strass
Well-Known Member
I just got back from Texas A&M. Took little Rock "It" up there for the last time.
The poor little guy came down with a rare problem that caused his immune system to attack his own skin. The vets assured us that his condition was not contagious and that none of our other horses were at any risk whatsoever of getting the same thing, so we brought him home to treat him.
He's been on steroids for a few months to control it, and we have been slowly tapering his dosage down. He was doing better, until about a week ago, when my wife found some spots on his skin showing signs of it coming back.
The vet/dermatologist took a look at him and confirmed our fears. She told me that he would have to spend the rest of his life on pretty high doses of steroids or he would suffer.
As a former college athlete, I have seen more than my fair share of the effects of steroids. I was mentally strong enough to refuse to put that crap into my body, but some of my friends were not. I've seen what happened to them after only a few years of use, and I just can't cope with the thought of doing that to a sweet little horse. I'm VERY anti-steroid because they just kill ya' slowly from the inside.
My wife and I have talked about this A LOT the last several weeks and we made the decision to let Rock "It" go before he suffered any more.
I want to thank Carin Ponder for being there to make sure that my little buddy went to sleep peacefully and for giving me a hug and reminding me that it was the right decision.
I must have looked pathetic...a 270 lb grown man crying over a 250 lb horse, but I don't really care right now. We loved Rock "It" (as we do all our critters) very much and we had high hopes of him following in Red Alert's footsteps. At least I was there to give him some treats, pet his long pretty neck, and whisper in his ear that I love him.
Godspeed little buddy...we'll miss you.
:
The poor little guy came down with a rare problem that caused his immune system to attack his own skin. The vets assured us that his condition was not contagious and that none of our other horses were at any risk whatsoever of getting the same thing, so we brought him home to treat him.
He's been on steroids for a few months to control it, and we have been slowly tapering his dosage down. He was doing better, until about a week ago, when my wife found some spots on his skin showing signs of it coming back.
The vet/dermatologist took a look at him and confirmed our fears. She told me that he would have to spend the rest of his life on pretty high doses of steroids or he would suffer.
As a former college athlete, I have seen more than my fair share of the effects of steroids. I was mentally strong enough to refuse to put that crap into my body, but some of my friends were not. I've seen what happened to them after only a few years of use, and I just can't cope with the thought of doing that to a sweet little horse. I'm VERY anti-steroid because they just kill ya' slowly from the inside.
My wife and I have talked about this A LOT the last several weeks and we made the decision to let Rock "It" go before he suffered any more.
I want to thank Carin Ponder for being there to make sure that my little buddy went to sleep peacefully and for giving me a hug and reminding me that it was the right decision.
I must have looked pathetic...a 270 lb grown man crying over a 250 lb horse, but I don't really care right now. We loved Rock "It" (as we do all our critters) very much and we had high hopes of him following in Red Alert's footsteps. At least I was there to give him some treats, pet his long pretty neck, and whisper in his ear that I love him.
Godspeed little buddy...we'll miss you.