Update on the New Girl

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: Well, we've spent the day so far dealing with her. As though she didn't have enough to try to survive already, she colicked this morning — a situation that was, of course, only a matter of time anyway, given the gases that have been building up in her system all this time as a result of the infection — and so we've been trying to tamp that down. Two Banamine doses and a hell of a lot of walking and a great deal of agony and her part later and she's back to what passes, for her now, for normal. This is going to be touch and go every damn day.

I know some folks have been wanting on update on the horse (and other things). I have a mile-long to-do list today, including things that have had to be deferred the last two days because of pouring rain, so this will be quick and dirty. Also, the posts at Wings's site and mine will be late; with a little luck, at his will be the first of a new set, but that's not a given yet.

To get it out of the way, the house project: We're waiting to meet with Lorenzo regarding blueprints, cost estimates, etc. That was originally sated for a few days ago, but circumstances intervened on both sides, so it's deferred a bit longer. I had hoped to launch Stage 2 of the crowdfunding tomorrow, the first, but we won't have estimates yet, so it'll have to wait. Doesn't mean that people can't still give through the original page (or the PayPal button above right); just that we don't have a dedicated page for it yet.

Now, the horse: One of our tasks for this weekend is contact a friend who heads up the local rescue community, to see what she can do by way of ginning up assistance. The owners have not been heard from since the day she was dropped off, although we've been out their, cold and wind and rain and night, taking care of this girl. It's ugly, unpleasant work, too, and painful for her. We cannot afford to pay her vet bills (and will have to be reimbursed for the supplies we've already shelled out for), and so arrangements will have to be made somehow.  

Now, here's what we know so far: There is no obvious healing going on yet, because of the nature of the damage and the length of time it was allowed to fester. There is sepsis and necrosis, and so cleaning  becomes a de facto form of debridement right now. The smell will knock you back a foot. If the swelling has gone down enough by Tuesday, the vet will do a more "formal" debridement, but right now, I can't tell that there's been enough decrease in it for her to be able to do that. 

She also has an injured left hind ankle. I saw it when they first brought her over, but wasn't entirely sure that it wasn't just a result of an awkward stance from the pain of the fistula. It's not; there was a definite injury, no doubt as a result of the same incident. I've let the horse vet know; that will have to be looked at on Tuesday, too. This little girl will never be able to be around that (or any) stallion again. Assuming, of course, that she makes it.

The good news: She's finally getting proper water and she's put huge dents in a new mineral block; she was terribly deficient in both.  She's getting good hay, her meds, consistent cleansing with Betadine, and moisturizing with mineral oil. Her eyes are now clear (no more clouding from what must have been utterly unspeakable pain), and when we showed up in the rain yesterday evening with the syringe and the Betadine sponges, she took off at a trot, because she'd, you know, just had enough of it all right then. But she let me catch her, halter her, let us medicate and clean her once again. She's a good girl, and a strong one.

She had no name. We tried out several, including the names of the raptors who seem to watch over her daily. The only name that got a noticeable response is Ogichidaakwe.

It means "Warrior Woman."

[Note: There's no fund set up for this little girl, not yet, anyway. You can still give if you so inclined, via the PayPal link above. You can also start your holiday shopping early via Wings's site, and/or encourage your networks to do likewise (which is what we actually prefer, anyway — sales, not donations). Besides the hay and board and labor, we're already shelling out for grain, probiotics, mineral blocks, mineral oil, medicated cleansing materials, etc., etc. And those are just the barest minimum that will be involved in saving this girl's life.] 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.