July 22, 2005

This morning we have pounding pulses on both legs and a reluctant horse unwilling to move. The vet is enroute to draw more blood and see if some answers might be forthcoming.  I am soaking Racer's hay for about three hours, then discarding the water and feeding him the wet hay. I found out from my hay supplier that he cut the field at 2:00 in the afternnon, which is bad for me, IF Racer is Insulin Resistant, because at that time of the day, the sugars would have been at their highest.

My dear friend Diane sent me an article about a hyperbolic chamber for horses, using concentrated oxygen to heal horses in chronic pain or dealing with long-term illnesses.

Last night was rough we had a freak thunderstorm and the lightning and thunder freaked out both the horses, making it near impossible to stall them or contain them, so they had the paddock area to roam last night. I am sure as loud as the thunder was that Racer spooked and ran as best as he could under the circumstances, but I doubt that he just stood there unaffected by the noise. Because inside the house it was loud- I can imagine if I had been standing out in it, what I would have done.

I will write more later after the vet leaves, though I doubt there will be much to report till the blood work is run.

Just as a side note, I do appreciate those of you reading this novel and sending me emails of encouragement and sharing your own founder stories. It makes me feel less alone in this, so I thank you!

Ok the vet came out and said the since he has visited (It's been a week) Racer is 75% worse now. There are pounding pulses in both his legs, blood was drawn, and the vet wanted to test for Cushings. When I asked what that entailed, I was told that blood needed to be drawn then an injection of dexamethasone would be given! I was stunned, the drug that I believe has caused all this in the first place was to be injected into my horse? I told the vet no way would I allow that drug anywhere near my horse! The vet wasn't happy and argued with me a little bit telling me I am wrong  and the steriods did not cause this founder episode. But I insisted that I did not want this drug in my horse ever again, and finally he said okay and he will come on Monday and do radiographs of Racer's feet. He also gave me banamine to give to him to try and manage the pain better.

I just checked on him for the evening and he is in his stall eating the dunked hay. I gave him his dose of banamine and will check him again in a little while.