Re: [RC] paralyzed foal--animals can suffer and not be able to tell us - Mary Ann Spencer
Historically, extremely few horses have had much
survivalibility or quality of life from serious injuries. I must agree
with Joy on this but I did forward the previous email to the horsey folks I
know. One can patch up the trauma only to have them get sick with
colic. In humans, if the bullet is putting pressure on the spinal cord and
is not removed almost immediately, long term nerve damage will happen. As
the poor foal is paralyzed, then the care of an animal that has the genetic
potential to grow the a few hundred pounds and yet is paralyzed or has neuro
deficits will be ENORMOUS!!! The body will grow if it has protein but the
parts that don't move will not develop as fast, if at all. The long term
effects are devastating for all involved.
Maybe some one on this list has a concrete example
of one of these having a good outcome????
