Dualing Professionals

Thank you everyone for your comments on my last post. I still can't believe she is gone, but seeing her half finished cross stitch project certainly makes it real. And yes Kristen we can talk about a project of your own. Pm me on Facebook or email me at equinpilot@yahoo.com.

While Mom was gone Comrade was having issues with his mouth. The dentist had found he has a gap that will hold food. He told us to use a hose and rinse his mouth. Comrade was not totally thrilled at the prospect considering the weather was below freezing. At one point he even drooled down the gate. He seemed to resolve the issue.

All during that episode, Comrade kept eating. He is a Cob so food is priority. So when we started seeing issues this month the differences were noticeable. This time the drool was almost nonstop and he was not eating hay. Peggy got the dentist on the schedule to come. But Comrade's condition deteriorated to the point of shaking and minor colic. So we called the vet.

Comrade showing off his new sheet

The vet found he had a temperature of 101.8. He was obviously fighting something. So the vet took blood. She also looked at his mouth and did not see a huge amount of stuff in his gap. He got banamine for both the temp and the colic. Soon after he dug into his wet hay pellets and some soft grass hay. That evening his temp was down to 101.5 and in the morning it was down to 101.

During a blanket change Mom and I were appalled to see him so tucked up in his tummy and haunches. He looked horrible. No temp, but he was uncomfortable. Peggy gave him an oral dose of banamine after which he dug into food for the next three hours.

Ember snoot honing in

The next day the vet was coming to do a more thorough oral exam. She found three large ulcers on his tongue. She could not tell us how it happened or why he had an infection. Other than treating the ulcers, there was no other treatment advised. Salt water washes am and pm much to Comrade's delight.
When the dentist came, he did not believe the minor sharp edges were enough to cause the massive ulcers. He took pictures and video to send to three vets he knows around the country. All three individually came back and said that at some point Comrade's tongue was swollen and he chewed on it. That would explain the constant drool too.
 I was really glad not to be present. This vet practice refuses to sedate for our dentist and they feel they are superior. Except that when we used them, the horses were over sedated and sore afterward. Plus they were too expensive. We certainly won't burn the bridge, but we have been looking for another vet. So when the vet asked to do a full dental on Comrade, Peggy was quick to say that the dentist would be coming in a couple of hours. Let the dual begin. The vet lectured over and over about why the dentist  was not the right way to go. Phone conversations with the dentist of course said how the vets don't do things right. Poor Peggy was the concerned owner stuck in the middle. The determination of the dentist and his persistence to find us another vet helped Peggy make the decision. Plus he left a large syringe type thing to do the salt rinses.
In the end we are just trying to find the best care for our horses without breaking the bank.

Comrade had a recheck today from the new vet and no more ulcers. He will be so sad when he does not get anymore soft hay. So will Rosemary who has diligently been stealing it from him.