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Post by picasso on Sept 19, 2012 12:43:51 GMT 1
So sorry to hear your news Sarah. What ever the outcome, you ill know you have done your absolute best for Lucky. Just think of those dark, cold nights when you now don't have to work your pony!
Jane H
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Post by sarah on Oct 10, 2012 13:16:19 GMT 1
An update, and a request for any opinions, as I am just getting more and more confused ...... Last time the physio was out, we had a very honest and frank discussion, and she said a winter off was a good idea, with the possibility of trying to get a rider safely back on board next year, but the likely option was a decision to pts. Physio was out today, to return the saddle which has been to a specialist and opened right up to check for problems. Well, she lunged Lucky, including trying to get him over some small jumps, but resulted in getting the lunge line caught on the jump ... queue Lucky having blind panic when the jump was dragged behind him on the lunge line! Then there followed a long session of treatment on his hock - when I asked why she was doing this, as the vet had told me the £2500 scan showed a back problem, she said the vet had told her there were numerous possible problems all over him! So, we have spent the whole summer treating his back,a nd now suddenly the focus is elsewhere, even though he is presenting with the same problems, not an improvement in one area and a new problem showing up somewhere else. I asked her opinion, again, of how to proceed, and she said I could give him the winter off and see, or I could hop on and just see if I get bronked into the nearest A&E. The vet is coming out tomorrow to take bloods, to check liver function and to look for any other underlying problems. I am trying SO hard to do the right thing, both for Lucky and for me, and it could ultimately mean taking a life or death decision for Lucky, but how can I do this with so called experts contradicting each other at every opportunity, or changing their own opinions from one moment to the next. I am just so confused, and feel so let down by people I should be able to trust and turn to. So, if anyone wants to give me any advice, it would all be greatfully received. Sorry for the rant, I just needed to let it all out. Sarah. xx
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Post by Dawn Perkins on Oct 10, 2012 17:44:26 GMT 1
Hi Sarah, Please forgive me for bringing this up again because I know you have already discounted it but the thought of poor Lucky being pts is so awful that I just couldn't help replying to your post.
If all else is failing and Lucky faces a very poor prognosis, might it be worth getting in touch with Nic Barker and just talking it over with her to see if she thinks treatment at Rockley might help?
As the links I posted earlier point out, problems in the feet often manifest as pain in the shoulder, back and hind limbs. Shoes - even light ones - cause peripheral loading and therefore exacerbate cracks and prevent the back of the foot from properly supporting and stabilising the limb above.
As I have said before, I quite understand that many people are not open to the idea of barefoot rehabilitation but Nic has had so much success with so many long-term lame horses, many of whom would definitely have been pts by now but are, instead, happily back in work. Before considering anything as drastic as euthanasia, it would surely be worth talking to her?
Whatever you decide, I am sending my very best wishes for you and for Lucky.
Dawn Perkins
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Post by em on Oct 11, 2012 14:04:11 GMT 1
Oh Sarah
I feel so sorry for you ... your anguish in regards to what to do just leaps from the page.... I have a real belief that when things become really confusing and churn around like clothes in a washing machine it is time to stop everything and reflect... in that way you can pinpoint the facts and discard the fuzzy stuff that is making the job of a decision hard to do .. this way you can just regard the facts and then be open to how the facts make your gut instincts feel
imagine you are not the owner but an outside observer... what are the actual facts that you know for sure
Lucky is behaving in ways that are not his true self he is lame/unlevel he lost weight he looks unhappy the professionals have not given a definitive diagnosis
I dont know if this list is right I am just trying to start you off.. then when you have you list of facts you then right down what you really really trully feel
I am frustrated with the lack of diagnosis etc
Then finally write down what you really want to happen
I want lucky to be back to normal and happy and in work If I cant have the above I want him to be pain free and happily retired etc
Again these are just off the top of my head .. once you have got this in front of you .. if you keep re looking at what you have written rather than listening to so much pressure going round in your head I am certain the actions you wish to take will become more clear in ways that will surprise you
sadly no one can make this call for you and the more advice you recieve in some ways it adds to the pressure because we all have differing ideas but perhaps if you imagine also that you are advising a friend in the same position ... what would your advice be?
Lots and lots of love and support sent to you
x x x x x x x x
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Post by angelac on Oct 12, 2012 9:50:57 GMT 1
Dear Sarah
Like Emma, I am so dreadfully sorry that you are in this very confusing situation. I thought of you last night when I was having a re read of " What Horses Say " How to Hear,Help and Heal them. Perhaps it would be worth having a Good communicator to visit Lucky to see if you could get his thoughts. I have found such visits helpful in my quest to understand Jet.
I do truly hope you get some peace of mind from this most upsetting situation Thinking of you Angela xx
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Post by nellie on Oct 12, 2012 13:17:42 GMT 1
Hi Sarah, I am so sorry to hear you are in such a horrible quandry. I have found Emma's suggestions to be really helpful (Hi Emma, I owe you an update ) but I have to say that while I was reading her post I was thinking "I know what I would do to help me write these lists" and that is Angela's suggestion of a communicator. Ann Dee made a huge difference to how I approached Mina's lameness: she was worth every single penny. The only other thing I would say is that Mina's lameness was not a straightforward case of a single symptom and cause. The vet focussed on the most obvious and immediate area of pain - her front feet - but professed to being baffled why a horse with feet and legs as good as Mina's should have the bony changes shown up in her x-rays. Similarly her farrier was astounded when he was asked to put silicone pads on her front feet. Meanwhile I felt that generally she hadn't been moving "right" and was not convinced that her front feet were the cause, rather that they were a symptom - but the vet didn't see any need to look further. So, I organised for Mina to see a physio. He took one look at her as she was walked away from him and said "Ah, functionaly lame behind". I was horrified to think she was lame behind as well as in front but he explained that "functionally lame" is entirely different to the sort of lame a vet may talk about. What Mina had done was to twist her pelvis. This meant it was difficult for her to use her backend properly: tracking up, taking a proper length of stride, taking weight behind, propelling herself forward were all compromised which meant that she had been pulling herself along with her front end and taking more weight there than she would normally, hence the damaging concussion to her front feet. Three or four visits by the physio later, she is moving so much better, is much, much happier in her work, she doesn't have pads in her front shoes anymore (first month but so far so good) and is still sound, including round corners, which the vet said would never happen. Admittedly she is still on a low dose of bute as we want to take it one step at a time. But there, you see, vet said front legs, physio said pelvis but together we are getting it sorted. As the old song goes, everything is connected to something else (I can't remember the exact words but it is something along the lines of "the heel bone is connected to the leg bone, the leg bone is connected to the thigh bone..." and so on). I would also add that my bad back was connected to my bad hip and it wasn't a bad back at all - well it was in so much as it hurt and was seized but they were symptoms, the actual cause of the problem was my hip, which made me move badly - a fact of which I was entirely ignorant having spent most of my life compensating for it unknowingly. I heartily recommend a communicator to find out what Lucky thinks of it all. Mina was very frank with me (take plenty of hankies with you as, if you are anything like me, you will find it very emotional), about the choices I was facing. She didn't say "do this" or "do that" but having her view on things helped me to make some good decisions - or at least I think they were good because I have a happier, more comfortable pony who is enjoying her work again. One final caveat: it has taken 6 months to get to this point. Big, comforting hug and empathetic vibes being sent across the ether to you. Please do keep us updated. Helen xx
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Post by sarah on Oct 12, 2012 13:37:37 GMT 1
Thank you all for your support, which means a lot to me, and your advice, all of which has been taken on board.
The vet was out yesterday to take bloods, to check liver and kidney function, to check for Lyme's disease, any infection etc and also Cushings - so I will wait for those results and see if that throws anything up.
Thank you all again.
Best wishes, Sarah. xx
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Post by Briony Anakin on Oct 12, 2012 19:31:22 GMT 1
Dear Sarah, I am so sorry to hear of your predicament how lucky your boy is though that you knew he wasn't right, so many others may not have realised. I really hope everything becomes clear for you soon xx
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Post by sarah on Oct 15, 2012 14:45:35 GMT 1
I heard from the vet today - blood tests showed that Lucky's liver and kidney function seems normal, which is great news, but both Lucky and Eddie have tested positive for Cushings. Thye will start their medication tonight. Thanks for all your messgaes of support - much needed right now. xx
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Post by angelac on Oct 18, 2012 9:52:52 GMT 1
That's a shocker, getting a double diagnosis like that. I do hope they respond well to the medication. Best wishes to you all Angela xx
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Post by sarah on Apr 24, 2013 16:59:35 GMT 1
An update for any one who is interested.
After a long discussion with the vet last week, we came to a mutual agreement. This morning I took Lucky in to the vets where he was quietly put to sleep. It was the hardest decision I have ever had to make. I hope he is kicking up his heels and running free with Puzzle and Harvey.
As if that wasn't enough, this afternoon dear Splodge passed his vetting and was taken away. He touched my heart in a way I never believed was possible and leaves a massive hole.
I must admit to feeling absolutely devastated.
Sarah. xx
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Post by liz on Apr 24, 2013 19:33:27 GMT 1
What a day, Sarah Big ((hugs)) to you.
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Post by juliabick on Apr 29, 2013 20:44:57 GMT 1
Oh Sarah - I'm so so sorry. What a horrible day.
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Post by sarah on Apr 30, 2013 9:27:50 GMT 1
Thank you Liz and Julia - it feels so very empty here and I am still trying to come to terms with it all. xx
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Post by angelac on Apr 30, 2013 9:45:28 GMT 1
I'm so very sorry to hear your sad news Sarah. It is so hard to make those tough decisions. I hope the pain of it will ease soon leaving some wonderful memories in its place. Take care Angela
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