after making much money off of them.

I wanted a companion for Dandy and a horse for my SO to ride with me from time to time. Peg was perfect for that... well after she would put on some weight. Older, calm, could ride occasionally... my SO threw in Pearl in there and bought both. Pearl was in-foal, so we expected three horses soon. That didn't turn out the way we would've liked, but I'm glad we got Pearl, she would've gone insane without Peg, the two were really inseperable.

I'll give you more news about Dandy's condition in the near future.