Sneaky is 100% well, has nothing to do with tonight’s story but is very cute!

Sometimes, it is frustrating as I have been around the human medical profession and the animal medical world enough to know what things are but not always how to fix them.

A week ago, I was leading Snow and Pixie to the back pasture with the incentive of fresh alfalfa hay so that we could let Bruno out in the front pasture.  Snow and Pixie are vying for their pecking order in the herd behind Mickey and Feather.  I really think Pixie is winning-which is weird that Snow is being submissive to the younger pony but then she is a girl and you know how boys can be led astray by cute girls.

ANYWAY, I am holding the hay and trying to watch both sides of me (Snow on one, Pix on the other) when Snow swoops in for a big bite of alfalfa.  Well, he got my arm instead.  Horses have large, strong jaws and Snow clamped down on my arm.  He bit me deeply, breaking the skin and causing a lot of bleeding and pain.

I knew a visit to the doctor was a good idea. I did not think the bone was broken. But emotionally, physically and intellectually I could not face an emergency room visit.  I have tried to keep it clean, soak it, use antibiotic cream but it has continued to be red, bruised and hurt.    Today I saw the doctor.  I should have had a couple of stitches.  Nothing is broken but it is infected.  There is a lot deep tissue bruising and it will hurt awhile.  Money well spent to confirm what I knew.  Huh!

The slow parade of Mickey, Pixie and tiny kitten Levi went off to the farrier and vet this morning.  Mickey has an abscess (which is what I have been saying for ten days) But now it is confirmed by the vet.  Jason, the farrier, was able to open it  and the abscess started draining immediately.  Fortunately, it is on the bottom of his hoof so it should heal well.  More antibiotics and some hoof soaks for Mick and he should be good as new in a couple of weeks.

Pixie had her feet trimmed and was just happy to get home.  Lauren did comment that it was great to have horses like Pix and Mick who loaded easily (no angst) and stood quietly in the trailer while waiting for the vet to open.  Who would have guessed we would ever be complimenting Mickey’s manners!!  Especially about loading into the trailer.  Things change, for sure.

The kitten does not have any more worms, does not have feline leukemia or AIDs (thank God!).  However, we do not know what is causing the constant, debilitating diarreha.   We are trying some meds for giardia (a stomach parasite-I have had it before and it is no fun) but if he does not get better in a few days there is little left to try for the darling kitten I rescued off the street three weeks ago.  I cannot responsibly spend any more money on this cat, nor continue to subject a kitten to being so sick all time.  I pray this medication does the trick and his little life is turned around.

Lauren headed up to Houston after school (and horse/cat pick up) to a foot specialist.  She has been having miserable heel pain.  I diagnosed plantar fasciitis.  And the high paid foot specialist said, wait for it, plantar fasciitis!  It is an inflammation of the thick tissue that connects the heel to the toes.  It is very painful.  Lauren hates needles.  The doctor told her she needed her foot injected.  She threatened to vomit on the doctor.  He told her to look at the ceiling.  Then the “giant” (Lauren’s word) needle went in her foot by her ankle.  The doctor told her not to kick him in the face.    Then he told her she had evidence of early on-set osteoporosis.  More good news.

I am not at all gratified about being right with all my diagnoses.

Here’s a prayer to all getting well and healing quickly!  Thanks for riding along.