dixie_belle
Well-Known Member
First of all, I am getting a lot better at giving donkey shots, without giving myself one, as well. (just thought I'd mention that first) The hardest part of giving him the shot now is running him into a stall. He's a smart little begger.
This morning I go out to check on him and, as usual, he looks fine BUT where is the loud breathing?? It's gone! WHAT? No raspy sounds, no labored movements. Goodness knows I've been watching them all like a hawk. Hubby even noticed when it was shot time. I said to him "listen" and he said "what, I don't hear anything"............exactly my point. It's been four days of shots so maybe it just took that long to kick in. And the diagnosis could have been wrong. Who knows?
But here is what I'm thinking. And it's just a theory, we will never know for sure.
Festus just is a little imp. He's really, really sweet, but he does impish stuff. Chews off hose pieces and pokes the horses with it. Carries off the hose. Annoys the devil out of the horses. He'll go from one to the next to the next and nip at them to play. Then he'll chase them and just bug them. A lot. So what if he and one of the little horses were playing, like they always do, and someone bites him a tad too hard on the neck. Now just follow me along here. He was hoarse, remember? So he has this bite, it doesn't break the skin but it makes maybe a little hole in his windpipe. Some air comes out and gets trapped between his skin and muscle(that's the popping/crinkling the vet felt) And, until it closed up, it made breathing difficult. That would explain all his symptoms.
Regardless, he is still bright eyed and much more quiet this afternoon. I've still got one more day to give him a shot so I'll do that tomorrow.
I think I'll call the vet today.
I'm so encouraged by this.
This morning I go out to check on him and, as usual, he looks fine BUT where is the loud breathing?? It's gone! WHAT? No raspy sounds, no labored movements. Goodness knows I've been watching them all like a hawk. Hubby even noticed when it was shot time. I said to him "listen" and he said "what, I don't hear anything"............exactly my point. It's been four days of shots so maybe it just took that long to kick in. And the diagnosis could have been wrong. Who knows?
But here is what I'm thinking. And it's just a theory, we will never know for sure.
Festus just is a little imp. He's really, really sweet, but he does impish stuff. Chews off hose pieces and pokes the horses with it. Carries off the hose. Annoys the devil out of the horses. He'll go from one to the next to the next and nip at them to play. Then he'll chase them and just bug them. A lot. So what if he and one of the little horses were playing, like they always do, and someone bites him a tad too hard on the neck. Now just follow me along here. He was hoarse, remember? So he has this bite, it doesn't break the skin but it makes maybe a little hole in his windpipe. Some air comes out and gets trapped between his skin and muscle(that's the popping/crinkling the vet felt) And, until it closed up, it made breathing difficult. That would explain all his symptoms.
Regardless, he is still bright eyed and much more quiet this afternoon. I've still got one more day to give him a shot so I'll do that tomorrow.
I think I'll call the vet today.
I'm so encouraged by this.
