The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread 11

[Duchess47]

Thanks. She's a great big old horse that's scared of her own shadow. Fortunately she doesn't freak out, just stops and rolls her eyes.

I'm always afraid I'll hit something, a vein or a bone or something drastic. Or that whatever it is will have an extreme reaction in front of me. Bob pulls up the skin to give shots to dogs and cats so the needle isn't going anywhere into body but it still freaks me. I can't watch myself get shots at all either, it's a thing about needles.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

My neighbors have been shooting off big fireworks, non stop, for the last 45 minutes....

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh - Is it upsetting anyone? Horses quiet? How about your dogs?

We’ve been quiet, thankfully, since the 4th.

[HairOfTheDog]

I’m not sure what’s happening with Cartman, but I wonder if we’re losing him.

He’s laying down, and his breathing is rather labored and fast. Not panting with his mouth open, but his sides are heaving. He was under a coffee table for awhile, which is not unusual, but now he’s crawled into an open kitchen cupboard, and that is unusual.

He’s responsive when I scratch his chin and such, but not when I call to him. He’s not right. I wonder if he’s having a heart attack or something.

[HairOfTheDog]

And as soon as I posted that, I started hearing fireworks here. Distant... so far.

[Duchess47]

Oh Hair - how is Cartman doing now? I don’t know what it is but it rather sounds like congestive heart failure doesn’t it. I think I’d call a vet for advice but I don’t think I’d take him in if he’s stressed unless they can promise a miracle, he doesn’t need to be stressed more.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

How is your cat?

Becky

[Beaker]

I don’t know why, but I think it would be harder to stick a dog or cat then a horse.

See, I would think it would be the reverse. With cats, all you do is lift up the loose skin that's behind their shoulder blades and stick the needle in, same for IV fluids for dehydration. Cats were the most umm... interesting to do. I remember having to wrap a cat up in a towel and practically sit on it to give it a course of fluids. Dogs were easier because all you had to do was muzzle them and restrain them. They don't have carving knives for claws!

[Beaker]

Oh Hair, how is Cartman doing?

[RosieCotton]

Oh, Hair...I just saw this. How is he this morning??

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, he’s the same. Now he’s under our bed. Took me awhile to find him. He’s responsive still, he looks when I call, but he won’t come out.

There isn’t really a good vet option today.

He doesn’t seem particularly stressed out.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Keep us updated.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh I will.

Speaking of the old... how’s your old dog been?

[HairOfTheDog]

We pulled him out from under the bed. I just didn't like that, I couldn't reach him. I put him on Gidget's chair, and after petting him for awhile, he seems content there. :~)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

She’s still around:). I think she has even figured out to stay home. A few times when the boys were here and we took off on a walk, she would follow part way, then turn and go back home all on her own. And I was going to let her go, because we don’t go far, or fast.

She looks like hell right now. All that fuzzy undercoat they grow in the winter is shedding out, but she does not like to have it brush or even patted out, so it’s sticking it all over the place. But her weight seems good, I seem to have the fleas and ticks under control around here, so i think she will be good for a while longer.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well, he looks very peaceful, so that’s a plus. Hoping for the best for him, whatever that may be.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, good for her... :~)

It’s hard, sometimes you think they look bad, and then they recover again. I don’t know what this episode is for Cartman. Picking him up he was limp and heavy like a sandbag. He just doesn’t seem strong, and when you’re close to him, you can hear his breathing is labored.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I take it he’s not eating or drinking? I wouldn’t force food on him, but maybe try to get him to drink.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I’m almost sure he was up and eating and drinking as recently as yesterday evening. Yesterday he was out in the yard and moving around and jumping up on the desk like normal. This hard breathing thing, I think came on last last night, rather suddenly. I’ll offer him water today.

I’m a little concerned about his bowels, normally he should have wanted out this morning. I wonder if a little later I should take him out in the dirt and see if he will/does potty.

[MissTargets]

Good Morning/afternoon. I am running a little late today, because I had one of those, can't sleep and when I did, I slept in. My bad.

Kids went to a show, but it is going to be in the 90's, so I think if will pass on this one.

Hair, poor Catman, I hope he gets better. Maybe offer him a little milk?

Duchess, I like the riding pictures and like Hair said, if you could square her up a little, those would be fine. I have Bodie advertised on Agdirect also. The only email I received, my Hotmail put it in junk mail. It does not look legit either.

Becky, good shots procedure pictures!