Robin_C
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- Dec 5, 2002
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Diane/Krazyhorses made a courageous decision this week to allow CMHR to assume Buttercup's care. If you're not familiar with her story, there are back-threads to check. Suffice it to say, Buttercup was in a pitiable state when Diane found her at an unscrupulous horse trader's stable in central Florida. Without Diane's intervention, undoubtedly Buttercup's days on Earth were rapidly coming to a close. Thanks to Diane for jumping in there and bringing Buttercup home with her; double-thanks, too, for donating Buttercup to CMHR so she could receive the degree of medical care she so needs and deserves.
I can tell you all that had I not been so shocked at the emaciated state of this horse, I just would have broken down and cried. Diane had done a wonderful job in the week she had owned her -- she was rehydrated, had been clipped, bathed and medicated, so I did not even get to see her at her worst!
Buttercup was transported directly to a veterinary clinic for in-patient care. The little silver dapple mare settled in nicely in her huge private stall at the clinic, bedded to her pasterns in clean, fluffy shavings, with a big pile of yummy hay. You could tell she had immediately won over the hospital staff, and looked pleased with her accommodations when I left.
I was both eager and somewhat reluctant to hear the vet's initial opinion today. Fortunately I was able to breathe a little sigh of relief after the vet made her report:
1) Besides the obvious state of malnutrition (basically just skin over bones), Buttercup has a severe case of COPD/heaves which makes it laborious for her to breathe. She also has quite a bit of inflammation in her airway, so is very congested. Blood work proved this to be a secondary infection compounded on the heaves, so she will be started on antibiotics. Her respiratory difficulties will be treated with Albuterol initially, to open her airways and make breathing easier.
2) The most amazing, and perhaps the most important part of the work-up in terms of her chances at survival, is the fact that her liver enzymes were not significantly elevated. This was of great concern to the vet and she was pleasantly surprised when they returned relatively normal.
Buttercup will remain at the veterinary hospital for at least a week before she is transferred to her foster home. This will allow the doctors to address her multiple health issues in a stepwise fashion which will reduce the amount of stress on the mare.
CMHR really could not ask for a better situation for Buttercup. She is being closely tended by a caring staff of veterinarians, has a wonderful foster home in her future, and though it will require months of rehab, CMHR is keeping its fingers crossed that in the months to come, we will be able to share her success story with all of the concerned people on the LB Forum. Your contributions have made this type of work possible (often expensive, as you can well imagine), and your continued support of CMHR will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you Diane, thank you Forum members, and thank you Buttercup for having the spirit and will to survive despite all the odds stacked against you!
Robin C
CMHR Director
I can tell you all that had I not been so shocked at the emaciated state of this horse, I just would have broken down and cried. Diane had done a wonderful job in the week she had owned her -- she was rehydrated, had been clipped, bathed and medicated, so I did not even get to see her at her worst!
Buttercup was transported directly to a veterinary clinic for in-patient care. The little silver dapple mare settled in nicely in her huge private stall at the clinic, bedded to her pasterns in clean, fluffy shavings, with a big pile of yummy hay. You could tell she had immediately won over the hospital staff, and looked pleased with her accommodations when I left.

I was both eager and somewhat reluctant to hear the vet's initial opinion today. Fortunately I was able to breathe a little sigh of relief after the vet made her report:
1) Besides the obvious state of malnutrition (basically just skin over bones), Buttercup has a severe case of COPD/heaves which makes it laborious for her to breathe. She also has quite a bit of inflammation in her airway, so is very congested. Blood work proved this to be a secondary infection compounded on the heaves, so she will be started on antibiotics. Her respiratory difficulties will be treated with Albuterol initially, to open her airways and make breathing easier.
2) The most amazing, and perhaps the most important part of the work-up in terms of her chances at survival, is the fact that her liver enzymes were not significantly elevated. This was of great concern to the vet and she was pleasantly surprised when they returned relatively normal.
Buttercup will remain at the veterinary hospital for at least a week before she is transferred to her foster home. This will allow the doctors to address her multiple health issues in a stepwise fashion which will reduce the amount of stress on the mare.
CMHR really could not ask for a better situation for Buttercup. She is being closely tended by a caring staff of veterinarians, has a wonderful foster home in her future, and though it will require months of rehab, CMHR is keeping its fingers crossed that in the months to come, we will be able to share her success story with all of the concerned people on the LB Forum. Your contributions have made this type of work possible (often expensive, as you can well imagine), and your continued support of CMHR will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you Diane, thank you Forum members, and thank you Buttercup for having the spirit and will to survive despite all the odds stacked against you!
Robin C
CMHR Director
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