Monday 9 July 2012

Wet weather and Poorly Ponies


The last few days have been stressful to say the least! On Thursday morning, the Ginger pony was very unwell. He stood in the field shelter with his head hanging, his breathing rapid and his abdomen looking very tight and "tucked up". Sure signs of colic, so I put him into a clean stable and examined him, finding that his pulse had increased and his temperature was way above normal.

 I phoned the vet, and while she was on her way, Ginger`s field friend managed to find a way to get some attention too. The Chocolate pony became distressed and rushed around the field, so I decided to bring him into the next stable to calm him down and to give Ginger some company. As I put on his headcollar, I saw that he had a fresh 4cm cut on his eyelid. How and where he did this I have no idea. We are careful about fences and nails and we got rid of every bit of barbed wire when we moved in here. It may have been done on a twig.....

So, the kind young vet who arrived found that she had two jobs to do. Ginger was, by this time, lying down and in shock. We got him up and a full examination and treatment were given, including a bottle of the most expensive antibiotic I have come across! However, it was suspected that Ginger had a serious gastro-intestinal infection so we had no choice. The recent wet, humid weather will have caused all kinds of pathogens to multiply in the soil and water.

While Ginger began his recovery, the Chocolate pony was examined and sedated, before the vet did an excellent job of cleaning , exploring and suturing the eyelid wound. One of the vet nurses had also arrived to bring equipment and she was a great help. Thankfully, there seemed to be no damage to the eye itself.

Both Boys had two days in their stables. It poured with rain on Friday and Saturday. Ginger did not begin to feel better until Saturday, but hopefully he is now on the road to recovery. He normally lives for his food so it was awful to see him so ill and with no appetite at all. I took their photos yesterday, when they were out in the field after another night inside.

The Chocolate pony came over so I tried to take a photo of his stitches.......




....a bit blurred, but here they are. The vet will have to come back and remove them in a week or so.
Putting in the daily eye ointment is fun, but some clicker training with treats has helped to make it a better experience for both of us!



Yesterday, when the rain finally stopped, I wandered around the garden to find rosebuds rotting on their stems.........



...but this Harry Wheatcroft rose looked lovely. The colours remind me of old fashioned Cornish ice cream and strawberry juice.



Lettuces , courgettes and weeds have enjoyed the rain.


The dogs were glad to sniff their way around the wet garden and feel some precious sun on their backs.



Old Dog demands his Forest walk in all weathers, but his friend ( who can be aggressive with other dogs) is happy enough to explore the garden several times a day. Both of them are elderly and don`t need the miles of walking that they used to love.



Out on our walk, every path and lane was wet with puddles.





On the edge of a saturated Forest green, selfheal was in flower and a buried acorn had sprouted into a seedling oak.


15 comments:

Morning's Minion said...

I hope the ponies are on the mend. It is one of the most troubling things to see an animal sick or hurt as so little comfort we can give. When treatment/anticiotics take effect the change can be startling.

Em Parkinson said...

I'm so relieved your pony made it. I lost my horse three years ago to a colic like episode. One minute he was fine and an hour later he was dead after trying all those VERY expensive drugs you mention. His heart was failing in the end and the vet put him down. It was a devastating experience and I go cold at the mention of the c word these days. That's how I ended up with Trigger instead. Much as I love him, he was a rash decision trying to fill a huge void.

Anyway, enough depressing stuff, your dogs are gorgeous, as are the ponies and the garden looks lovely!

Bovey Belle said...

What a worry for you. Your Ginger friend was in a bad way - thank heavens you are always so vigilant (and knowledgeable). I should imagine taking the stitches out of YKW's eyelid will be a ticklish business and I hope he behaves himself.

I see you have had a "bit" of rain (more than us probably, for once).

The Harry Wheatcroft rose has stood up well to the rain. Most of mine are going over very quickly, if they come out at all . . .

angryparsnip said...

So happy to hear that both ponies are on the mend.
As for the wet weather our monsoon have started so we are happy to see some rain.
Loved seeing the dogs and your old dog and my old dog have much the same expression and gray around the eyes.

Anonymous said...

I know absolutely nothing about horses so will just say that I hope they both recover.

This year I have seen more Self Heal than in any other year that I have lived here - 25 year! We haven't had rain today - yet.

Angie said...

I do hope poor Ginger will get his appetite back soon ...and will be on the mend.
I so wish we could send this rain across the pond ...where temperatures and drought are ravaging the land.

Mum said...

I'm so glad that the ponies are on the mend. What a worry for you.
Love from Mum
xx

Pam said...

Oh dear, how stressful.

(Sun? What's that?)

Jenny said...

What a worry ponies can be! Brings back memories of an evening spent alone in a stable with a 14.2hh cob with colic and no phone (before mobiles). Luckily another pony in the yard had a late night visit from their owner, and I was able to finally send for the vet.

Sally Wessely said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I really enjoyed reading this. I am just sorry you have been having problems with the health of horses. I hope they are both doing better now.

Yarrow said...

I'm keeping everything crossed for Ginger's recovery, poor little mite. Good thing you caught it quickly! Hope the little chocolate boy is good for the vet when the time comes!!!

Hugs to you all, especially your gorgeous dogs :D

Ragged Robin said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your ponies being unwell but pleased to hear they are recovering. What a worrying time for you.

Lovely to see your dogs having such fun and your garden pics are lovely.

Crafty Green Poet said...

poor ponies, here's hoping they recover well and quickly

WOL said...

Fingers crossed that the Ginger pony makes a full recovery.

BilboWaggins said...

Am so behind in catching up with blogs, hope both ponies are better now. So frightening when our animals are unwell.