a little update from me

[zoes87]

So first, apologies that I haven't been about much - had alot going on with work and the boys so haven't really had much time!

I think the last time I posted about the boys, I was having problems with Jack attacking me. Well that got worse, then got better again so started taking him out in hand with monts, where we met the hunt!!!! Mum took monts & I had Jack, both in hand, both thankfully in bridles (although Jack's is bitless and he was attached to a lunge line by a coupling so was basically in a headcollar!), Monts was his normal silly self when the hunts within a 100mile radius, prancing around turning himself insdie out! Jack on the other hand, just lengthened his stride!!

So things were going well again. Then we went away for a weekend, came back to find Monts couldn't walk. I knew he was getting footsore - my friend who'd been looking after them had been keeping me updated. So we assumed abscess since he's had his shoes off bout 3months now and have been waiting for an abscess. So we poulticed and treated as an abscess, 4 days later, no sign of anything and walking fine again! Still left him off work to make sure he's fine and not sore - going to get on tomorrow and see how it goes

Now, whilst Monts was in on box rest, Jack was still going out (with his gf, so not like he was alone!). On tues 22nd, i brought him in, walked as normal, tied him up and started grooming him. As I was brushing his neck a flash of red caught my eye, i looked down to see his leg hanging open. Got vet out who basically gave us some good news and some not so good news. He'd managed to slice his leg open down to his fetlock joint, catching a ligament. Thankfully, theres no real damage to ligament, on very minor slice which *hopefully* won't make a difference once it's healed. His fetlock joint however was another problem. Without flushing and scoping there was no way of knowing if what sliced him had gone into joint & no way of knowing it was def clean. Jack isn't insured for vet fees (& even if he was, the mess his legs are in, they wouldn't be covered anyway) so flushing was never an option, we just can't afford it. So it was a case of cleaning as best as we could and keeping everything crossed the joint was fine.

His leg was stapled up and bandaged and he was put on box rest. I was AMAZED at how well he took it - before getting him in April last year, he'd been in a field for 11years and struggles to stay in past 11am! He's been an angel on box rest. The wound was looking good and everything was going well, until Tues when i went to change the bandages & it was infected. Got the vet back out, who agreed there was an infection but it was thankfully not in the joint (which he thinks from how he trotted up, is clear ). The wound is also starting to break down from the swelling he's now on IM pen strep - which is fun!!!! Any ideas on how to get a needle into a tense horse welcome!!

Now for some pics. The first is of the wound after we first washed it - so don't look if you're squeamish!!







Its coming out small cause its from my phone (i think!)














Normal pics now


I'm a cruel cruel mummy putting my boy in pink!!


clearly happy to have Monts come and say hello!!




discovering a love for cherry likits!


kisses for mummy (its actually him either licking my face or "teething" my nose!!!)


bit of mummy love


and just because i loves him too!!

cookies to those who got to the end & can i have big hugs for my little boy please

[My Crazy Clan]

poor lad, hope he gets better soon

[eeek]

Oh dear, not the best luck with your two boys at the moment

Fingers very tightly crossed that they're back to their usual selves in no time.

Jack looks the picture of health. Such a credit to you compared with the sad thin creature you bought.

[Loz]

Oh no poor boys and you! It's not been an easy couple of weeks for you has it, but things seem to be looking up now.

Personally I think the big man looks very sexy in pink! Hope he heals well and continues to be such a good boy whilst on box rest.

[ness]

Awww poor boy!hope he soon heals!

[Elliebellie]

Awww bless him! Poor boy!!

I hope he makes a speedy recovery!

p.s. you probably are already, but do make sure you stable bandage the other front leg so that the pressure is even across the pair...

[amandaxx1]

Poor lad!!! Wishing him a good recovery xx

[zoes87]

thank you for all the comments had the vet out again yesterday for a check and he was really impressed with it - the infections cleared up and its now healing nicely! Jack however, wasn't so impressed to see the vet!! haha!!

Elliebellie, yep, putting stable bandages on all his other 3 just out of habit really - Monts has really bad problems with odema when stood in the stable for too long so as soon as the vet said Jack had to be on box rest I started wrapping him up too!!