RockRiverTiff
Well-Known Member
Wednesday night Mo took Al's dinner to his paddock and went looking for him when he didn't meet him at his gate. He found him in the dreaded sitting dog position in his loafing shed with a board laying beside him and lacerations on both back legs. It seemed obvious that he had kicked through a board at the bottom of his shed, and then fractured or dislocated a leg trying to pull free, but then I saw the swelling on his lower back. We called the vet immediately, and she recommended taking him to the Madison clinic. It was a really long drive, but Mo held him the entire way to keep him steady and calm.
Yesterday morning they called to say that x-rays showed no damage to his spine, and that they were doing a spinal tap to check for the neurological strain of EHV. I was in a complete and utter panic trying to decide which horses I would need to isolate when they called back to say the spinal tap showed no viruses or infections, but that there was blood in the sample, so he had indeed injured his back. He's been in a sling ever since as they try to figure out the next course of action. As of last night he was able to stand on his own for a few minutes, so I am trying to be optimistic, but the vet is supposed to call any time to tell us her prognosis.
Al is 17 years old, and is the last horse my grandfather bred before he passed away. He's very special to all of us, so it would mean a lot to me if you guys could send some positive energy his way. Also, in the best case scenario if he comes home I'd really appreciate advice from anyone that's rehabbed a horse with a back injury before.
Yesterday morning they called to say that x-rays showed no damage to his spine, and that they were doing a spinal tap to check for the neurological strain of EHV. I was in a complete and utter panic trying to decide which horses I would need to isolate when they called back to say the spinal tap showed no viruses or infections, but that there was blood in the sample, so he had indeed injured his back. He's been in a sling ever since as they try to figure out the next course of action. As of last night he was able to stand on his own for a few minutes, so I am trying to be optimistic, but the vet is supposed to call any time to tell us her prognosis.
Al is 17 years old, and is the last horse my grandfather bred before he passed away. He's very special to all of us, so it would mean a lot to me if you guys could send some positive energy his way. Also, in the best case scenario if he comes home I'd really appreciate advice from anyone that's rehabbed a horse with a back injury before.