Post by Exceller Fund on Oct 9, 2006 23:18:44 GMT -5
This is the update on Time To Time from Keely Morgan this morning:
Here is the update from the university as of about 6pm last evening. They'll call daily with updates as long as he's there, and I'll try to share them as time permits. (BUSY weekend racing coming up)
They've x-rayed his stifle and found 1) a bone cyst, old, probably from when he was a yearling or younger and 2) arthritic changes (which they think are the underlying cause of his problem) NO chips or fractures, 3) possible evidence of a meniscal tear.
TONS of fluid, in all three pockets of the joint. They've flushed the joint and taken new cultures. The fluid from one of the pockets looked "suspicious". The attending vet is now leaning more towards a contaminant as the source of the staph (this would be AWESOME). The reason for this is that his white count was normal - but proteins are elevated, so they're not positive (these two things are apparently contradicting each other - any vets want to chime in on this?). They also think he'd be much lamer than he is if it were staph that had gotten a hold of him for this long. So... yes, he thinks there is infection, but lots of that fluid is just plain irritation and he'll probably always have some fluid there - but they are now leaning AGAINST it being staph. I can't tell you how happy that makes me!
So, he's staying in house on IV antibiotics until at least Sunday or Monday. We'll wait for the university cultures to come back. If all goes well, he'll come home to 2-4 weeks stall rest and gradually begin turnout. They'll give him an injection of Legend while he's there & on the antibiotics which may help give him some relief - and he is absolutely to have no more cortizone in that joint.
They stressed that stifle problems like his CAN be very debilitating. He's thinking he'll probably end up pasture sound only, but we'll have to wait & see. Light riding would be his best hope. We'd like to see him be able to spend some well earned years turned out to pasture after spending 70% of his 10 year long life at the track.
I also want to send a huge public thanks to the Exceller Fund for sponsoring the costs of his transportation to & from the university. It's a 2 & 1/2 hour trip so we had to hire a shipper as no volunteers were available with that kind of time to spare. They also put out a plea to their membership asking to help us defray the costs of this unexpected veterinary care. I've got a feeling those IV bags are going to add up....$$$$$. Their members have responded and our paypal notifications are going through the roof. Also tons of thanks to the racing fans who have contributed to help him, and a few of our regular heavy duty supporters have also pitched in to help with these costs.
I feel it is important to note here that the owner of the horse, who donated him and asked us to find him a good home (even though he was in the hole well over $20k with this horse) did NOT know the extent of his condition. They were told the same thing we were told - a little time off with R&R and Dr. Green was what he needed.
I want to emphasize that we try to practice fiscal responsibility here at CANTER So. IL with the horses that we take in. You won't see us taking in a horse if we cannot afford to give it what it EXACTLY what it needs, especially a donated horse (as difficult as turning down a horse might sometimes be). Our philosophy here is if we are going to do this, we are going to do it RIGHT. He had been seen by a different vet before we took him and we thought we were prepared to give him what that vet thought he needed - a little stall rest, and lots of time turned out.
I can't express how grateful I am to those who are digging us out of this hole we found ourselves in. His medical bills are expected to be in the $1000+ range, plus transport costs and I'm happy to say that literally dozens have stepped up to the plate & come up with a large chunk of that in less than 24 hours. Absolutely astounding. (Keep jingling FURIOUSLY for "NO STAPH" - this would mean upwards of $3k with a guarded prognosis - unfortunately, I think we'd have to make a tough decision in that case). I don't know if those of you who contribute when something like this happens have any clue whatsoever of the difference you make. It's a horrible gutwrenching feeling to get that call from the vet, knowing that you have to make a decision - weighing the in the welfare of the other horses we have to be reponsible for, along with the bank balance - but then have this big ol' goober & his big brown eyes on the other side of the scale. You all are like little angels from heaven raining down dollar bills for the benefit of poor Dinky. It really does feel like a miracle.
Every member should be proud to part of this amazing group that can help out a horse in need, and hopefully "Dinky" will have a Future Beyond the Finish Line.
Bonnie
Here is the update from the university as of about 6pm last evening. They'll call daily with updates as long as he's there, and I'll try to share them as time permits. (BUSY weekend racing coming up)
They've x-rayed his stifle and found 1) a bone cyst, old, probably from when he was a yearling or younger and 2) arthritic changes (which they think are the underlying cause of his problem) NO chips or fractures, 3) possible evidence of a meniscal tear.
TONS of fluid, in all three pockets of the joint. They've flushed the joint and taken new cultures. The fluid from one of the pockets looked "suspicious". The attending vet is now leaning more towards a contaminant as the source of the staph (this would be AWESOME). The reason for this is that his white count was normal - but proteins are elevated, so they're not positive (these two things are apparently contradicting each other - any vets want to chime in on this?). They also think he'd be much lamer than he is if it were staph that had gotten a hold of him for this long. So... yes, he thinks there is infection, but lots of that fluid is just plain irritation and he'll probably always have some fluid there - but they are now leaning AGAINST it being staph. I can't tell you how happy that makes me!
So, he's staying in house on IV antibiotics until at least Sunday or Monday. We'll wait for the university cultures to come back. If all goes well, he'll come home to 2-4 weeks stall rest and gradually begin turnout. They'll give him an injection of Legend while he's there & on the antibiotics which may help give him some relief - and he is absolutely to have no more cortizone in that joint.
They stressed that stifle problems like his CAN be very debilitating. He's thinking he'll probably end up pasture sound only, but we'll have to wait & see. Light riding would be his best hope. We'd like to see him be able to spend some well earned years turned out to pasture after spending 70% of his 10 year long life at the track.
I also want to send a huge public thanks to the Exceller Fund for sponsoring the costs of his transportation to & from the university. It's a 2 & 1/2 hour trip so we had to hire a shipper as no volunteers were available with that kind of time to spare. They also put out a plea to their membership asking to help us defray the costs of this unexpected veterinary care. I've got a feeling those IV bags are going to add up....$$$$$. Their members have responded and our paypal notifications are going through the roof. Also tons of thanks to the racing fans who have contributed to help him, and a few of our regular heavy duty supporters have also pitched in to help with these costs.
I feel it is important to note here that the owner of the horse, who donated him and asked us to find him a good home (even though he was in the hole well over $20k with this horse) did NOT know the extent of his condition. They were told the same thing we were told - a little time off with R&R and Dr. Green was what he needed.
I want to emphasize that we try to practice fiscal responsibility here at CANTER So. IL with the horses that we take in. You won't see us taking in a horse if we cannot afford to give it what it EXACTLY what it needs, especially a donated horse (as difficult as turning down a horse might sometimes be). Our philosophy here is if we are going to do this, we are going to do it RIGHT. He had been seen by a different vet before we took him and we thought we were prepared to give him what that vet thought he needed - a little stall rest, and lots of time turned out.
I can't express how grateful I am to those who are digging us out of this hole we found ourselves in. His medical bills are expected to be in the $1000+ range, plus transport costs and I'm happy to say that literally dozens have stepped up to the plate & come up with a large chunk of that in less than 24 hours. Absolutely astounding. (Keep jingling FURIOUSLY for "NO STAPH" - this would mean upwards of $3k with a guarded prognosis - unfortunately, I think we'd have to make a tough decision in that case). I don't know if those of you who contribute when something like this happens have any clue whatsoever of the difference you make. It's a horrible gutwrenching feeling to get that call from the vet, knowing that you have to make a decision - weighing the in the welfare of the other horses we have to be reponsible for, along with the bank balance - but then have this big ol' goober & his big brown eyes on the other side of the scale. You all are like little angels from heaven raining down dollar bills for the benefit of poor Dinky. It really does feel like a miracle.
Every member should be proud to part of this amazing group that can help out a horse in need, and hopefully "Dinky" will have a Future Beyond the Finish Line.
Bonnie