Wednesday, 6 March 2013

9 month measurement and crashing fall

I measured Titchy today and he has grown in 3 months.  His withers are now 12.3hh and his bum is 13.1hh. I thought his nuts, or what is left of them looked a bit better today and as his temperature is stable and normal over the last 4 days I am starting to calm down about any complications.
The view from leaning over Titch
Titch aged 9 months - can't show a full body shot as too ugly!!

The only complication in my life at the moment is that whilst out hacking my spooky thoroughbred, she sort of spooked (again), and launched herself off a 3' bank, onto the tarmac road, promptly crashing to the floor and landing like bambi ( managed to stay with her till this point - very proud :) ), then just after we parted company she galloped off home again.  Needless to say she is very sore behind with a massive haematoma over her stifle, which the vet drained today, knowing it would just refill.

I, on the other hand, spent all yesterday afternoon at A&E as, having landed on my shoulder when Hetty pressed the 'eject' button, my shoulder was very painful.  I have apparently ruptured my (big word alert!) acromio-clavicular joint capsule and torn the cartilage therein. OUCH! No riding for a good few weeks, which is ok because Hetty can't be ridden for a few weeks, dove-tailing nicely. Thanks Hetty!

Saturday, 2 March 2013

Gelding a Foal and Locking Stifles

So, because Titch has been getting more and more nibbly and pushy (baby stallion behaviour) when I take him out for a walk, and because now is the right time of the year, and because he is never going to add anything wonderful to the equine gene pool, I had him gelded 10 days ago. The vet sedated him standing, twitched his nose and used local anaesthetic in 'the area' and it all went without a hitch.  He was done standing up, well, swaying! Titch was 8 1/2 months old, there are no flies to bother the wound site and he is fine.

Day 3 his sheath swelled up to about twice normal, but the vet was only concerned if his scrotum swelled and it hasn't.
10 days on from the op the site is still draining and the sheath is looking a bit enlarged, having gone down to normal size again.  I was warned to keep a close eye from day 10-14, but hopefully this is just a blip. To reduce the original swelling I cold hosed Titch's sheath and took him for a daily 10 minute walk, though I gather that twice a day is optimal.

The day before the op I noticed that one of Titch's back legs was stiff in its entire length and he struggled to get going walking. I recognised this as a locking stifle.  I have seen both back legs do this now, but the vet says they often grow out of this as they get bigger and become more muscled.  I do hope so.

About 2 weeks ago he was looking very nearly level front and back, but now he is majorly bum high again. He is looking a bit poor too if I'm honest, but the spring grass has just started coming through to put some roundness on him.