hobbyhorse23
Well-Known Member
Ya'll know what Kody and I have been going through the last three years with his locking stifles and especially since his ligament splitting surgery last fall. You've sympathized and been there for me as I agonized over what to do and when to do it. This last week I felt I absolutely had to make a decision one way or the other if there was to be any hope of a show season for us and right up until the last minute I kept both roads open, unable to decide which way to jump. Have you ever wished you had a crystal ball? I sure did!!
I called every local vet I could find and they either didn't do the procedure, wanted $1,000 for it and 90 days in a stall afterwards with no hand-walking, or I wasn't comfortable with them over the phone. Finally things began to fall into place with the help of some dear friends and I found my mind made up.
Yesterday at 11AM Kody got his medial patellar ligaments cut in a small vet hospital in Centralia on our way home from Happ's. As you guys had told me it took only moments and was very simple, the longest part of the whole thing was waiting for him to wake up enough to handle a two hour trailer ride home. He wasn't locking at all during the pre-exam (of course!) so there was no immediate difference apparent but he seemed happy enough as he came out of the sedative and began to tow me purposefully around the parking lot at a decent walk. He handled the ride home well, pawing authoritatively to be let out of the trailer, and was happy to greet Spyder but as soon as I got him tucked away in a stall he promptly laid down and politely refused to move for awhile. I can't blame him!
He was very ouchy by the time I went back out to give him his dinner and laid down every few minutes to take the weight off his feet but once the bute took effect he seemed better. He had a very good appetite and was quite happy to eat a medicated beet pulp mash as long as I was willing to sit down next to him and hold the bucket! He's not spoiled, not one little bit....
Gotta love him.
The most important thing is that he's not locking anymore. It hit me hard the first time I put my hand on the top of his hip and there was absolutely nothing when he hesitantly moved. No little click, pop, snap, kick, drag, give or buckle...no nothing that's been a part of him with every stalled step he's taken for as long as I've known him. He just...moved his leg. God. I thought my heart was going to overflow as I fought back tears for a moment and gave him a hug. I've wanted that for him for so very long, to finally have it seems like a miracle.
THANK YOU to my LB family for your advice and support.
Without your guidance I would not have had the courage to try this surgery which every vet in my area was making sound like a huge deal that would ruin my horse. I would not have known it could be done standing up under local anesthesia and I would not have known to shop around for a reasonable price. This decision will likely cost me the first few events of the year (all of them major, sadly) but I think in the long run will be a blessing and give Kody the life he's deserved all along.
Oh, and my total? $269.55, including the antibiotic shot I asked for and some Banamine.
That's about what it costs to geld around here.
Leia
I called every local vet I could find and they either didn't do the procedure, wanted $1,000 for it and 90 days in a stall afterwards with no hand-walking, or I wasn't comfortable with them over the phone. Finally things began to fall into place with the help of some dear friends and I found my mind made up.
Yesterday at 11AM Kody got his medial patellar ligaments cut in a small vet hospital in Centralia on our way home from Happ's. As you guys had told me it took only moments and was very simple, the longest part of the whole thing was waiting for him to wake up enough to handle a two hour trailer ride home. He wasn't locking at all during the pre-exam (of course!) so there was no immediate difference apparent but he seemed happy enough as he came out of the sedative and began to tow me purposefully around the parking lot at a decent walk. He handled the ride home well, pawing authoritatively to be let out of the trailer, and was happy to greet Spyder but as soon as I got him tucked away in a stall he promptly laid down and politely refused to move for awhile. I can't blame him!
He was very ouchy by the time I went back out to give him his dinner and laid down every few minutes to take the weight off his feet but once the bute took effect he seemed better. He had a very good appetite and was quite happy to eat a medicated beet pulp mash as long as I was willing to sit down next to him and hold the bucket! He's not spoiled, not one little bit....
The most important thing is that he's not locking anymore. It hit me hard the first time I put my hand on the top of his hip and there was absolutely nothing when he hesitantly moved. No little click, pop, snap, kick, drag, give or buckle...no nothing that's been a part of him with every stalled step he's taken for as long as I've known him. He just...moved his leg. God. I thought my heart was going to overflow as I fought back tears for a moment and gave him a hug. I've wanted that for him for so very long, to finally have it seems like a miracle.
THANK YOU to my LB family for your advice and support.
Oh, and my total? $269.55, including the antibiotic shot I asked for and some Banamine.
Leia
