This 'n That

[SandyG]

So our dear lady, Josephina, is a very quick learner!!

Linda mailed her soft treat cookies for Josephina, as promised, and they arrived on Friday AM. I picked them up on my way to THE STORE and so her first cookie was given AFTER she ate her dinner last night. OH! She was so thrilled to smell and then gulp down the tasty cookie! Her nose was working overtime checking every single inch of me looking for another treat! Only after a thorough check of me did she learn that I had only one treat for her and so there was no need to stand by me any longer!

But tonight! Tonight that mare had another plan in mind, for sure! I approached her with her feed in a bucket and her treat in a baggie in my pocket. WELL! She watched me dump her feed into her feeder and then ignored her feed (SHOCK!) and began to check me over looking to find her treat! She found it and bit the pocket of my jacket! So, laughing at her, I opened the baggie and gave her the treat that was intended for her after diner mint! However, it seems that we now eat our treat BEFORE the meal. Pretty clear on that one!

Thank you, Linda, for the treats for Josephina and the amusement for me!

[SandyG]

BUSY day today as Isaac will be arriving to trim hooves. It is warmer than last week and windy - the wind not being our friend. But most of these horses are very used to our routine and so it will be a quiet day - long, but quiet.

Today will be the first time we trim Billy the Bully, so send up a prayer of safety, please! WE have not trimmed him due to his explosive and dangerous behaviors so today we will se how it goes!

I will update you tonight as to how the day progressed!

[SandyG]

Took me a bit to get back to the computer but I have GREAT news!

We reset the front shoes on Jeri-Ann backwards (as you do with severely foundered horses) to try to help her "duck feet" to conform to a normal shape. In doing so, we discovered the presence of old abscess trails - one in each foot! So, as Isaac, which came first? The abscess which created the flattened foot or the misshapened hoof which allowed an abscess to grow? Regardless, we worked on her feet for 2 1/2 hours and the girl is a new horse! She walks much more easily and her front feet are back under her chest where they should be! NOW we are on the healing path for our 3,200 lb girl!

Beauty worked her magic on me - she stood while I haltered her and this time, she walked directly into the shoeing bed without any attempt to bypass it - THAT is progress! Every single time she allows me to halter her, I have to exclaim and praise her! The first 5+ years she would not allow anyone to halter her - she would whip around and give you those enormous hips. But now, she actually lowers her head to me - a true testament to their ability to forgive and trust again.

And our Billy the Bully was the other star! He behaved beautifully! I looked at him and he seemed so excited and proud to be involved with the other horses and not ignored and bypassed for the trim. Again, it is amazing to see what time and steady treatment can do - not that he is perfect! Far from it! But at least the majority of the dangerous behavior is behind him!

At the end of the day, I was very proud of our horses. They behaved, swallowed the dewormer gel and, in general, were good patients. In each case, that means enormous progress and on that day, I was grateful for their trust and proud to show them off!

[SandyG]

Please, please pray for Lucy, the Store's shop cat. I'm taking her into emergency for a possible blockage. She is the most precious of God's feline creations and needs the support of all who love her!

[SandyG]

We are home with fluids to administer sub-Q and blood reports that show no white blood count elevation, good kidney and liver counts, and no elevated glucose or diabetes indicators. The rode home had a cat in the front seat that was very interested in the scenery as we drove and was not howling and, in general, complaining as she did on the ride in. She does have a touch of a fever (104) but that we could attribute to stress.

Time to monitor her like a hawk. Continue the fluids. Temp with gooey cat foods and cold, clear water. And pray. Thank you for your support.

Sandy and a very sweet Lucy

[SandyG]

By 7:30am, Lucy and I were on our way to the hospital. Her lack of reaction to me and her total withdrawal told me we were losing ground.

Her temp was up to 104 degrees. When manually examining her, there still did not appear to be any blockages, swollen bladders, etc. So we gave her 300 cc's of saline sub-Q, an injection of antibiotics for whatever infection she is fighting, and a pain reliever to calm her and allow her systems to relax. I left her in her large space with a furry bed, her blue blanket from home, a litter box (in hope!), and a towel hung over the door so she could have total privacy. After administering the fluids, we opened a can of cat food and Lucy actually walked over, sniffed, and took 2 quick licks of the juices! That was enough to set me into tears and give both me and the vet enormous smiles and feelings of hope!

I will keep you posted - Lucy is the hero of Menomonie and a main attraction in the downtown area - so many are in love with her! And her mannerisms and ways are such grand company while working at THE STORE. Lucy - get healthy and come home again!

[SandyG]

Of course, the world is revolving around Lucy - that shouldn't surprise you!

She has a normal temp and actually purred a bit this morning when the tech was handling her. However, she has not eaten at all. But her temp is back to normal. She is still receiving anti-inflammatory, pain, and antibiotic meds. I'm haading in to see her after the Specialized Farrier leaves today and will bring some of her "typical store moist food" with me - maybe to entice her to lick up the juices. Better but she has got to start eating -

The good news of the day is that the temps for the week will allow me to remove the "rain slickers" from the horses and only leave a gentle wind break on Helen and Gracie. All of the others with be naked - HURRAY!!!! There will be a ton of rolling today with the blankets off and the shedding in full swing! Muddy kids everywhere!

Prayers and support for our Lucy are appreciated - her supporters in the city are many and she is the reason many come to THE STORE - to sit on the couch with Lucy.

Take care -

[SandyG]

I spent 45 minutes with Lucy this afternoon. She seems alert and calm. Has gotten rid of all of the fluids we have pushed in sub-Q but has refused all food. I brought in some of the food I fed her at THE STORE and she did not even smell it - no appetite at all. So, I talked about the Vitamin B complex that we use to stimulate appetites in horses that have gone beyond starved and have lost their hunger instinct. Remember Good Lookin'? It took 9 days on Vitamin B before he decided to eat -

Maybe Lucy will respond to that to get her eating. Tonight, she is going to get mashed puree'd food for supper - she needs to eat! Lucy will hate that!!!

I'll spend time with her tomorrow again and we'll continue the Vitamin B conversation.

However, the vet did recommend that I look for another place to put her until the store reopens - in her opinion, Lucy's stress will return the minute I carry her into the house. - regardless of how much cardboard I put in the French doors to block the sight of "them". And we all agree that the stress allowed whatever was hiding to come out full force. She needs a safe place to rest and that is not here in this house with the other cats just through the door. S, I ma on the hunt for a foster home for our girl for about 6 weeks . . .

[penelope]

Hi Sandy,

If a cat cannot smell the food, they absolutely will not eat no matter how hungry they may be.

Does Lucy have an upper respiratory infection? I had a cat once who did and I took a large cat carrier, a humidifier and smeared mentholatum over the cat's nose. Put the cat in the carrier with towels over the openings and pointed the humidifier into the carrier.

Just a thought. Good luck and I hope Lucy comes around soon.

Penelope

[SandyG]

You know, I never thought that she may have a plugged nose! Thank you! I will bring this up to the vet this morning when we talk! Thank you!!! And bless your heart for taking the time to suggest the idea!

[SandyG]

When I talked with the hospital yesterday, they said Lucy was starting to eat and that they were all calling her "Houdini"! It seems that somehow, our girl found her way out of her kennel that night - when they arrived in the morning, Lucy greeted them at the door and had left her little footprints all over the clinic! She had not broken or tipped anything - of course! - but she had taken herself on "quite a tout" the veterinarian said. That, she continued, was a good sign of Lucy's interest in her surroundings and so they repeated the blood test and sure enough - her white count was back to normal!

HURRAY!!!

So now we are only dealing with the environmental issues for our girl and we all are breathing a huge sigh of relief! As I was walking downtown on Monday, many stopped and asked about Lucy - word had traveled quickly that she was in the local hospital and mysteriously ill. In fact, some of her "support group" had actually gone to the clinic to visit her.

Now that cat has a Mission - wouldn't you agree?

[SandyG]

No one can ever say we didn't try to foster Lucy!

I called people to check with their parents, their kids, their neighbors. I contacted reputable dog/cat rescues looking for a single cat foster. And I contacted supporters of THE FARM for options. Just bad timing - no one able to foster our girl at this time. So, today I'm going to suggest to the vet that we sedate her slightly and I will bring her home and up to the newly cleaned and set up bathroom where Tripod spent her first few weeks getting to know us. I have yet to get the heater hooked up but her litter box, feed and water bowls, her custom cube and even a box with her favorite blanket is all set up and ready for her. I've got a radio for light music and a lamp with a low light bulb for a night light. She will be two wooden doors away from any other feline and there is a window for sunshine and fresh air as the temps rise. I will spend time with her every day sorting items that have been "stowed" upstairs and so she will have company but primarily be alone - which is just fine with Lucy.

When I'm upstairs, I will open the bathroom door so she can wander the hallway and spend time checking out the stuff - good exercise, if she choses to come out of her cube, that is! And, of course, I will sit with her so we have some lap time. It will be a good end-of-day routine for me and for Lucy. And it will be good to get her home. Yes, I will watch her intakes and outputs like a hawk! And Dr. Brakken is there is we should need to assist Lucy once again . . . or "Houdini" as they call her!

Thank you to all of you for your emails, calls, and even your visits to Lucy. This cat is more than a cat - she is very important to many people and this episode has just proven my suspicion. Lucy is well loved!

Sunshine is promised today and I cannot wait! I'll be outside to feel the heat on my shoulders - right with the horses!!!

[SandyG]

WAIT A MINUTE!!! Or, as I like to say, HOLD YOUR HORSES!!!!!

I'll post more this evening, but we may just have an opportunity for Lucy that is a story in itself! Arrangements are being made and confirmed. Think positive! Our girl may be going to work some magic of her own!!!!

I'll post again tonight -

[SandyG]

This iis quite a day! Mandy talked with Lucy's foster and Lucy spent part of the night on her bed and the other part on a wicket settee that she found while we were still there for the transition. This is awesome news! And, before we left we saw her use the litter box (!! ), take a long drink of water, and check out her food bowl, plus eat a few select treats! Never thought watching Lucy eat would give me such sheer pleasure!

The full story - with pics! - coming!!! And once again, many thanks for the positive help while our Lucy was fighting.

Sandy and Lucy

[SandyG]

Spent all of Saturday afternoon out in the Gelding's pasture digging burdocks - a mule box full of them and a plan for the poplar that laid down last spring in the severely windy days we had. With a little cutting and filling in with aged manure, we can have a nice resting place for the birds and a good scratching post for the horses. Just need to make sure the root hole doesn't hurt anyone. However, given it was a poplar, the hole is barely below the surface! Amazing that this tree grew so large and stood for as long as it did! Literally nothing holding it in the ground!

Gracie is feisty as heck! She feels good with her newly trimmed feet and her new "Mama". Ella has taken Gracie on and has assumed the role of bodyguard for the little squirt. I've never seen Ella so protective and worried about anything - especially when Gracie is in a stall to eat! Ella stands outside the stall and waits and waits and waits. Then when Gracie reappears, Gracie smells her every inch to check to make sure her "little girl" is intact. Amazing the cares they take of each other.

It is almost time to switch the big horses into the big pasture and get Miss April and Gracie off of the grassy pastures. With Clyde Mare and Helen needing daily cares, I think the smaller herd will all move over to the Helen Keller pasture and I'll keep the gate to the corral open so they can have multiple shelters open to them. Not that they would ever split up!

Enjoy today - remember you woke up. That, in itself, is worth celebrating!!!