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Post by Shelly on Dec 2, 2014 23:38:40 GMT
So the other day I got my mom to take a few pictures of me holding Oliver and Gracie side by side just so you can actually see the size difference between the two. My fiancé and I have 3 horse sizes, Small (gracie), Medium (sheldon) and xl (oliver) Sorry the pics are kinda blurry. Pictures don't turn out well in the barn at night    Oh and a couple pics of the heard for you! Oliver thought it was run bitting/playing with Sheldon's blanket while its on him.... you can kinda see the blanket going up and attached to his mouth... silly boy! So glad it didn't rip lol  Looks like gracie is smiling in this one lol  |
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mingiz
Junior Member
Los Lunas, NM
Posts: 3,320 
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Post by mingiz on Dec 3, 2014 0:25:25 GMT
Cool pics!!! That is one big horse!!! Makes all the others look little.  |
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Lipizzan
Junior Member
Europe, Croatia
Posts: 2,572
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Post by Lipizzan on Dec 3, 2014 8:15:03 GMT
My favourite is Oliver <3 my Lipis are small horses, so my wish is to ride once a very big horse
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Dec 3, 2014 13:56:02 GMT
Looks like Gracie could walk right under Oliver! Cute pictures, thanks for sharing.
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Post by carshon on Dec 3, 2014 14:11:07 GMT
Love these pics
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Post by horselady on Dec 4, 2014 1:35:12 GMT
That is one huge horse. love the photos and thanks for sharing.  |
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Post by Shelly on Dec 4, 2014 3:41:55 GMT
thanks  Ya I got to spend some extra time with Oliver today with the vet! finally getting his issues sorted out. Poor boy's sheath has been swollen for the last month. Don't worry! I called my vet on the first day and we were told there was nothing we could do... so Eventually got fed up of waiting for an inexistent treatment plan to start working and called an other vet. I now have hope his issues might get resolved. He's such a trooper with everything <3 |
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Dec 4, 2014 4:16:00 GMT
Great pictures! Oliver just towers over all the others!!!
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on Dec 4, 2014 22:25:51 GMT
So sweet! Thanks for sharing! I think it looks like Gracie has a heart on her nose in the last pic.
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Dec 8, 2014 1:46:10 GMT
Gracie does look like she has a heart nose! What a cutie patootie They are some fine looking horses, relaxed, cozy and well cared for. Buster's sheath wasn't too difficult to keep clean for the most part. Our vet said use Dawn dish soap and water. Well I thought it would be better to use Obgyn lubricant and man oh man that was a mistake. Didn't get him clean at all. Poor guy. And although he didn't have a bean for years and years, one year he did, the vet had to get it out, gave him an antibiotic and he was better real quick. Forgive me but to say that there isn't anything to do about a swollen sheath? That's pretty weird! Hope you figure it out and he's on the mend  |
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Post by Shelly on Dec 8, 2014 3:22:24 GMT
 - his sheath being dirty was my first guess, so we cleaned it right away (well my mom did, she got the bean out and everything. went all the way up to her elbows lol!). We we're hopping it was going to clear it up along with some massaging and bute. Sadly a month and a half later, new vet, new treatment plan and still nothing is really working. It's like we've come to a dead end. Apparently Ollie isn't the first case for the new vet this year, he's the 3ed draft case with swollen junk this month. I need to get him moving but the ground with it constantly freezing and defrosting; it's now frozen all bumpy with tons of ice rinks in the yard. It's really brutal. I'm at a loss, and not quite sure what to do anymore  Poor boy. nhg - That is soooo true!! awe Gracie <3 She's been stealing everyone's hearts at the farm so it's fitting Terry - I know!! Oliver is just MASSIVE. definitely a unique heard for sure! |
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Dec 8, 2014 3:25:12 GMT
Did Mr. Oliver get antibiotics too? Now I'm worried so sorry, Shelly |
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Post by Shelly on Dec 8, 2014 3:46:58 GMT
Not yet, that's probably going to be our next attempt. The vet isn't quite convinced that it's an infection just because he isn't red and it doesn't bother him when you tough it. She said she tried antibiotics on the other two and it hasn't changed anything.
we will see, it's just frustrating because I want to be able to help him so bad but it seems as if nothing is really working.
Tips are welcome!!
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Dec 8, 2014 12:05:09 GMT
Hmmm... I guess that while I'm sure the vet is doing the diagnostics but gosh I cant help wanting to figure on things too! First of all, horses are very good at hiding them they hurt so I wouldn't entirely rule that out but keep it in mind. So I'd try to learn more about the circulatory system and see what parts of the body drain toward the sheath and then look to see if there is an injury in those areas. Injury equals inflammation. So there has to be an injury of sorts somewhere. And inflammation drains away during exercise, but there are no muscles in the sheath, so something is draining there that during the normal course of things keeps "filling up" the sheath. At least that's what I'd ask the vet. After all I have the time to press all over the horse and I know my horse so if he even twitches an ear back, I'll know there is something going on, whereas when the vet does it, they might miss a little sign like that. It just might not hurt that much but still.
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Post by Shelly on Dec 9, 2014 3:45:55 GMT
Usually I find his mud fever in his back legs initiate the swelling but think year amazingly enough he doesn't even have mud fever. OK might as well go into details about what we have done with our treatment plan... day 1-called my usual vet, told him about the issue and he wasn't concerned. I told him I cleaned his sheath, sponged him down with cold water in attempt to reduce swelling and put him on phenylbutazone (Bute) once a day. Vet said to continue and quote: it could take a week to clear or could take up to 3 months. 1 month later, no change. I decide I don't want to ruin his stomach lining giving bute daily for so long and call an other vet. New vet comes: actions taken: -initial exam -cleaned sheath (which was super clean, pretty proud of that one). the vet palpated everywhere inside to feel for abnormal masses and etc, nothing was found. - gave ollie his first dose IV of Lasix (diuretic) and was to receive an other dose the next day IM. Also told to start antihistamine 2x daily for a week in attempt to rule out allergic reaction and to receive antihistamine daily for the following week. Bloodwork was also taken and nothing was out of the ordinary. ------ tomorrow is a week into treatment and so far no change I'm not quite sure what to do anymore. I was convinced the Lasix would work to help get rid of that extra fluid but instead he got bigger and had to be on bute for 3 days. Told the vet and she mentioned that it was possible for him to swell up the next day more considering she was up there poking around-- so to me that's understandable. I'm kinda at a loss. the only thing I can think of to help bring up his circulation now that I haven't tried yet is to do a warm compress and exercise. I asked the vet about exercising him and she said to do what he tolerates and that he would let me know if he isn't comfortable which Ollie would. Sorry I don't have better pictures (he was cleaned right after taking these pics- this is of day 1, but not much has changed since)   |
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Dec 9, 2014 12:13:23 GMT
Aww, poor guy! I am so sorry he has to "have" that. You'll figure it out, I know I hate it when this kind of thing happens but some stuff just takes "so long" to figure out. In retrospect it looks like "duh" but not when its happening. You're doing all the right things, everything you can, you haven't thrown up your hands and said, "heck with it I don't care anymore" because you do care! And then when the answer finally comes you'll be so proud you of yourself and Ollie!
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Post by Shelly on Dec 10, 2014 3:56:52 GMT
I have hope!! Hopefully we will find that magical treatment that will finally help him get over this. I hate seeing him like that even if he doesn't seem to care as much but still!
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Post by Shelly on Dec 11, 2014 3:41:16 GMT
OK we just got a new treatment plan! The vet was having a discussion today with an other vet and they mentioned that sometimes their sheath can get swollen like that due to a protein overload and lack of movement.
So Ollie has been cut down from grain (he was never getting much, he get about a cup/day currently just as a treat when the other horses come in to eat) so now he's gonna get 1/4cup just to keep him busy and I might look into getting him simple oats or something with less protein then what he is getting now. Also I have to work him or hand walk him 15-20 mins every day (he's gonna love that one!).
I'll let you know if there's any improvement!
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Dec 11, 2014 13:59:27 GMT
Sounds like a good plan to me. Are you feeding hay? You may want to get it tested to see how much protein is in it as well.
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Post by carshon on Dec 11, 2014 14:56:03 GMT
I was going to mention hay too - if it has alfalfa in it - that could be a protein overload. Some horses get skin reactions to too much alfalfa.
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Ya I got to spend some extra time with Oliver today with the vet! finally getting his issues sorted out. Poor boy's sheath has been swollen for the last month. Don't worry! I called my vet on the first day and we were told there was nothing we could do... so Eventually got fed up of waiting for an inexistent treatment plan to start working and called an other vet. 
- his sheath being dirty was my first guess, so we cleaned it right away (well my mom did, she got the bean out and everything. went all the way up to her elbows lol!). We we're hopping it was going to clear it up along with some massaging and bute. Sadly a month and a half later, new vet, new treatment plan and still nothing is really working. It's like we've come to a dead end. Apparently Ollie isn't the first case for the new vet this year, he's the 3ed draft case with swollen junk this month. I need to get him moving but the ground with it constantly freezing and defrosting; it's now frozen all bumpy with tons of ice rinks in the yard. It's really brutal. I'm at a loss, and not quite sure what to do anymore 
Poor boy. 
