Timmy – 3/8/10

I apologize for not doing a Timmy update for so long.  It’s been a long, cold, snowy winter for the both of us and we’ve just been trying to get by, day by day.  Now that the weather is finally warming up, I’ve been able to take off his blanket during the days and got some pictures today.  But first, let me catch you up on what’s been going on with him this winter.

The last time I posted, I mentioned that he was showing signs of gastric ulcers, so I took him off the senior and beet pulp.  Once he wasn’t getting beet pulp anymore, I no longer soaked his feed.  He soon started losing weight, so Doc came out and made the discovery that poor Timmy has NO bottom molars!  So much for the Virginia vet saying his teeth looked fine!  Since then, he’s been on 6qts of soaked Purina Strategy, three times a day, as well as 25lbs (dry weight) of soaked alfalfa cubes per day. 

While he was down in weight, he developed a really nice infestation of lice under his two blankets.  Six weeks, three tubes of Zimecterin Gold, and four canisters of lice powder later, the lice are finally gone.  Doc had me roach his mane to kill off the eggs hiding under it.  His hair is growing back now, but he still looks a little funny.

Last, but certainly not least, he had arthritis flare-ups back in December.  His whole back left leg swelled all the way to the dock of his tail, and he could not put any weight on it for a few days.  He had been on a supplement for arthritis since he got here, but it takes awhile for it to get into the system and do some good.  Since the flare-ups in December, he’s had no more problems and even trots around the yard tossing his head at feeding time.  He and Traveler even decided to go for a walkabout about a month ago, and walked almost a mile down the road before I caught up to them and turned them around. 

Even better news… Timmy has been adopted!  He’ll be here for another few weeks to gain a little more weight and grow back that missing hair.  I’ll miss the old guy!

Timmy – 11/27/09

Timmy started looking better after the first week he was here, but the next week he didn’t seem to put on an ounce.  Then he was castrated and that set him back a little more.  This past week he not only seems to be losing weight again, but he’s also started to crib.  It would not surprise me to learn that he has gastric ulcers, considering his breed and history.  With that in mind, I’ve changed him over to a low sugar diet:  4qts Purina Strategy and 2qts Rice Bran three times a day.  It took a few days to transition him off the beet pulp and senior, and he’s only been on the low sugar diet for two days.  He’s already stopped cribbing, so I’m hoping he’ll start putting the weight back on soon.

Timmy is also fighting infection from the castration, so he’s on 20cc of penicillin twice a day.  It’s difficult for an older horse like him to be castrated and is usually a lot more stressful than it is for a youngster.  But he’ll be much better off in the long run!

Timmy – 11/06/09

It’s only been one week since Timmy arrived here, but I think he’s looking a little better already. 

 

He still has a long way to go, but the fact that he’s doing better after a week is a good sign.  He’s up to 2qts beet pulp, 2qts equine senior, and 1qt rice bran four times a day.

The love affair between Timmy and Maverick is over and the two no longer play together.  Maverick and Sky are best buds, and Timmy seems to think Buddy and Quill are the bestest little buddies he’s ever had.  He even let them share his meal the one time I forgot to tie them up before I fed him.  He’s such a big sweetie!

Timmy – 10/30/09

Timmy is a 17 year old Thoroughbred stallion, about 16.2 hands.  He’s about 400lbs underweight, but his blood work checks out okay so the only thing he should need is food and farrier work.  His feet are dry, cracked, and overgrown, and he’s lame on his right front with heat radiating down from the outside of his ankle down to his hoof.  He’s got an old ankle injury there, but since he was sound two days ago and the heat in his hoof is only on the lateral quarter, I’m hoping all I’ll find is an abscess.

Timmy was checked out by a vet in Virginia before he was brought to Horse Haven Holler.  The vet said his teeth are fine and the blood work came back mostly normal, with a few moderately high levels that the vet said were probably no cause for concern.  At the time of his rescue, Timmy was not strong enough to make the long haul from Virginia, so he stayed where he was for a week and grew stronger on a diet of just grass and hay. 

I’ll be starting him out on five feedings a day.  He’ll get Strongid C to gently take care of any worm load, Source for additional nutrition, and corn oil for added calories and to shine up that dull coat.  He’ll start out on 1/2qt beet pulp and 1/2qt senior feed at each feeding.

I’ll be applying Hoof Heal to those feet every four days, and if he’s strong enough to stand for the farrier next week, he’ll get a much needed trim.

 

Hopefully in a few weeks he’ll be strong enough to be gelded -- which will also help pack on the pounds!