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Colt45
May 25, 2013 17:27:52 GMT -5
Post by vsolubo on May 25, 2013 17:27:52 GMT -5
My Colt45 is not doing well & I would like all my horse peeps to keep him in their prayers. Colt has been dealing with a non-aggressive, slow cancer for about 5 years now, but lately has been showing signs of pain. He is still eating well, but sunlight is causing him severe pain. I started noticing last week that any time I went out he was in the barn, he wouldn’t even leave the barn to go graze in the driveway. Today he came out & headed straight for the trees to graze in the shade; when he moved out of the shade into the sun he literally went nuts & started running hard from gate to gate trying to get back into the barn. Luckily he came when I called his name & I put him back in the barn. His near side eye is also swelling & is almost twice normal size (he has tumors on both eyes, which cost him his eyesight a few years ago). Vet coming out late next week for a “quality of life check”. What makes this so hard is that he is still eating & is still happy to see me, but I also know he is in pain & I can’t allow any animal to live in pain.
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Colt45
May 25, 2013 18:36:41 GMT -5
Post by MaryS on May 25, 2013 18:36:41 GMT -5
I'm sorry he's having such a hard time. .
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Colt45
May 25, 2013 19:57:23 GMT -5
Post by cyndi on May 25, 2013 19:57:23 GMT -5
Awww, that's too bad. Such hard decisions we are faced with. Will keep you in my prayers.
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Colt45
May 26, 2013 8:51:54 GMT -5
Post by luvmymorgan on May 26, 2013 8:51:54 GMT -5
V, I'm so sorry to hear about Colt's problems. It is so hard to see them suffer or be scared. Sending prayers, but I know you will do what is best for him-no matter how hard it is for you. Sometimes the kindest thing is the darn hardest to do.
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wjminwi
Full Member
"Begin to know Him now and never finish."
Posts: 234
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Colt45
May 26, 2013 9:12:53 GMT -5
Post by wjminwi on May 26, 2013 9:12:53 GMT -5
Hugs to you, V....sounds like it might be time for you to love him in a very tough way.
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Colt45
May 26, 2013 12:53:10 GMT -5
Post by tripledeuce on May 26, 2013 12:53:10 GMT -5
:'(Sorry for this time of pain. I know it to well. Terry
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Colt45
May 27, 2013 9:51:13 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on May 27, 2013 9:51:13 GMT -5
I'm so sorry, V. We are facing the same decision with DD's sport pony. She still wants to keep going, too, but she suffers. I think animals are like people. Some are tough, and keep going and others don't. Our pony never gave up in competition, so I don't see her giving up in life. It's our job to be sure she isn't suffering. I know that I'm going to be a mess if we put her down this year, so I can feel exactly what you are going through. I've decided to really pamper her this summer, and love her to pieces.
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Colt45
May 29, 2013 9:22:16 GMT -5
Post by vsolubo on May 29, 2013 9:22:16 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about your pony. Yea, Colt isn't giving up but the only time he is leaving the barn is at night or when it is raining. That tells me a lot because Colt never liked being out in the rain before, but now he is accepting it because the sun is hidden. I'm sure the light is hurting his eye. He is getting lots of pampering right now, will wait until the vet comes out to make my decision though. At least this place is not in city limits, Dennis actually has his own horse grave yard & has promised to hire a backhoe when the time comes.
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Colt45
May 29, 2013 10:36:59 GMT -5
Post by ghostrider on May 29, 2013 10:36:59 GMT -5
V, any way Dennis will let him out in the night and put him back in first thing in the morn?
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Colt45
Jun 7, 2013 20:22:46 GMT -5
Post by vsolubo on Jun 7, 2013 20:22:46 GMT -5
Update on Colt, the vet is 90% sure the eye has a tumor growing behind it (the only way to be 100% sure is to take him to a vet hospital for a MRI image). He says the inside of the eye looks great, no indication of any damage…yet. As the tumor grows, though, it will eventually either pop out his eye or the eye may even explode. The only “fix” is to remove the eye; not recommended based on Colt’s age & the fact that he has, literally, hundreds of small tumors inside & outside his body. So, the vet says no hurry to euthanize him, it will have to be done soon, but he will be fine for the next few weeks (maybe even months due to these tumors are very slow growing). Vet says that because he stopped showing pain & is once again going out in the sun is an indication the tumor has stopped growing.
I have researched euthanasia in horses & have decided to go the more expensive route; where the vet will give him a strong sleep med, than administer the euthanasia drug. It costs a little more, but there is less chance of an adverse reaction if he tries to fight the euthanasia drug.
For now, the vet recommended letting him enjoy spring & to watch for any signs of pain (rubbing head, being lethargic, obvious discomfort in sun…). For now, he is doing well. After he woke up from his “nap” & I turned him out in pasture he went straight to “his” girls. When Lisa (Dennis’s big paint mare) decided to go to the barn to get away from the bugs, Colt did his “herd sire” routine & herded Marie into the barn also. Of course, he left Bear & Dennis’s big bay QH to themselves.
Denise, Dennis actually brought that up today, but the horse side of the barn is still pretty much flooded. The run in shed still has standing water in it! The pasture is finally dry enough he can take the tractor up & use the bucket to make a drainage ditch.
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Colt45
Jun 7, 2013 21:27:30 GMT -5
Post by ghostrider on Jun 7, 2013 21:27:30 GMT -5
That's good that he's got a bucket to help. I hear it's supposed to rain again on Mon here? Probably coming from there or going. UGH
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Colt45
Jun 8, 2013 2:12:20 GMT -5
Post by horsespoiler on Jun 8, 2013 2:12:20 GMT -5
I have only seen 1 euthanization of a horse and the vet did it the same way and with the same drug as was used on my dog. Everything was very peaceful and I stroked the horses head as long as it was safe so he would know he was loved. It wasn't even my horse but it had me crying. Such a tough decision to make. I hope you can get in some love time and pick a nice day. I will be thinking of you.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Colt45
Jun 12, 2013 8:05:52 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2013 8:05:52 GMT -5
V..I am thinking about you. This is just not easy.
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