Rather a lot of drama!!

So many things going on! Among other things, my friend Joan from Greece is visiting! :) She took some of the photos that follow. It has been great having her around! Anyway, the drama part started last Friday night when our pony Esme foundered yet again. :( I was only letting her out on pasture for a maximum of 90 mins a day with a grazing muzzle on but last Friday the telltale stiffness began so I called the vet. Then she developed explosive diarrhea which lasted for a few days. The vet has been there three times so far, giving her shots for her stiffness and shots for her diarrhea. Poor pony...

I've been giving her lots of hugs. Not only is she feeling bad, she can't ever again go out on the grass with her buddies. I know she's a depressed over it. Saul the donkey has been very sweet and keeps wanting to hang out with Esme instead of Finney, even though he and Finney are usually happily out on pasture together. It's like Saul's her guardian angel.

I've had to wash her back legs and back end several times over the past few days, poor thing. Today was the first day she stayed clean. It's been tough on her...

She snuggled up to Finney too. I think he knows she isn't feeling well and has been very kind to her instead of his usual mischievous self.

We'll see what the vet has to say tomorrow. I feel terrible that she has foundered again. This is the second time it has happened here, and the vet thought she had foundered at least four times previously. It's a drag, too, because the farrier just got her hooves looking good again. She's such a sweet pony. I hate to see her suffering.

On a brighter note, Joan takes great shots and caught Emerson suckling my finger, something he has never given up!

And she took this fantastic shot...

Emerson and Saul just adore each other. It is so darn cute!

And here's my old boy Tristan...

Anyway, that wasn't all the drama. On Saturday, Gordon and I were out in Prescott when we saw a cat run across the road and get struck and instantly killed by the SUV in front of us. It was so awful. The driver didn't even brake, never mind slow down. We were incensed. We stopped right away and I ran back to try to help the cat but she had already died, so we wrapped her up in towels and took her to the nearby Prescott Animal Hospital, because she looked like a pet but didn't have a collar. I thought she might have a microchip but they scanned her and found nothing. They very kindly offered to look after her body which saved us having to bring her back to bury at the farm.

Gordon and I were both extremely upset and I couldn't help but cry, but the staff at the animal hospital were incredibly kind and compassionate. If it had been my cat that had been killed, I would not have wanted her left in the road, so I was damn sure not going to leave this one there. Years ago, I saw a cat lying on the shoulder of the road that had just been hit but wasn't dead. I managed to get him to a nearby vet, only to have him die in the waiting room. So sad! But in that instance, the cat was a patient of the vet's and he was able to notify the owners! I talked to the owners on the phone afterwards to reassure them that their cat had died in my arms, not alone on the road. I thought maybe I would be able to find the owners of this latest cat too, but no luck. Sigh... I did contact the local shelter and also Ottawa Valley Lost Pet Network, so you never know.

And if that wasn't enough, on Sunday we had to rush Julius to the emergency vet because he was in a bad way. Turns out his potassium levels had plummeted! He has weak kidneys and has been on potassium pills for about a year, and in fact just had his annual exam and blood tests last week! But something happened Sunday. I was afraid we were going to have to euthanize him, he was that ill. Instead, his potassium dose had been increased and every three days, I will be giving him subcutaneous fluids which will hopefully keep him going for a while. My vet said it's a bit like kitty dialysis! Por Julius... but he is so much better now! My first adventure with the IV bag is tomorrow.

So, enough vet adventures for one week!!! Mootie is doing great after her abdominal surgery last week. Remember how I was all pleased that she was wearing a onesie to protect her stitches? Well two days ago she went outside and ripped it off! I still have no idea where is, or how the hell she removed a onesie I could barely get on her! Anyway, she's not bothering her incision so I am just calling it a day and keeping an eye on her.

And here are four Greek kitties enjoying breakfast...

Daisy, Honey, Archie and Annuk!

And here's lovely Pip...

A real sweetie, this one. Usually in the barn but not always. :)

Wish me luck with Julius!

ANd oh yeah, here are couple of cute duckling photos...

How can you not "squeeeee" at that?