Easy is recovering from hoof surgery!  We noticed that the frog on his left hind foot seemed to be overgrown, perhaps rolled over.  Our farrier trimmed his feet and we thought he might have a bad case of Thrush.  As time went on, the area we were concerned with seemed to rapidly expand and looked somewhat like proud flesh.  Farrier came back out and was surprised at how quickly it had grown/changed and it was now bleeding.

We consulted with Dr. Hoyme who immediately thought it was Canker.  Canker???!!  In all our years of rescuing horses, we had never dealt with Canker.  On site treatment wasn’t working.  We had to wait until Dr. Hoyme had an opening for surgery and needed to arrange transport.

More info on Canker:  http://buckeyevet.org/blog/92445-canker_2

We were finally able to have Easy taken to Dr. Hoyme’s and a few days later he surgically removed as much of the Canker as possible without damaging his hoof.  Easy’s dressing needed to be changed every other day in the beginning…remove old bandange, clean out hoof with betadine, apply copper sulfate to the remaining canker, cover with gauze pads, pack with cotton and wrap with elastikon.  Whew!

He remained at Dr. Hoyme’s for almost 2 weeks as transport was not readily available.  Along with surgical costs, we had to pay boarding fees and fees for changing the bandage during that time.  At least we knew that he was getting the best of care and Dr. Hoyme could monitor his progress.  The vet indicated that he might need a second surgery to remove the remaining Canker in the future.

Easy made it back to TIER and is a really good patient…as long as you put a bucket of pellets in front of him!  HA!  We purchased more bandaging supplies, copper sulfate, an equine slipper with a thick leather bottom to help keep the bandage from having to be changed frequently.  

The cost of surgery/care, transport to/from the vet, bandage material, etc. was a little over 1400.  

Farrier was out on 6/21/2021 and is hopeful that the Canker is on its way out!  He trimmed off the new growth without it bleeding profusely, cleaned and packed it with meds and put a pad/shoe on to protect it.  We will revisit the situation in a couple weeks and hope for complete healing without having to have another surgery.

EASY is doing REALLY well! He had his tear ducts flushed again. The first time there was so much gunk in his eyes! His eyes were doing well for a time but they started getting a bit goopy once more. Since JAKE was going to the vet for a tear duct flush, sheath cleaning and lameness exam, EASY tagged along and got more yuck flushed from his eyes.

In fact, EASY is doing so well he's looking like he will need suspenders for his pants! He is built a little thick under his belly. If he gets much healthier we'll have to have suspenders made from a fire hose!

6/10/2011 Abcess:

QT: I’m calling the vet this morning.  Easy ate all his grain last night, picked at the hay, ate the alfalfa stems, picked at the pellets and ate his morning grain. though he doesn’t walk with a limp, he stands with his left hind elevated & tail cocked to the left. That is new.

TIER:  EASY loaded right up for his trip to the vet.  Vet blocked his left hind and used hoof testers which indicated pain near the front of the left hind hoof.  Seems that EASY has very thick soles and the Vet had to do some digging.  Under the sole there was a large pocket of blood and under that was a LARGE pocket of pus.  Lots of drainage and pressure release.  Had Kathy not been diligent in her care of this boy, he would have suffered a lot longer.  Due to the fact that his soles are so thick, the only way this deep sole abcess would have been able to drain without veterinary intervention would most likely have been at the coronet band.  That would not have happened for awhile and he would have been 3 legged lame for some time.  Thank you Kathy for watching over this boy and BEAU! 

QT 6/11/2020 5:12 AM

Tail is hanging normal this morning.  He did pretty well with his grass hay last night.  Ate his grain this morning.  Going to soak his foot after I get my garden stuff done this morning then I think I’m going to turn him back out in that pen.  Doc said stall rest but that pen is small enough he can’t act too crazy and I think he will be more content there.

QT 6/11/2020 7:46 AM

So he was a rock star.  Eased his foot into warm water and he never budged. Of course he was getting loved on but still.  He’s tender but moving way better than yesterday.  He was great about putting the new bandage on (baby diaper). Only flinched a little when I pulled some duct tape off the roll.  It makes an unexpected sound.  He’d only picked at breakfast but when I put him in the pen he went to the feeder.  Not hungrily but if he’ll pick at it all day I’ll be happy.

TIER: YAY!  We done good getting this boy off the lot.  YOU have made a huge difference for him and I cannot thank you enough for your heart.  You know, it truly helps these discarded souls to heal.

Any drainage?

QT 6/11/2020 Too bloody to tell. It didn’t stink.  Blood was dry. I rinsed it with the betadine water using a syringe and it looked really clean.  I put some borage leaves on the wrap.  It’s an awesome poultice and drying agent.

QT  6/11/2020 Evening

Got another good soaking in tonight.  Changed his diaper. He’s such a good boy about it all.  Still sore on it as expected.

QT 6/12/ 2020 6:03 AM

Quick update then I’m outside.  He is moving very well this morning.  At some point last night decided alfalfa pellets weren’t worth eating but the alfalfa leaves were. Nibbled at grass hay.  Drank well.  Wish he’d eat better.  That’s about it.  He’s eating his grain and meds now.  Will soak it again shortly.

QT 6/14/2020 Mr Easy decided it was ok to eat last night.  Grass hay, all gone and even cleaned up around the feeder, alfalfa pellets all gone, the alfalfa that I had put out last night was all gone and much of the leaves that had accumulated were gone as well.  Of course he had finished his dinner grain before I came in last night and on top of all of that he was excited to have breakfast this morning.  He stood eating and had full weight on the abscessed foot AND his tail was hanging straight down.

Saturday evening (6/6/2020) it was noted that Easy's belly around his sheath was "puffy" and that his stifles had a bit of swelling. Kathy hosed him off and the swelling went down a bit. The next morning the puffiness was back and we gave the go ahead to take him to the vet as we were not sure what we might be dealing with.

Easy loaded up fine and off to the vet for some testing he went! Vet was informed that he had already been started on Uniprim, but that we refrained from giving him any anti flammatories so the vet could actually see what the concern was.

He was good for the vet, but you could tell he didn't feel 100 per cent. Vet was not overly concerned and said it could be a reaction to the bacteria that had been causing the goopy eyes. He had had a bit of a runny nose previously, but it was a clear discharge. Starting him on the Uniprim right away was a good idea! Blood panel came back with indications of his body fighting an infection or the reaction to the bacteria. Could also have been an insect bit (possibly tick?)

Since it was Sunday, it was considered an After Hours vet visit. Vet said to continue Uniprim and give him Bute (anti inflammatory) twice a day. Watch him and to call if there was more swelling or other changes. This morning he appeared to be a bit better, swelling had decreased a bit. His eyes were less goopy too. But, EASY does not like BUTE! HA!

Farrier was out this morning to trim EASY and BEAU. Both of the boys were awesome for the farrier. BEAU was a little snorty at first and EASY was a rockstar! EASY's feet were all chipped up on the outside, but he has good feet. Beau's feet were good!

We are grateful for the awesome care that these horses get from Kathy and Starburst Ranch. She treats them all like they are her own!

TIER Supporters are the BEST! Because of YOU, horses like the one we recently pulled from a killpen in Texas have a chance. A chance they might not have had if it wasn';t for our donors who care, are compassionate and supportive of our efforts! Thank YOU!

We have named him EASY. The lot was really busy as they are having a big horse sale this weekend, so things were hectic. Easy loaded and unloaded well, but demonstrated herd bound behavior. He was calling and calling to the other horses and very anxious. We set up an account with the local veterinarian office with his new name. Maybe we should change his name to Please B Easy or Better B Easy or B Easy Damnit! HA!

He was good in the trailer, unloaded well and was good to lead to his stall. He once again became anxious when a horse that was housed far from him but within eyesight was moved. Calling and pacing the stall. When his stall door was opened, he came over and was not good about personal space. He wasn';t dangerous, just had to claim space and insist strongly that he back away. Many changes in a short time for this horse and right now he isn';t near any other horses.

His feet are just a mess. Farrier will be out next week. He and BEAU will have their feet done at that time. He has an indentation across his nose from who knows what and there is a big chunk out of his tail. His eyes were goopy, but there is no nasal discharge and no signs of labored breathing at this time. He was started on Uniprim antibiotics just in case and will continue for 5 days. If nasal discharge or breathing issues, etc. show up, he will be seeing the vet.

Later in the evening Kathy (QT manager) checked on him again. 4:35 AM: Just came in from checking on him. He';s calmer. Still calling a little but much calmer. His approach was much more thoughtful and he put his head down so I can rub his ears. He let me rub around both ears and inside them. He liked being scratched under his jaw. Liked having his face rubbed. I';m hopeful for him.

Morning Update: Still calling a little this morning. Was thoughtful when I opened the door. Snarfed down his meds. He ate well last night and drank about 3 gals. He wasted a lot of grass hay circling but I think much of that happened during the evening not overnight. He enjoyed having his eyes cleaned/face rubbed.