Medicine Season

Last night began the beginning of medicine season. I swear about this time every year I have horses go downhill and vet bills sky rocket. I guess that's the price I pay for having horses.

Luckily mom was able to get to the vet to pick up the six tubes of ulcer medicine for Sam so I could start treating him right away. I'm to give him 3/4 of a tube for the next couple of days. I took the ulcer medicine pretty well. He was a bit dismayed with me and stood in the far side of his stall. But it's hard for a draft horse to hide in a stall. He still swung his head around to look at his flanks. I'm sure it'll take a few days for the meds to work. I then proceeded to pump him full of dewormer. I'm behind on worming everyone and figured I'd hit him up with the dewormer paste. I held off on giving him penecillan until maybe Tuesday or Wednesday for his cold if it's not any better. I figure he's been sleeping the cold off.

I also had mom pick up King's Equ-Sec for his sore muscles. King was more than happy to come into the barn and snarf up the grain liberally dusted with his meds.

I also had mom pick up the tranquilizer for Longhorn. I called and said that I needed a tranquilzer so that we could trim a donkey's feet. The lady said she'd go talk to the vet. When she came back on the line she said: "You have to be very careful with this tranquilizer. If you poke yourself, it could kill you. Do you still want it?" I almost busted out laughing. What am I getting myself into? Of course I needed the tranquilizer so I said yes. The tranquilizer won't knock him out cold but it will make him stand still and not move. I'm a bit nervous but I guess I'll talk to my farrier tonight.

I also started Queen on joint supplements on Saturday. She gets so stiff standing in a stall and with the weather the way it is, I figured I'd get her on a join supplement before winter sets in and her joints get stiff and cold.

Then I started joking with Mike about all our animals with health issues:
Bob - no teeth and cant' chew hay
Sam - ulcers and a horse cold
Longhorn - skis for hooves
Queen - arthritis and stiff joints
Babe - Blind and arthritis
King - Sore muscles and flat feet
Dude - broken tailbone (unreparable)
Rain - heat stroke (photosensitive)

And that's not including the summer ailments of sunburns, scratches/grease heel, bug bites, etc. Or the horses that have past through Borderlands and headed over the Rainbow Bridge. We sure do have one heck of a crew!

I did mention bringing Sam in to get his teeth floated but the vet advised that we wait until we get the ulcers under control and his cold is completely gone. So I'll have to wait another couple weeks before I get everyone in. I'm planning on taking Sam, Rain, and Zeke in for a float. Since last year was the first time Babe had ever had her teeth floated and who knows about Queen I figure I'll be naughty and wait another year to see how they are eating. They are powering through all their food with no problems.

So begins my new job of being a nurse besides caretaker. I guess all that matters is that everyone is healthy, sassy, and happy.