Update on the Big Bay

 First, he received his first acupuncture treatment this morning and he loved it - much licking and chewing and then eyes closing as he went into the zen zone, plus much giving of thanks to his vet and to me after she left. I’m happy we have an additional supportive therapy to plug into his repertoire. 

The vet did her own pre-acupuncture exam and today he is weak on the right (vs the left on Friday) and she feels he has slight lameness going on in the left rear. But she trotted him out and there was no wobbling at all, so that was good for me to see, even if it did scare me a little.

He scanned well after the acupuncture and he’s already set to get another treatment in two weeks.

As this vet drove off the farm, I got the message from his other vet that the EPM test came back positive. He’ll start the treatment for that ASAP. 

I’m relieved to have a definitive diagnosis, and happy his two vets will confer and put everything together to get the best treatment plan possible as we move forward. He’s in good spirits, enjoying the attention, and mostly looks better than he did last week. He’s got chiro and hoof trim coming up so basically everything should be in good shape for him as we get rid of the protozoa!

What’s Coming Up In The Garden, 57: swamp doghobble

 Now that fall is here I’m starting to put new native species in, so they can develop strong root systems over the winter and come up raring to go in the spring. Everything I’ve planted in the fall has done extremely well with no pampering except insuring the plants get water through the winter. Usually the rainfall takes care of that.

This week, I added a lovely native shrub, swamp doghobble, to the shade bed. It will be the backdrop for a number of the other plants already living there and eventually will grow tall enough to hide the drainage ditch and pipe we have on the back side of the bed. With its leaves turning red in the autumn, it will also add some color!

More info:

Eubotrys racemosa 

Common Name(s):

 

• Swamp Doghobble
• Sweetbells Leucothoe

Previously known as:

 

• Leucothoe racemosa

Phonetic Spelling

YOO-bot-trees ray-see-MO-suh

Description

Swamp Doghobble is a 3 to 6 feet tall deciduous shrub with alternate leaves. The shiny stems are a mix of green and red. In the spring, white, bell-shaped flowers appear on 3- to 4-inch racemes. Leaves turn red in the fall.

It prefers a moist, cool, acidic soil. It can be grown in full sun, but must have good moisture. Does not tolerate drought or windy conditions. Although winter hardy to Zone 5, this shrub should be planted in a protected location and given a good winter mulch in cooler areas.  Can be evergreen in warmer zones.

This twiggy, spreading plant sends out suckers to form colonies.  Although it has no serious insect or disease problems, it is susceptible to root rot and leaf spot.

This and That, or My Distracted Day

 I’ve been reading too much news coverage the past 48 hours and I feel like I’ve had about 5 extra shot lattes. Time to cut back on news and Twitter.

Meanwhile, a couple of the outfits I ordered arrived today and I was rocketed back to Hanna Andersson catalogs and the absolute softness of this cotton clothing.  

The asters are coming in! And the bees are going nuts. I’m loving this combo.

My daughter had one of her lovely photos included in Ocean Conservancy’s 2021 calendar! She’s a rock star!

I moved the pumpkins to the ledge where we’ll enjoy them coming, going, and even glancing out the front windows.

I hung the fall horse wreaths on the gate. They’re gorgeous but 1) the photo in full blazing sunlight washes everything out, and 2) I need to do my annual tung oil application.

The new native plant pollinator doubling as rain garden bed. I’ll profile the plants in subsequent posts, but I’m really happy with how I think this will look next spring and summer. Did I get smarter about layout and weaving in heights/colors/textures/something blooming all the time? We shall see!

This post represents completely the state of my brain and my day. Hopefully tomorrow will bring some relaxed thinking and more focus!

She Brings Joy

 

(She = daughter who took the photo and Clem who posed so nicely)

Good thoughts for the Big Bay

 Two days ago Keil Bay suddenly had an issue with his hind end being noticeably weak, particular on the left side, and it got better, worse, and better again by today’s vet appointment. He’s had a full neurological exam, much bloodwork, and the vet suspects it might be EPM. We have a good treatment plan in place until test results are in, and a tentative plan depending on his lab results. 

Meanwhile we’re starting acupuncture and increased vitamin E as supportive therapies that will help no matter what the diagnosis.

Keil is 31, and he’s been the healthiest animal on the farm from the day he came home with me. He’s also my dream horse and while I know I have to be ready for anything, it’s so hard to imagine him sick or incapacitated. Last night I cried until my eyes were swollen, imagining the worst, and today I feel much more hopeful that this is not as terrible as I thought last night, but we would love whatever good energy anyone wants to send his way. 

Today, I sat and watched him after the vet left and who would ever think this handsome guy is 31? He’s the King. :)