Festus's diagnosis

[dixie_belle]

Vet says he has a form of clostridial disease. Unfortunately, it is most often fatal. What?? He's given him a steroid to help with his breathing and an antibiotic. I've got to give him another shot every day for the next 5 days, also (if he pulls thru).

Good news: It's not contagious so I can put him back with his friends.

Bad news: He's only got a 50/50 chance of survival. Personally, I don't like those odds, but they are what they are.

Vet will call back tonight for an update and probably twice a day (he said). I'm going to put him back out with his friends because he'll most likely be more comfortable out there.

 

[Riverrose28]

I'm so sorry, all I can do is send prayers your way.

 

[wingnut]

I'm sorry you got this unpleasant prognosis. {{{ hugs }}}

 

[eagles ring farm]

so sorry....prayers coming for you and your guy

 

[dixie_belle]

Unbelievably, his breathing isn't nearly so labored now (probably the steroid shot kicking in). I have all four mini horses and Festus in the dry lot, under the shade of the runin where there is a nice, cool breeze. Festus is eating....which has got to be good, right? I feel like I caught this right away. I mean, I noticed something was wrong at 9:30 this morning and the vet was here by 1:00pm. Surely that means we caught it so early he may have a chance? I'm just blindsided by this diagnosis. And from what scant research there is online, if it's gonna happen, it'll happen quick. Shoot, sometimes, an otherwise healthy animal simply drops dead.

I'm in a state of denial, I guess. But I'm going to give the antibiotic shots and continue to keep him comfortable and happy.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

O Gee, that is bad news. Hope since you caught it early it will have a good ending.

Is it something fairly common that the vet picked up on it right away?

 

[MyMiniGal]

I'm so sorry about this. Will say a prayer for complete healing.

 

[happy appy]

Praying for a speedy recovery. Hugs to you and you family.

 

[AnnaC]

I'm so very sorry to hear your news. Sending prayers and hopeful healing thoughts for Festus.

((((HUGS))))

 

[targetsmom]

Sending prayers. Sounds like you are doing everything possible for him so I sure hope it works.

 

[madmax]

So sorry for the news, but since you were so quick in getting the diagnosis, surely your odds are more in your favor. Will be thinking about you and Festus and hoping for the best. You are giving him a good chance.

 

[LittleRibbie]

50/50 Chance and Most Often fatal....not the best thing to hear but like you said, you caught this early and are treating it. Your quick thinking and calling the vet out asap is giving him a better chance. Being out and enjoying his friends is wonderful. Im sorry you are going through this but Know prayers are being sent to both you and your little Festus. (((hugs)))

 

[dixie_belle]

It's 1:30 pm now and Festus is still with us. As long as I keep him with all his friends, he seems content. So I have them all up close to the house, in the run in, and I go out every hour and check on him. He still sounds, I don't know, flemy(?) when he breathes but it certainly isn't any worse than yesterday. Hubby and I just went out and gave him his antibiotic shot (which, by the way, the vet made sound so easy yesterday....just give him a shot right here, no sweat). Um....for a sick little donkey, he is still surprisingly strong. He threw/drug hubby and I all over the place. We are probably more sore than he is right about now. My goodness. So, I'm taking that to be a good sign. And after all that commotion, I went out there and made sure to love on him and he forgave me.

So....is he any better? Um......not really. Having said that, he isn't any worse. And he is eating, so I take that for a good sign. I'd like to think that all this medicine will be kicking in soon. Hubby and I have three more days of giving him shots. Oh joy. But I'd do just about anything for him because he is typically such a sweet little guy (when you are not jabbing sharp objects into his neck).

And, even though vet said he is not contagious, I am watching the others like a hawk. So far, no one else has shown any signs of anything unusual.

 

[eagles ring farm]

Can you let him be eating a bucket of grain giving the shot to take his mind off the shot . That's how we do our horses that don't like shots, we get the shot done and they get an extra treat of grain

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Thanks for the update.

We had to give injections for a young horse bitten by a rattlesnake. It gets really old after a day or so. Lucky for me, my husband could do it and he got really quick at it. We had to keep saying: It's for your own good...it's for your own good...

 

[dixie_belle]

Mini horse chow....why didn't I think of that???? We'll try that tomorrow. Thank goodness it's only one shot a day. He is incredibly strong. I shudder to think of what he could do if'n he was a big boy. (And I may have gotten a little of the medicine on hubby's pants and leg.....oops.) Hey, I can't be expected to be perfect on my first try. And I definitely wasn't going to refill the syringe and try again! No way, Jose.

 

[LittleRibbie]

Sorry your having a difficult time w/his shots but giving him a little food is a good idea. What a helpful hubby you have! I'll contine to send prayers Festus's way.

 

Sad to hear of the news, but so good that you caught it early. Praying for a full recovery for the little guy!!

Best of luck with the shots. The feed trick sounds like a wonderful plan!!

 

[chandab]

Hubby and I just went out and gave him his antibiotic shot (which, by the way, the vet made sound so easy yesterday....just give him a shot right here, no sweat). Um....for a sick little donkey, he is still surprisingly strong. He threw/drug hubby and I all over the place. We are probably more sore than he is right about now. My goodness. So, I'm taking that to be a good sign.

I have road rash from vaccinating one of the yearlings a few days ago. Smallest one of the bunch, maybe 145#, not sure how tall; he knocked me down a couple times, I just gave him his shot while I was still on the ground.

he was just fine for his first shot 3 weeks ago, but his booster was another story.

 

[AnnaC]

How is Festus today? Still saying prayers for him and for you.