Thursday, August 06, 2015

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?


31 comments:

  1. Your friend has a good eye and a quick photo finger, too. Best wishes for dear old Julius.

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  2. You've had a tough time. It's hard to keep your eye on so many different critters but you do an excellent job.

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  3. Hugs,headbumps,squeeeeeees...think I got it covered.
    Jane x

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  4. What a week you've had. But I think, thank God they are in your hands as someone else may not have the compassion to get them through their tough times. And, that last photo...oh my!

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    1. I'm just relieved everyone is doing better this week! Poor Mootie, she sure has been through a lot in life.

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  5. The kidney trouble sounds just like our Monty's.... unfortunately Monty succumbed.

    I passed a dead dog by the side of the road last week. A beautiful looking black and white (border collie?) had been hit and killed by some idiot, and just left there. With all the traffic around me I was unable to stop, but I'm sure I saw a collar. I felt terrible all day; and I still do.

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    1. Julius' kidneys have been weakening for about a year now. I've gone through this with a cat before so I know how it ends, sigh. I'm hoping the fluids will help him for some time!

      How awful to see a dog lying in the road... so sad. But sometimes you just can't stop.

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  6. Oh Natalie you have had a rough week! My sympathies. It must have been so horrible to see the poor kitty run over. Growing up I saw one of our cats get hit by a car and the driver just kept going. I was just a teenager home alone and had to find a neighbour to take me and the cat to the vet. Something you don't forget. I hope this weekend is much more pleasant for you and Gordon.

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    1. Thank you so much and I did have a great weekend. How awful to see your own cat hit by a car... that must have been devastating. It was bad enough seeing a cat I didn't now get hit. :(

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  7. This post is absolutely wonderful!
    I love all photos, but especially the Emerson and Saul picture!

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    1. I find their friendship so sweet and endearing!

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  8. I certainly think you're deserving of a week or so of peace!
    Glad Julius is going to be kickin' around for a while longer

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    1. We'll just take it day by day. He's a tough old guy.

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  9. what a rough week....but you do what you can....

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    1. Things are better now. Esme is feeling better, Mootie is feeling better and Julius is too! Phew.

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  10. Sending loads of headbutts, purrs, hugs and prayers to all that need some extra care. I don't how how you stay on top of all the critters you have, but you do. Hope you have a better weekend and week. Take care of yourself, so you can take care of everything else.

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    1. Thank you so much! I do have some help. :) But I'm about ready for another vacation!

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  11. I do hope all that are sick get well soon and you both can have a bit of a rest . Hope you both have a good weekend ! lovely photos .

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  12. sending you (((hugs))) and love.........and send some to Joan too from us! (she knows us!)

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  13. Just been reading up about foundering in horses. Seems a complicated problem.

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    1. I've read about it, I've had it explained to me, and I still have problems understanding it all. And it's so painful for the horse. Sigh...

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  14. When we love animals, we suffer their pain along with them. I sometimes have a hard time sleeping because of all the evil and brutality in their world. How kind of you to take the dead cat in to be ID'd. How kind of you to give such loving care to so many animals. I wish you great contentment for all the good you do so you may sleep well every night.

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    1. You are very kind... thank you so much! I'd sleep better if I didn't worry about my animals so much, LOL.

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  15. I know nothing about horses but do you think you could plant a pasture of some sort of "something" that won't cause founder ?
    You'll do fine with the fluid. You'll be an old pro in no time.

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    1. Unfortunately, the solution is to keep her on dry paddock and feed her only first-cut hay that isn't too rich. :( Poor honey!

      But the first fluid session went fine!

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  16. I have absolutely no idea how you get everything done! Poor Esme, I hope she doesn't get too depressed. And Saul and Finney are absolute darlings keeping her company.
    Thank you for not leaving the poor cat on that road. LIke you, I always pick them up and take them to the vet. They deserve respect in death as well.
    And Julius, sweet old boy. I hope he keeps doing great!
    Joan, keep that camera clicking! It's nice to see Natalie here and there as well :)

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    1. I have two helpers now!! One is 14, the other is 68. :)

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  17. I am just catching up. My, your menagerie has been having more than its share of health problems! I'm very sorry about all this. Poor Julius, poor Mootie, poor Esme! That was so kind of you to stop and rescue the poor kitty. I am haunted by an injured dog that I once saw in the middle of a rush hour expressway. There was no way for me to stop and no way to get to it. This was over 40 years ago, and I still wish I could have helped. So sad to see injured or deal animals on the road.

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Thank you for all your comments, which I love to read!