Colin has been progressing along nicely. His day consists of being fed senior grain every six hours. He is handwalked and allowed to graze up to three times a day. He even started eating some Purina Hydro Hay and small amounts of 2nd cut hay.
Wednesday evening though, Colin wouldn't eat his supper. He had been very quiet all day - and the staff felt he wasn't looking quite as bright as he has been. His temperature was also starting to rise. We contacted Dr. Pantano at Black Pond Veterinary Services. She came right out and felt Colin might be fighting an infection at the incision site.
The incision is about 15 inches long - and was still slightly open in two small spots. Dr. Pantano cultured the site and prescribed some antibiotics immediately. She also suggested we back down on the introduction of hay in case that was also adding to his discomfort.
The lessor amounts of hay meant returning to higher frequency of grain feedings. The staff at The Riding Center rallied. People signed up for round the clock feedings. There is no barn staff on site, so the efforts and dedication of the staff and volunteers was proof of how much this big draft is loved.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Coming home!!!
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| Colin getting ready to leave Tufts |
Dr. Houtsma called from Tufts on Thursday to say that Colin was still struggling with the introduction to hay. He was showing signs of discomfort - possible adhesions, constriction at the site of surgery -either way, there was pain. This wasn't the good news the staff was hoping for. Tufts goal was to send home but they didn't feel comfortable doing that until they knew he was okay.
Then Friday - a small bit of brighter news. Colin seemed more comfortable on just a grain diet. If he showed no signs of pain over the next few hours, the Hospital felt comfortable releasing him and allowing the staff at The Bridge Center to reintroduce him to hay later on.
Saturday morning the call came. Colin can be released from Tufts and can come home to The Bridge Center. I think you could hear the cheers from Bridgewater to North Grafton that day. This was the happy news the Riding Center needed!
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| Just arrived at The Bridge Center!! |
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Colin loves Visitors!!
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| Kari visits with Colin at Tufts |
On this day one of our dedicated volunteers, Kari, visited with Colin. She got to feed him some hay - literally, just a handful - for the first time post surgery. He was searching for more.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
First Meal
A video of Colin's first meal of Senior grain - it was about the size of a baseball....not even close to what a 1200 pound horse needs to exist. But if he can process it all the way thru, it is a good sign.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
First good sign!
Dr. Ashley Houtsma, DVM Surgery Resident at Tufts called Saturday morning.
The vets were really happy with what they saw this morning - a bright eyed, ears up horse greeting them at the stall door. His blood work showed good levels and he showed signs that his intestines are slowly working again.
Read about how excited fans of The Bridge Center (& Colin) were on Facebook:
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The vets were really happy with what they saw this morning - a bright eyed, ears up horse greeting them at the stall door. His blood work showed good levels and he showed signs that his intestines are slowly working again.
Read about how excited fans of The Bridge Center (& Colin) were on Facebook:
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- Debra Nichols, Shan Boss, Maureen Chalmers and 41 others like this.
- Darlynn Oberg Thank God and everyone who 'helped' ! I'm Colin's previous owner. I gave him to the Bridge. SOOO relieved to see this update! YOU GO bubba (my pet name for him) you are not finished helping others the kids need you big guy! Xoxo Darlynn your old Mom
Friday, April 5, 2013
First Day Post Surgery
Understandably, Colin was not out of pain on the next morning.
Colin tested positive for endotoxemia (toxins released into the bloodstreat) - which while not entirely unexpected, added to concerns about his recovery.
The next 72 hours were critical for him. It could go either way - the toxins can cause inflammation and attack vital organs such as heart, kidney, lungs or even leave him fighting laminitis.
The photo shows Colin packed down in ice on his front legs and hind hooves. This was a preventative step to combating possible laminitis.
When our Barn Manager, Judy, visited, and describes what she saw, "Colin was shaking - partially from the medicines flowing thru the IV and partially from being packed in ice. He was obvious he was not out of pain yet. I did some reiki and told him how much people were praying for him and how much he was loved. Despite his discomfort, he turned his head towards me and leaned against my hands. I may be reading into it but I felt in my hear he said he was trying but was hurting and very tired. I told him to hold on for 24 more hours - that he had gotten this far and could do just a little more to get past all this. That the pain would go away if he could hold out just a little longer."
It was up to Colin's body now to fight the endotoxemia. Everything that could be done, had been done. It was just a waiting game now.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Four hours later....Surgery is over.
11:00 pm....still April 4th.
That is when the call came in from Tufts. Colin was out of surgery. Four hours of surgery....
That is a long time for a draft horse to be under anesthesia.
The surgeon, Dr. Jenei, explained they found a strangulating lipoma compromising Colin's small intestines. They removed 20 feet of his small intestines - as well as address an impaction in the large intestine. This was considered a complicated colic surgery.
Pricing for colic surgery has ranges. If there was no resection, the price could be as low as $6-8,000. With the surgery Colin had, the amount creeps up towards the higher range of $8-10,000.
To learn more about colic, visit here: http://www.equusite.com/articles/health/healthColicFacts.shtml
That is when the call came in from Tufts. Colin was out of surgery. Four hours of surgery....
That is a long time for a draft horse to be under anesthesia.
The surgeon, Dr. Jenei, explained they found a strangulating lipoma compromising Colin's small intestines. They removed 20 feet of his small intestines - as well as address an impaction in the large intestine. This was considered a complicated colic surgery.
Pricing for colic surgery has ranges. If there was no resection, the price could be as low as $6-8,000. With the surgery Colin had, the amount creeps up towards the higher range of $8-10,000.
To learn more about colic, visit here: http://www.equusite.com/articles/health/healthColicFacts.shtml
Day one - Colin in pain.
Colic. Horse owners fear that word. It means pain for that animal you love.
Colin started his day happy and hungry. He ate breakfast, finished morning hay and after a while, lay down, as did many horses at The Bridge Center that day. Morning naps on nice sunny days were not unusual. But then, that first sign, Colin gets up and lays down again in a different spot. Then again. Then again, one more time.
The Barn Staff going about the normal routines of cleaning, notice. Watching him from over the fence, you can see his respiratory rate has doubled. His nostrils are flared and has a dull look to his eye. There is no denying, Colin is very uncomfortable.
Always the steadfast horse, Colin knows help has arrived when staff enter the paddock with his halter and a lead rope. He willingly gets up and submits to walking around. Still no relief. Vitals are taken, pain medicine is administered....still no relief. Colin is walking like a stumbling horse - wanting to get down and collapse but always yielding to the encouragement of the staff to keep going. "Walk Colin!" and he plods on, despite the pain.
The first call is made to the vet - a few more tactics are discussed and tried - but inevitably, the staff calls back. "Come out - we can't control Colin's pain. "
Dr. Dana Pantano of Black Pond Vet is familiar with Colin. She has treated him in the past for respiratory issues and uveitis. He isn't a colicky horse though, she agrees. After her assessment and on site treatments, she lays it out for the barn staff. "When you can't control a horse's pain, you have to consider other options" This meant a choice between surgery or euthanasia. This was devastating news for the staff.
The Bridge Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We are funded entirely thru grants and donations. Colic surgery is expensive plus there were no guarantees that Colin could survive, let alone return as a Therapeutic Riding Horse. This was a Board of Directors' decision that had to be made quickly and it appeared that the stars were aligned, as one of our Board Members had just arrived on site to discuss an upcoming fundraiser.
Dr. Neal Andelman is a small animal vet and Vice-President of The Bridge Center Board of Directors. He had a frank discussion with Dr. Pantano and with the barn staff. After absorbing all the information, he went quiet. Then, the words, "Go ahead" were said.
Colin's surgery option was the choice made. Dr. Andelman later said, "This is what The Bridge Center is about, opportunity. It is the right thing to do for Colin".
Colin was quickly transported up to Tufts Hospital for Large Animals in Grafton, MA and was admitted for colic surgery exactly 10 hours after he started his day happily eating breakfast.
There was nothing to do but wait for news.
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