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Cash
Cash was a gorgeous 12-year-old award-winning Quarter Horse show horse with a severe coffin joint infection in the left front leg. The cause of the infection could not be established, and he had been taken to Michigan State University Animal Hospital for treatment. The prognosis was grim: a 35% chance of returning to normal activity, and only a 50% chance of survival. Cash had already undergone three surgeries and had endured extreme pain. As he came to Wild Apple Ranch, we could see that he was surrounded by a family who desperately wanted him to heal. and he had a heart big enough to do anything we asked of him. Read more...
April
April was a spunky 33-year old Standardbred mare who came to Wild Apple Ranch with a left eye infection. Her veterinarian specified flushing of the eye with an antibiotic several times a day and a flushing catheter was inserted through the nostril. After several days of 4 daily flushings and no response, a different antibiotic was prescribed. The nasal tube was removed and replaced with the patience and time required for April to become comfortable enough to allow direct eye flushing by hand. The treatments continued for another seven days. As her eye healed, a nutritional evaluation was made, her feed was adjusted, and April gained some needed weight. Her lively manner continued to belie her age, and she went home ready to get back to the trail.
Splash
Splash was a beautiful 7-year old gelding Paint with a two-week old puncture wound in the left front leg that would not heal. With swelling and heat in the leg, the veterinarian instructed us to wash the wound once a day and also treat with ointment, bandage, and give an oral antibiotic twice a day. As the wound did not respond, and a small bump was noticed above the wound area, we notified the veterinarian who gave new instructions. We were to flush twice daily, apply warm compresses 3 times daily, administer penicillin twice daily and Gentocin once daily for five days. While flushing, we noticed a pocket that appeared, and notified the veterinarian who took x-rays and placed a drain tube to allow thorough flushing. We flushed twice daily, applied warm compresses 3 times daily, and administered oral antibiotics for 12 additional days. The wound showed improvement, and after six more days, we removed the sutures and the drain tube. Splash happily went home to his stablemates in perfect condition.
Virginian Snow
Virginian Snow was a very striking 15-year old gelding Thoroughbred with lameness in all four feet and chronic hoof problems. He also had cellulitis in the right rear leg and white line infection. His veterinarian prescribed penicillin to be given twice daily, and phenylbutazone twice daily. His farrier advised treatment with Clean Trax, and we soaked all four feet in a warm bath for 45 minutes each, then applied plastic vapor bags for 45 minutes each. This was followed by the scraping and cleaning away of the blackened and rotted hoof wall, and then a thorough application of iodine on all four feet to help with the infection and harden the hoof tissue. The "bute" was decreased, and hoof cleaning 3 times daily continued until he was comfortably healed. Virginian Snow's impressive frame somehow pleasingly contrasted with his gentle manners, making him a very endearing patient.