So it's been about 48 hours since Hope passed out of this life. Yesterday afternoon I had a complete sobbing breakdown, triggered by such incredibly thoughtful words of kindness and sympathy from my friends and family. Bailey came to me immediately and Linx climbed in my lap with her somehow, and Bogey and Dylan came and stood near me. It was so comforting, yet my heart was breaking as it was happening. I've been so touched by the understanding that I've experienced from clients, the emails and phone calls they have left has been suprising and wonderful.
I have heard from a few people that they went to the internet to learn what the hell equine "colic" is. So I decided to help explain what it was that ended up happening. Colic is basically just a term for abdominal pain. It can be a fairly simple thing, or it can be - obviously - life threatening. It's the #1 cause of death in horses. The word strikes fear in horse owners hearts for this reason.
Don't continue reading if boring medical explanations don't interest you. I don't think they would interest me either, but in this case I had to explain...
In Hope's case, the thinking is that she had peritonitis - inflammation in the lining of the small intestine, which caused adhesions. Adhesions produce kinking or obstruction of the bowel or an internal hernia. A single adhesion can possibly be surgically bypassed, but Hope had multiple adhesions. She had Cushings (PPID), a tumor on the pituitary, which complicates matters as it causes elevated cortisol and therefore impaired healing - making surgery less of an option. Coupled with her age (25 - considered old although horse people know many Arabs live into their 30s), things were looking more grave. She was in terrible pain which was not being effectively managed despite strong drugs. And finally the vet did a belly tap, which showed the muddy brownish red fluid (should be clear) ~ meaning that she already had dying/necrotic tissue. Even if we could have loaded her into a trailer and gotten her into a hospital, it meant putting her through a lot more pain for a very poor prognosis. So - if I could have done anything for her without a higher price to be paid by her ... I would have. There was nothing else we could have done for her. But is there anything harder than holding your beloved friend as they leave you behind...?
Today I learned that The House is gone. It is in escrow and was tented when I went by it today. The realtor said it seemed "pretty locked up". I felt like it added an unecessary kick in the gut to my already really depressed outlook at the moment.
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Things could fall through with the house. But then, maybe it's not the one. We've gotten a lotta tastes of the *one* we *thought* was the one and then...we found the real real one...and so it goes. With each step ya get closer to exactly the *right* place to land.
I was curious if you guys would board other horses? This way yours would still have the community they have at a barn? I have no idea what doing that involves?
Horse Collic - f-in blows. I never knew about it, and can't imagine what it's like on top of all the other things pet owners worry about... Why hasn't someone figured out how to solve all 17 varieties yet?
What all this has made me realize is that I want to know your family better.... Jordon, em, not to ride him, Faith, Bogey, Bailey, and ALL the kitties. These guys are seriously family members I have been neglecting...and should know by now. So! For starters...Kitties names please, with pictures if you can. Then I'd like an update on all personalities...starting with Dylan... I know him a bit more than the others, so I figure start with him. I know he's a lovah'and a bit clutsy?
Next - I plan to visit soon. I miss you guys, and good ol' 2201. You've made a lot of changes, I want to see and hang by the fountain in the backyard.
Sew... throw me some dates.. some gaps in your crazy schedules!
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