Help! Down horse!

[Bette Lamore <woa@stormnet.com>]

Hope someone out there has had experience with this
Day 1 Sunday: I have a 2 year old gelded son of Halynov who ran into a
tree branch we believe last Sat night and was discovered Sun mid morning
lying down in pasture--- nothing unusual until he wouldn't get up and
then we lifted up his forelock to see a 1/2 inch opening between his
ears, closer to the right one. It looked almost like a bullet wound
until the vet fished around a found a three inch stick in there, about a
1/2 inch wide and a 6 inch track. He cleaned it out and gave him 60cc of
Dexamethazone, IV DMSO,5 liters of fluids, banamine and a heavy duty
antibiotic, daquill (?). He said our only hope was to kill any infection
and bring down the swelling (in his face on the right side to his eye
and most likely inside as well. He was not using his back legs much---
like a weakness--- but had normal respiratory, normal temp and within
normal pulse, etc. He was peeing and pooping and started to show a
renewed interest in life as the day wore on.
Day 2 Monday: Much more alert--- playing with us with his lips---
getting carrots, hay and grain and water on demand--- sitting up but
still too weak to stand. 50cc of dexamethazone, banamine, Daquill and
changing bandage again shooting in cephaliprine (lactating cow
antibiotic) into the hole and again pushing a gauze bandage as a "plug".
Vet said if he doesn't stand by Tues we may want to put him down.
Day 3 Tuesday: We had been focusing on the head wound (which actually
did not appear to puncture the skull but did run along the top side of
the first vertebrate, leading us to believe that swelling could be the
problem and if we could only bring it down... This time I decided to
focus on the right hip and lower spine as it occurred to me that he may
have injured himself on the fall down. He instantly responded to
neurokinesiology (accupressure) with chewing indicated relief. We also
lifted the back leg as high as possible to "pop" his back.
The vet arrived to give THE SHOT and I asked him to hotshot him to see
if we could encourage him to stand up. He got his legs under him and
started too but was too weak in the hind end---- A REPRIEVE! The vet
said it was encouraging and we could have more time. He gave him
everything as above but again 60 cc Dexamethazone (we were going for
broke realizing the danger of founder with steroids but also realizing
everyday not standing, Scimitar's chances went down. Checked with
Charlie Boles--- said we now had 5% chance but were doing everything
right. Heck--- SOMEONE wins the lottery! Again stayed down with him all
day and all night--- giving water, food, encouragement.... and his
spirits were good. Only negative, a few sores from trying to stand and
laying down-- but treated with Corona. Spirits good.
Day 4 Wed: Still had not stood up. We prepared for the vet's arrival and
THE SHOT. He was so perky the vet decided to change the bandage first
and now he had recognition of pain there and ALMOST stood up---- 2/3 up
with the hind legs. Vet gave another reprieve--- he was getting
stronger. Same regimen except IV bute rather than banamin and only 40cc
of dexamethazone. We tried to work with popping back again but he did
not want anymore of that--- did like the pressure point work. A little
irony, Mark had gone up to get something to eat and some freeway driver
saw the horse in the field and the Sheriff had to come out to see if we
were abusing the horse. I should be so abused! DMSO again--- smells like
we live in a Korean restaurant!
Day 5 Thurs: Looked perky in morning. Vet said he was going to let him
rest and get up on his own-- he crashed hard the previous day and we
feared that if we pushed him too soon, he might fall, giving himself a
concussion. 15cc Dexamethazone, IV bute, daquill Eating drinking and
pooping--- no temp and good spirits. Wants people around him 24/7. Put
his sister next to him for cheering up--- she promptly stole his grain
and tried to bite him over it. Bad idea but it didi perk him up--- he
was happy to see her anyway.
Day 6 Friday: I had to go to work--- cried eyes out in the mourning,
certain THE SHOT would be
given as he had not tried to get up during the night and seemed terribly
depressed before I left. I was away from the office all day. Came back
to the office to hear a message "horse perked up for vet--- sat up and
appeared on the verge of getting up. Either he is feeling better or he
wants to avoid the hot shot. ANOTHER REPRIEVE! 15cc dexamethazone, IV
bute and daquill. Didn't mind bandage change as much. Given a full body
message by a masseuse who also gave my husband one (oh that I was
there!.. Sleeping in the van in the cold...the aches..)
Day 7 Saturday: TODAY and the vet has not yet arrived. No real tries at
getting up last night so far as rear end. Trying to get a hold of an
acupuncturist. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? ENCOURAGEMENT??? is it
possible for a horse to be down a week and then get up???? Are we facing
insurmountable odds? He wants to live--- when do we pull the plug?
Thank you for any help anyone can offer.
Bette
- 
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians, Home of 16.2hh TLA Halynov	
(Yes, really 16.2!)
http://www.arabiansporthorse.com