We got the surgical consult recommendations today - the surgeon at the local vet school recommended surgery to fuse the bone, insert a plate, and cast the leg. Rafer would be at the vet school for 2-3 weeks, and would then be on stall confinement for 3 months. The cost would be upwards of 7k by the end of the hospital stay.
The alternative recommendation was to have our vet cast Rafer's leg here at our farm, under general anesthesia so he could be lying flat out for the casting. He would be re-cast every 4 weeks for 12 weeks or so, and would be on stall confinement for 6 months total to give the bone plenty of time to fuse completely. His turn-out would be limited for one full year, and we would not be asking him to bear any weight or learn driving, etc. until he is 5-6 years old.
We've decided to do the casting here and deal as best we can with the long confinement. The idea of sending Rafer to the hospital for up to 3 weeks, and opening up the leg/joint to possible infection when the end results will be basically the same is too much.
So... our vet told us to leave the leg wrapped as it is until Friday when he will be getting his casting done.
Rafer had a tough day today - he was subdued and seemed sad to me. I sat with him for a couple of hours and cleaned bridles, and he moped around the stall. Salina gave him a nuzzle at one point - he perked up for that. But it was when I came in from the barn that I got the vet's call and it was hard to hear the two options. Neither seems ideal. But we'll manage.
Tonight he was much brighter. Maybe on some level he knows there is a plan, and that he won't be going anywhere. As boring as the stall is hour after hour, it is close by his herd and we all pop in many times during the day and evening.
I also want to say that Rafer's breeders have been amazing throughout this process. Not only have they offered ideas and shared their many years of experience with donkey care, they have graciously agreed to let Redford stay with them (and his large donkey herd!) until things are settled here and Rafer is ready to welcome his new donkey pal. It has meant a lot to us not to have to worry about Redford - he is in good hands and he will come when the time is right.
On Friday we'll be getting Rafer's leg ready for the next 4 weeks of healing. Saturday we'll be weathering whatever Hurricane Hannah brings our way.
I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.
-Louisa May Alcott
billie hinton’s camera-obscura:
life and lessons on November Hill Farm
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
donkey montessori
Rafer is doing pretty well - his mood is somewhat subdued, but he doesn't seem depressed. More like he can't quite believe we're keeping him in a stall.
Today I took the grooming kit in again and let him select what he wanted me to do. We went through each brush, curry, etc. and he picked the ones he liked best. We have a little rubber mitt that is very soft but nubby and he loved that one on his neck and back. He liked the big soft brush and the face brush on his face and cheeks. He also loves having the insides of his lovely ears brushed very carefully and will stick his neck straight out in pure delight.
My goal was to get as many happy donkey sounds out of him as I could - those soft little grunts that I initially thought meant he had a cold!
I took a trip to the tack shop and feed stores today to see what I could find. We added a mini salt block and a hanging ball that looks like something a bird might like. Rafer stared at it for awhile, and then he smelled our hands after we touched it, and finally he decided to walk over and give it a lick, and discovered he likes it.
My daughter took him some hand-picked grass mid-morning, and this afternoon he got some apple and carrot chunks. Tonight we brought in some new hay, so he was able to monitor that.
Tomorrow is the big day - the changing of the leg wrap/rig - and I'm a bit nervous that we won't be able to get it just so like the vet did. But I will be glad to let that leg air out, look it over, and see how he's doing under all those layers.
A question - anyone know where to get a hay net with tiny holes, as recommended by jme? I can't find one locally and the only ones I'm seeing online are in the UK.
Keep us in your thoughts tomorrow morning, and visualize dexterity with various wrapping materials, a cooperative donkey, and a stabilized leg! :)
Today I took the grooming kit in again and let him select what he wanted me to do. We went through each brush, curry, etc. and he picked the ones he liked best. We have a little rubber mitt that is very soft but nubby and he loved that one on his neck and back. He liked the big soft brush and the face brush on his face and cheeks. He also loves having the insides of his lovely ears brushed very carefully and will stick his neck straight out in pure delight.
My goal was to get as many happy donkey sounds out of him as I could - those soft little grunts that I initially thought meant he had a cold!
I took a trip to the tack shop and feed stores today to see what I could find. We added a mini salt block and a hanging ball that looks like something a bird might like. Rafer stared at it for awhile, and then he smelled our hands after we touched it, and finally he decided to walk over and give it a lick, and discovered he likes it.
My daughter took him some hand-picked grass mid-morning, and this afternoon he got some apple and carrot chunks. Tonight we brought in some new hay, so he was able to monitor that.
Tomorrow is the big day - the changing of the leg wrap/rig - and I'm a bit nervous that we won't be able to get it just so like the vet did. But I will be glad to let that leg air out, look it over, and see how he's doing under all those layers.
A question - anyone know where to get a hay net with tiny holes, as recommended by jme? I can't find one locally and the only ones I'm seeing online are in the UK.
Keep us in your thoughts tomorrow morning, and visualize dexterity with various wrapping materials, a cooperative donkey, and a stabilized leg! :)
Monday, September 01, 2008
the next day - keeping the little donkey happy
I meant to take a few pictures this morning while the light was good on the convalescent corner of the barn - will try again tomorrow!
We managed to get things set up yesterday in a way that I think works well for this period of confinement for Rafer Johnson. He has the front corner stall, which has a front door, back door, and window to the barnyard.
We were able to put a much smaller stall door on the front so he can see over and under, and get more air flow. I've also closed the middle stall (right next door) off to the paddock, secured the door to the barn aisle so it stays open, and removed several boards from the wall between the two stalls. This allows Salina to stay right with Rafer. She can hang her head over the stall wall now, and they can touch noses and talk. She can walk around to his front door and hang out with him there. This morning she stood with her head resting against his flank, and it was obvious her touch made him very happy.
She also has access to the barnyard where she can both graze and get some movement, which is important for her 25-year old arthritic knees. Last night she grazed a few bites at a time and then stuck her head into Rafer's stall window to nicker softly to him and let him know she was right there.
I think this set-up will keep Rafer happiest, and Salina, and will make the days not quite so difficult for him.
He's been getting Arnica since yesterday afternoon, and I've been doing a visualization for the bones to heal well. White light and Linda's (the 7msn) blue sky have been the primary components. Somehow I think it's working.
We keep a camp chair handy so we can take it in and sit with Rafer. This morning I took the grooming kit in and let him play with the brushes and rubber curries while I gave him a good brushing. He has his Jolly ball and I'm looking for something called an Amazing Graze treat dispenser. Someone suggested I actually put his day's worth of pellets inside so that he can play with the dispenser and have something to work on all through the day.
Dickens (the cowboy cat) can now walk under the stall door, and since he is one of Rafer's best buddies, he too is visiting and providing some distraction.
One of my biggest concerns was alleviated this morning, when we discovered that Rafer can indeed lie down and get up with the rig he's wearing. I was so worried he wouldn't be able to do this, and would get tired. But he can do it, and it's nice to see him stretched out sleeping just like normal.
So far his appetite is great. At some point we will get some kind of portable corral so he can join Salina in the barnyard for some grazing but still be confined safely.
It's still hard to imagine this going on for four months. But the vet reminded me yesterday: "It will be a tough four months, but that is nothing compared to the 20+ years you have to go with this wonderful little man."
On other fronts, the pony is doing a most surprising and hilarious thing with regards to his herbal mixture. He seems thrilled that he gets something morning and night now, and is intensely interested in the mix. BUT - while he sniffs and looks and pricks his ears toward the tub, he will only eat the mix if I feed it to him from my hand!
He stands right by me and I hold the small rubber tub in one arm. I scoop up a handful of the wet goopy mush and he licks it out of my hand, then licks my hand clean. Then we do another handful, until the tub is empty and I have scraped every bit from the bottom and sides. It amazes me that he is engaging this closely with me over his food, and that he trusts me enough to eat something that clearly smells very odd to him. I have a feeling this whole way of eating it is part of the treatment and the solution.
His massage was good, and we should have the acupuncturist here tomorrow or Wednesday.
All of this reminded me earlier today that one of my favorite books when I was young was Dr. Dolittle. It kind of feels like that here this past few weeks. So much going on, so much learning, so much conversing with these amazing animals.
We managed to get things set up yesterday in a way that I think works well for this period of confinement for Rafer Johnson. He has the front corner stall, which has a front door, back door, and window to the barnyard.
We were able to put a much smaller stall door on the front so he can see over and under, and get more air flow. I've also closed the middle stall (right next door) off to the paddock, secured the door to the barn aisle so it stays open, and removed several boards from the wall between the two stalls. This allows Salina to stay right with Rafer. She can hang her head over the stall wall now, and they can touch noses and talk. She can walk around to his front door and hang out with him there. This morning she stood with her head resting against his flank, and it was obvious her touch made him very happy.
She also has access to the barnyard where she can both graze and get some movement, which is important for her 25-year old arthritic knees. Last night she grazed a few bites at a time and then stuck her head into Rafer's stall window to nicker softly to him and let him know she was right there.
I think this set-up will keep Rafer happiest, and Salina, and will make the days not quite so difficult for him.
He's been getting Arnica since yesterday afternoon, and I've been doing a visualization for the bones to heal well. White light and Linda's (the 7msn) blue sky have been the primary components. Somehow I think it's working.
We keep a camp chair handy so we can take it in and sit with Rafer. This morning I took the grooming kit in and let him play with the brushes and rubber curries while I gave him a good brushing. He has his Jolly ball and I'm looking for something called an Amazing Graze treat dispenser. Someone suggested I actually put his day's worth of pellets inside so that he can play with the dispenser and have something to work on all through the day.
Dickens (the cowboy cat) can now walk under the stall door, and since he is one of Rafer's best buddies, he too is visiting and providing some distraction.
One of my biggest concerns was alleviated this morning, when we discovered that Rafer can indeed lie down and get up with the rig he's wearing. I was so worried he wouldn't be able to do this, and would get tired. But he can do it, and it's nice to see him stretched out sleeping just like normal.
So far his appetite is great. At some point we will get some kind of portable corral so he can join Salina in the barnyard for some grazing but still be confined safely.
It's still hard to imagine this going on for four months. But the vet reminded me yesterday: "It will be a tough four months, but that is nothing compared to the 20+ years you have to go with this wonderful little man."
On other fronts, the pony is doing a most surprising and hilarious thing with regards to his herbal mixture. He seems thrilled that he gets something morning and night now, and is intensely interested in the mix. BUT - while he sniffs and looks and pricks his ears toward the tub, he will only eat the mix if I feed it to him from my hand!
He stands right by me and I hold the small rubber tub in one arm. I scoop up a handful of the wet goopy mush and he licks it out of my hand, then licks my hand clean. Then we do another handful, until the tub is empty and I have scraped every bit from the bottom and sides. It amazes me that he is engaging this closely with me over his food, and that he trusts me enough to eat something that clearly smells very odd to him. I have a feeling this whole way of eating it is part of the treatment and the solution.
His massage was good, and we should have the acupuncturist here tomorrow or Wednesday.
All of this reminded me earlier today that one of my favorite books when I was young was Dr. Dolittle. It kind of feels like that here this past few weeks. So much going on, so much learning, so much conversing with these amazing animals.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
we need your healing energy
I'm typing fast here, but this morning between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Rafer Johnson broke his leg. :/ Fortunately it is just beneath the hock and not in the long bones. Best guess is that he was running/playing and hit a soft spot or depression in the ground and torqued the leg right at the hock joint.
He is okay - the leg is stable and bandaged in a huge cast-like thing with two supports layered in to keep it straight, and radiographs are going to the vet school to see if surgery can help the outcome. There is a bone chip and a ragged area clearly visible - we are hoping for the best, and hoping surgery won't be needed b/c of the stress involved with that.
Meanwhile, recs per vet is keep leg wrapped with support, keep him contained in a 12x12 or less area for FOUR MONTHS. We'll re-do the radiographs in one month to monitor healing and decide if alternative support is better - i.e. perhaps a bi-valve (I think this was what he called it) cast, etc.
I would so appreciate any good energy anyone can send. He's such a brave boy and so good - but this is going to be tough. Four months is a long time.
He is okay - the leg is stable and bandaged in a huge cast-like thing with two supports layered in to keep it straight, and radiographs are going to the vet school to see if surgery can help the outcome. There is a bone chip and a ragged area clearly visible - we are hoping for the best, and hoping surgery won't be needed b/c of the stress involved with that.
Meanwhile, recs per vet is keep leg wrapped with support, keep him contained in a 12x12 or less area for FOUR MONTHS. We'll re-do the radiographs in one month to monitor healing and decide if alternative support is better - i.e. perhaps a bi-valve (I think this was what he called it) cast, etc.
I would so appreciate any good energy anyone can send. He's such a brave boy and so good - but this is going to be tough. Four months is a long time.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
triple heater meridian
The pony's herb pack arrived today smelling like a yummy cookie before I even opened it. The cinnamon!
As if getting it wasn't excitement enough, Patsy enclosed a fact sheet about the blocked meridian. I think every issue this pony has ever had relates to this blocked meridian. This is some of what it says:
Triple Heater Meridian: Commander of all Energies
Function:
The Triple Heater is a function rather than a physical organ. It represents a group of energies and involves many organs. This meridian is the functional relationship between the energy-transforming organs. The Triple Heater transforms and transports Chi as it
flows unimpeded to all parts of the body. In this role, it helps transform and transport nourishment and to excrete waste as well as direct Chi to the organs. This meridian also enhances the functions of the lymphatic system. The Triple Heater is known as the "Official of Balance and Harmony."
Absolutely amazing.
As if getting it wasn't excitement enough, Patsy enclosed a fact sheet about the blocked meridian. I think every issue this pony has ever had relates to this blocked meridian. This is some of what it says:
Triple Heater Meridian: Commander of all Energies
Function:
The Triple Heater is a function rather than a physical organ. It represents a group of energies and involves many organs. This meridian is the functional relationship between the energy-transforming organs. The Triple Heater transforms and transports Chi as it
flows unimpeded to all parts of the body. In this role, it helps transform and transport nourishment and to excrete waste as well as direct Chi to the organs. This meridian also enhances the functions of the lymphatic system. The Triple Heater is known as the "Official of Balance and Harmony."
Absolutely amazing.
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