Billy

[MaryFlora]

My mini, Tiffany, is struggling now with the same issue. The frozen ground triggers it every winter. She does get some relief from wearing her EZ boots. I leave them on for a few days then off, and rotate them.

 

[HersheyMint]

If you think he was slimming, he probably was but then winter came. It is a struggle for me in the winter to keep them from not gaining. I feed a little bit more and I feed 3x a day. They don't get as much exercise either. When good weather is here I focus on more exercise for them and me.
When I read how some get out in the snow, I don't know how they do it.
I'm hoping he feels better.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I may put his boots on. I'll try that.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

My mini, Tiffany, is struggling now with the same issue. The frozen ground triggers it every winter. She does get some relief from wearing her EZ boots. I leave them on for a few days then off, and rotate them.

I put his boots on this evening. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[MaryFlora]

I hope it helps at least a little! It’s hard when our animals are hurting!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I'm pretty discouraged. Billy could hardly walk this morning. He's been on dry lot and a quarter of equiox pill for pain every day. It could be laminitis, but another concern is arthritis--I always ask him to stretch his hind leg up to the belly when I groom. It's never easy for him, but lately he cannot seem to get his leg all the way up. I'm thinking arthritis is more his problem than sore feet. He had Adequan last week. I turned him out into the dead-grass pasture today as maybe moving around more with Rusty will help him. Also gave him banamine this morning. I wish I knew what to do that was best.
btw, Rusty has reverted to suspicion and hard-to-catch since the dentist. Weather and life have not been conducive to working with him. I did take him for two long walks the other day. Once you catch him, he is pretty docile. Billy panicked when Rusty was gone for the walks.

 

[HersheyMint]

I'm pretty discouraged. Billy could hardly walk this morning. He's been on dry lot and a quarter of equiox pill for pain every day. It could be laminitis, but another concern is arthritis--I always ask him to stretch his hind leg up to the belly when I groom. It's never easy for him, but lately he cannot seem to get his leg all the way up. I'm thinking arthritis is more his problem than sore feet. He had Adequan last week. I turned him out into the dead-grass pasture today as maybe moving around more with Rusty will help him. Also gave him banamine this morning. I wish I knew what to do that was best.
btw, Rusty has reverted to suspicion and hard-to-catch since the dentist. Weather and life have not been conducive to working with him. I did take him for two long walks the other day. Once you catch him, he is pretty docile. Billy panicked when Rusty was gone for the walks.

How is Billy this afternoon/evening? I wish he could tell you the answer to help him.

 

[Standards Equine]

Awe, I'm sorry to hear that it's not positive news with the boys right now. Hopefully it's just a temporary discomfort for Billy and Rusty will again remember how awesome people are!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Billy is lame this morning. I am wondering if the drastic trim he had contributed to it. I was near to tears when that farrier left and I saw what he had done. Regular farrier is back, now. Wish he could talk.

 

[Standards Equine]

Is it possible it's an abscess? Is it both feet or just one?

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I stopped this morning to chat with a local vet that I trust. He is nearing retirement and isn't as active, but he took 20 minutes this morning to listen to me. I told him everything I was doing for Billy; he suspects the arthritis is in the hip and shoulder, nothing to do with lamintis or trimming. He told me to double the equiox for 3 days and he would consult a veterinary that does compound joint supplements.
So, that is my plan for now.
Billy is 21 this year. I've only had him 3 years and have no idea of his past; possibly he was ridden by heavy people when he was young. I know he was transported several times across country ( no one kept him very long), and that could have been hard on him.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I might mention Lyme disease to my vet. I do not think it is common here, but the stiffness might explain that. He is not lethargic and has a great appetite, so that is not an issue. But the stiffness is mysterious.

 

[Standards Equine]

I didn't realize he is in his 20s! I started my bonus daughter's gymkhana pony on MSM and magnesium. He was sore in his lower back, hips and pelvis, started crow hopping in his runs. We went to one of her rodeos, I did a Bemer session on him and sent her home with supplements to try on him. He seems to have responded very well to them (although he is a picky eater!) and they've won their last couple of races. Even her mom reached out to thank me for the horse's improvement. I use products from MadBarn, a Canadian company, and got the supplements delivered right to their door.
Is there anyone in your area who does Bemer sessions? Might be worth trying out? Or Edelweiss's light patches?

 

[Marsha Cassada]

The vet came out so I didn't have to get Billy into the trailer. What a nice guy! He checked his feet for laminitis and watched him move around. Billy had the 3rd dose of double equioxx this morning so he was moving better. But it was obvious that he is struggling. The vet will get me some different joint supplement; he said he has seen remarkable improvement in roping horses that are on it. It will take about four weeks to see improvement, but we'll give it a try. I am to continue the quarter tablet equioxx. No more banamine.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Billy was down this morning. I could tell he had been down a while and struggled to get up. I put his halter on and was able to get him up. Encouraged him to walk a few steps out onto the grass. He stood there trembling a little then began to graze. Rusty was nearby. I called the vet, as I thought this was the end. But the vet doesn't want to give up on him. He called an equine surgeon in Dallas and learned about a better equioxx product. It should be in tomorrow afternoon.
Just checked on him and he was laying down. I sat with him for a minute to see if he was ready to get up, but I think he was wanting to just lay there for a while. I will check on him again. Maybe he can get up by himself this time. We are all just wondering how he went down so quickly in just a couple of months.

 

[HersheyMint]

Billy was down this morning. I could tell he had been down a while and struggled to get up. I put his halter on and was able to get him up. Encouraged him to walk a few steps out onto the grass. He stood there trembling a little then began to graze. Rusty was nearby. I called the vet, as I thought this was the end. But the vet doesn't want to give up on him. He called an equine surgeon in Dallas and learned about a better equioxx product. It should be in tomorrow afternoon.
Just checked on him and he was laying down. I sat with him for a minute to see if he was ready to get up, but I think he was wanting to just lay there for a while. I will check on him again. Maybe he can get up by himself this time. We are all just wondering how he went down so quickly in just a couple of months.

I'm so sorry to hear this. Praying the different drug will work and it does arrive soon! My thoughts and arms surround you and Billy with all the positive energy I have.

 

[1roadtoad]

I'm also sending positive energy in Billy's direction and yours too. At one point you thought you might check him for Lyme's but you haven't mentioned it again. If I'm correct, you also said that Billy went cross country a few times. Perhaps, he could have been bitten by a deer tick which resulted Lyme's disease during one of his eastern trips. I have had 3 of my horses get Lyme's in the past decade, (I've actually had it 4 times myself). A blood test would show whether he's ever had it or not. One of the many possible affects of Lyme's is arthritis which can present years or decades after the infection. I hope you figure it out and that Billy is soon on the mend.

 

[MaryFlora]

I’m so sorry Marsha. My heart and prayers are with you, Billy, and your vet that doesn’t want to give up!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I'm also sending positive energy in Billy's direction and yours too. At one point you thought you might check him for Lyme's but you haven't mentioned it again. If I'm correct, you also said that Billy went cross country a few times. Perhaps, he could have been bitten by a deer tick which resulted Lyme's disease during one of his eastern trips. I have had 3 of my horses get Lyme's in the past decade, (I've actually had it 4 times myself). A blood test would show whether he's ever had it or not. One of the many possible affects of Lyme's is arthritis which can present years or decades after the infection. I hope you figure it out and that Billy is soon on the mend.

Vet said his issue is not neurological. It is joint. I helped him up 3 times yesterday. Last night I checked on him and he was down but got up on his own. This morning he was down and I could tell he had been there awhile, but he got up on his own and took a couple of steps on his own. I could see where he had been down in the night and struggled to get up. I am starting to see that his expression is not happy like it was just a few days ago. Cannot believe how fast this has progressed.
Rusty is so good with him. He keeps close by.
Thank you for good wishes for him. This forum has been my place to learn, to share, and to rely on understanding and support. Animals can be a heartbreak.

 

[Dreams of Ashes]

Vet said his issue is not neurological. It is joint. I helped him up 3 times yesterday. Last night I checked on him and he was down but got up on his own. This morning he was down and I could tell he had been there awhile, but he got up on his own and took a couple of steps on his own. I could see where he had been down in the night and struggled to get up. I am starting to see that his expression is not happy like it was just a few days ago. Cannot believe how fast this has progressed.
Rusty is so good with him. He keeps close by.
Thank you for good wishes for him. This forum has been my place to learn, to share, and to rely on understanding and support. Animals can be a heartbreak.

Oh no, that is scary and well, upsetting, it's so hard, I wish they could talk and tell us what hurts. I've not done that with a horse yet, but I went through it with a beloved kitty just over a year ago now. I had to let her, go in the end, but my new kitty has helped with that loss. I had no idea Billy was as old as he is. Hopefully he'll hang in there and the new meds will help, and it seems Rusty is doing his best to help out as well. If worse, comes to worse at least he knows he's loved and cared for and not an abandoned number like so many.

NO, matter what happens(recovery or end of the trail), be proud of yourself, for being a loving caring owner who's done everything you can. It's not easy!