Jingles needed for tomorrow....the Spyder saga continues......UPDATE post #50

[Iron Horse Farm]

Ok, the backstory:
Spyder is the Soprano colt out of my Elite Hano mare Amelia born May 9th 2009. He was 165# at birth and had to be pulled out and sent to MSU.....he recovered nicely and was the perfect colt. Fast forward to July, when he chokes on a piece of clay out in the field (musta had grain or hay stuck in it). Hauled him locally to treat and when they gave up, hauled him an hour away to another hospital. THe 1st vet there gave up and the second was called in. When she gave up, we went to MSU for surgery. Unfortunately, he was not a surgical candidate and they worked on him while we drove home. They called later when they had given up and we tearfully gave permission to euthanize. An hour and a half later, we received a call saying that they had not euthanized, but rather sedated and pounded a tube through and cleared the blockage. They scoped him afterwords and the esophagus had not torn, so he was sent home.

We did ok, feeding him gruel for almost 8 weeks, but upon unloading him from the trailer after his foal inspection (he went premium) he was found to have choked again - he got hay under the door of the trailer. MSU fixed it. Then, 8 days later, I found him choked in his stall - he ate ALL of his bedding. Again, MSU fixed it. We were put on a strict diet of soaked hay cubes and senior feed mush, stall with a water bucket only and no bedding. Hourly feeding for 6 weeks.

For the past 4 months we have been battling diarrhea and fear of the dreaded choke. We have gone from feeding soup almost hourly to feeding "soaked" food five times daily. At his last checkup, Spyder was found to have 75% use of his eposhagus (he was at 25% after episode #1). Vets at MSU keep telling us to try to gt him 6months without a choke and start him back on "food".

Then, Friday, he was down a lot. He would get up when you went out there and had good color and gut sounds. Local vet said to start on Ulcer Guard given his long history. Put in a call to MSU to give tehm a head's up. Sat am I thought he was dead. He wouldn't lift his head and was cast. MSU wanted him wormed for tapes even though it isn't advisable in horses under 1 year. Each times we get him up he is eating well. By Sat nite he is pooping out tapeworms. I am shocked. We are getting him up and walking him every couple of hours and he is happy to eat once he is up. This morning he was down again. Hubby got hm up and he immediately started eating. At next feeding he was up and pawing at his door for his mush, then down for the next feeding.

We have a 9 am appt at MSU tomorrow. I hope that I am coming home with a horse. I will put him down if it is the right thing to do, but I will be sick. If anyone is still reading, please jingle for Spyder. He is the toughest little guy I have ever met.

[pintopiaffe]

Oh my goodness! He certainly is a fighter!

Sending lots and lots of prayers his way. Hielo's nickname is "Spidey" because he's all long black legs... he certainly made use of all the positive thoughts and prayers... and will pay them forward!

[3horsemom]

prayers for spyder from texas! he is one tough little dude!

[peskee]

Jingling and jingling.......

[Iron Horse Farm]

Oh my goodness! He certainly is a fighter!

Sending lots and lots of prayers his way. Hielo's nickname is "Spidey" because he's all long black legs... he certainly made use of all the positive thoughts and prayers... and will pay them forward!

Pintopiafe - I followed the Hielo story closely and am so happy for a positive outcome for yu!

[Hampton Bay]

I hope he is just fine!

I have never heard that you shouldn't worm foals for tapes. Equimax is even FDA approved for foals.

[Oakstable]

Holly.

Calling you.

Sally

[genevieveg17]

Jingles for Spyder. Hugs for you!

[Zu Zu]

Jingles for Spyder ~ good luck tomorrow . Come on Spyder !!

[spacely]

Jingles for Spyder!

[quicksilverponies]

Fingers crossed, jingles, prayers and best wishes for a good outcome. Hope your Spyder comes home feeling much better!

[cottagefarm]

Oh my what a roller coaster for all of you!
Jingles Spyder and prayers for a good outcome!

[Home Again Farm]

Sending a gazillion jingles from FL for your baby boy!

[TKR]

Wow! You have really been through the wringer as has Spyder! Hoping, praying and jingling that all goes well tomorrow and he's back home!
PennyG

[Marydell]

Jingles and prayers for both you and your fighter, Spyder.

[ann kitchel]

Holly, Wishing you the best of luck with Spyder...........I have a good feeling that all will be OK............

[Jumper Breeder]

My gosh - what a story! Best wishes for you & Spyder from WI!!!

[Hillside H Ranch]

Huge jingles headed your way!

[Sugarbrook]

OH MY, I am exhausted after reading your post. I cannot imagine how tired you are. What a fighter Spyder is.
Please know that we will be sending many many JINGLES from Central Fl. Keep us updated. We do care.

[Edgewood]

Lots of jingles for Spyder!

[Zydeco Sport Horses]

Jingling like crazy for Spyder!

[Zydeco Sport Horses]

Big ole jingles for your your man. Hoping and praying for a good outcome!

[tucktaway]

I am so sorry for all that you and Spyder have gone through!! Sending you best wishes and positive thoughts for a long and healthy life together!!!!!!

[Marshfield]

Jingles

[mtbeardoc]

Jingles from NC for the fighting Spyder...Jingles, Jingles

[can't re-]

Jingles for Spyder from FL!

(sent you a PM)

[RedMare01]

Jingles for the little guy!

Caitlin

[Dalemma]

Jingles for your guy..........after having dealt with my first choke this am which was mild and did resolve itself.......it was a scarey experience.......good luck with your guy.

Emma

[shea'smom]

I'm sending you a PM about Amelia.

[inca]

Lots of jingles from Texas for Spyder. Hope all goes well tomorrow.

[stoicfish]

Wow. Sending a truck load of jingles and best wishes.

[punky]

Good luck!

[Iron Horse Farm]

I went to work at 6pm. Hubby called me at 9 that Spyder hadn't eaten his food. He went back out at 10pm to check on him and found him cast. When he got him up he wasn't interested in eating. Still lots of poop and good gut sounds.

I got off early and went right into the barn at 12:30. He was down, but sleeping (sternal, not out on his side). About 1/3 - 1/2 of the food was gone. More poop. He got up easily and I walked him up and down the aisle. He wasn't interested in more hay cubes, but was very interested in stealing a bite of some real hay from the wheelbarrow....and I let him have a bite. He chewed almost savoringly. I put him back in his stall and he pooped again. There have been no more tapeworms.

Gonna try to get a couple of hours sleep before driving up to MSU. Keep up the jingles.

I try not to think that everything that we worked so hard for could be for nothing. Hoping that this is just a bump in the road.

[Dressage_Diva333]

Sending lots and lots of jingles from California!

I remember your posts about him... he sounds like a fighter, I'm sure he will keep fighting. Please keep us updated.

[ThatScaryChick]

Jingles for your poor boy.

[madoy]

Sending jingles your way!!!!!!!

[Iron Horse Farm]

Just got home from MSU with an empty trailer, but not necessarily for a bad reason. He did great on his ride, walked right on the trailer, licked his bowl clean of his breakfast this am...........

MSU is keeping him to do an abd ultrasound today, scope tomorrow morning and then a feed study to try to wean him back onto hay. Yea! They are thinking ulcers or combo of ulcers and those nasty worms. The students also offered to bathe him since he has been down so much over three days in a stall with no bedding :eek:, now maybe a nap for me.........I swear I didn't sleep more than 30 minutes at a time last nite.

[selah]

Thanks for the update!
Adding my prayers & jingles!!!

[Quinn]

My heart literally sank when I read you came home with an empty trailer. Sending you jingles, good good thoughts and hugs.

http://community.webshots.com/user/ballyduff

[clint]

Oh Holly, I just saw this thread and I'm like Quinn; my heart just sank at the empty trailer part of your post. Millions of jingles coming from CA for you and Spyder!

[inca]

Hope everything goes well and he is back home soon!

[idlemoon]

Holly, I just now logged on and found this thread... I am soooo sorry for Spyder's continueing troubles. He is such a fantastic colt! You and Dave have done so much for him already, thank goodness he has you folks for a family! Spyder is such a friendly guy, so sweet, ( and boy can that boy move!!! : ) ! I hope he continues to keep fighting. Keep your chin up, I am saying a few prayers for you as well. I know this past year or two has not been good for you....

Jingling for Spyder!

Lisa

[Stacie]

Good Luck Spyder!!

[shea'smom]

ok, we want a good morning update!?

[Zu Zu]

Jingles continue for Spyder & AO Always Optimistic !

[Zydeco Sport Horses]

Hope you got some rest. Continuing to jingle for a positive intervention and good outcome at MSU. Hang in there Spyder!

[nsm]

Holly, I just saw this post- I am so sorry, poor Spyder. I will be sending all the jingles I can-

Nancy

[elsbet]

Sending my jingles as well.....

[Iron Horse Farm]

Just heard from Dr Garcia (he rocks)...........Spyder tolerated his scope like a big boy and they found ...................NOTHING. Nothing. They found a normal esophagus. No stricture. No scarring. Students who didn't know his history couldn't tell anything was ever wrong. :D

Soooo, today they are going to start feeding him real hay. Real food. I can't believe that this day has actually come. Fingers crossed that he remembers how to chew..........he has been eating soup and mush for most of his life.

Will wait with baited breath for the afternoon feeding update.

[pintopiaffe]

WOW. What an amazing update! What fabulous news!

Will continue the prayers from up he'ah, and from his nick-namesake. ;)

Keep us updated!

[shea'smom]

I will think good chewing thoughts today!

[Equilibrium]

Wow, that's great! I hope all goes well and more jingles for Spyder!

Terri

[Home Again Farm]

Sending more jingles for your little guy!

[Quinn]

IHF, I have been thinking of Spyder all day and am thrilled to see your update.

http://community.webshots.com/user/ballyduff

[blackstallion2]

Jingles for your big boy!

[ann kitchel]

Cool! That is great news...........

[RSW]

jingles for Spyder!

[Penthilisea]

Nom Nom Nom for Spyder!