33 replies to this topic

[Rakis Arabians]

Thank you, Joelynn!

[Imke79]

I've been watching this thread from the beginning - and if I say I like your boy, it's nothing but understatement.
Has he been sold in the meantime?

[Trish aka JMO]

Oh no....is he OK ??

[Rakis Arabians]

Sadly, it is true he got very sick. It came on very suddenly...I put him out in the pasture at noon and came back an hour later to see him on the ground. He was a little colicky, but we soon decided it was more than a little upset tummy and so off to the vet hospital we went.

Two days later, it became clear he needed surgery. The surgeon found that his colon had become displaced. Then two days after that, he got very, very sick. They ran all the tests and finally one came back positive. Salmonella! He started to improve within 24 hours from that, but then the concern was laminitis.

They iced him around the clock for 3 days until they felt he was out of danger of foundering.

Jusstin spent 3 weeks in the ICU, but is happily at home and recovering very well! He is in isolation until he is safe to be around the other horses again and while his incision heals.

This horse has got heart! He has been a trooper through it all! The vets were impressed by his good nature and manners. He is feeling well enough on his daily walks to give me a bit of a hard time....LOL He wants to jump and play, but has to take it easy while he heals completely.

I will take some pictures of his "home" tomorrow. We built him a stall under our back deck of the house to isolate him and be able to properly care for him. He does have a lovely view and enjoys watching the deer and turkeys in the meadow

We had 3 parties interested in him and one that was looking to acquire him at the time he got sick. He may be available after I am sure he is healed completely. Having had another have surgery a year ago, I know they can come back to 100% with proper care, rehabilitation and patience.

Thank you all for your concern....I will tell Jusstin his fans love him!

[Roze]

I'm so sorry to hear about your boy. I hope he recovers quickly.

[Imke79]

I am so glad to hear that he is doing better and I keep my fingers crossed for a quick recovery!!
I also hope he will get a five star home - if I wasn't so far away I would surely take a look at him.

[Rakis Arabians]

Thanks again for the well wishes! Jusstin continues to improve daily and is acting like his old self again. He is bright, happy and really enjoys his time out on his daily handwalks. He is off all medications and shows no lameness! A testament to the level of care while at the vet hospital!

 Jusstin\'s new home.jpg   403.74K   2 downloads  Jusstin HW Amy.jpg   302.78K   2 downloads

[Heidi]

I've had Salmonella, OMG it's horrible. Poor guy.

[Rakis Arabians]

Heidi, on 11 November 2010 - 06:21 PM, said:

I've had Salmonella, OMG it's horrible. Poor guy.

Yes, he was VERY sick. One day when we got to the hospital to visit him before the salmonella test came back positive(it is very hard to diagnose salmonella because the horse doesn't always shed the bacteria)he seemed like he was on the mend and then right before our eyes his systems started shutting down. I hope you never have to see a horse go downhill so fast. It is a helpless feeling. Then just as suddenly, he started improving. Poor Jusstin didn't eat or drink for 8 days. It was a good thing he was in the best condition of his life going into this illness.

He got so demanding about his breakfast this morning! Woke me up at 7 am to get my butt out and feed him...like NOW!!! He was whinnying over and over...guess he figured banging his bucket wasn't working...LOL

[Tricia]

Guess we know who is the slave and who is the master at your house!!

I really LOVE the stall attached to the house - but.....can you access if from inside?  I mean, if you are going to go for convenience you shouldn't have to walk outside on a cold morning to feed him!  I've always thought a halfwall to the living room or family room would be nice - horse and owner can watch TV together.  You know, if you ran a whole row of stalls opening into the house it might save on heat bills - the body heat of the horses could keep it toasty warm.    Think I need a margarita.

[Rakis Arabians]

Tricia, on 12 November 2010 - 02:48 PM, said:

Guess we know who is the slave and who is the master at your house!! Yes....I represent that remark!  

I really LOVE the stall attached to the house - but.....can you access if from inside?  I mean, if you are going to go for convenience you shouldn't have to walk outside on a cold morning to feed him!  I've always thought a halfwall to the living room or family room would be nice - horse and owner can watch TV together.  You know, if you ran a whole row of stalls opening into the house it might save on heat bills - the body heat of the horses could keep it toasty warm.    Think I need a margarita.

Ok...speaking for EXPERIENCE...having a horse living with you is well...not all it's cracked up to be! We had Renagade in the garage, which is about 20 feet from the master bedroom, in the same kind of stall for 5 months. Do you know how noisey they are? And the smell? I don't care how many times a day you clean it your home smells like a barn! All I have to say is it was an experience! That was why we thought off the back deck....not as bad. WRONG! He moves around more than Renagade and is very demanding for breakfast early, EARLY in the morning. My husband commented this morning about 5:30 that Jusstin is a horse rooster whinnying over and over...so special   

And don't think I didn't have a fleeting thought about how easy it would be to foal out mares under the deck when all I would have to do is look down to see what was going on. We would never get any sleep!

And yes...there is a door behind the stall if you want to walk through the house instead of down the stairs  

[Tricia]

Rakis Arabians, on 12 November 2010 - 06:28 PM, said:

Ok...speaking for EXPERIENCE...having a horse living with you is well...not all it's cracked up to be! We had Renagade in the garage, which is about 20 feet from the master bedroom, in the same kind of stall for 5 months. Do you know how noisey they are? And the smell? I don't care how many times a day you clean it your home smells like a barn! All I have to say is it was an experience! That was why we thought off the back deck....not as bad. WRONG! He moves around more than Renagade and is very demanding for breakfast early, EARLY in the morning. My husband commented this morning about 5:30 that Jusstin is a horse rooster whinnying over and over...so special   

And don't think I didn't have a fleeting thought about how easy it would be to foal out mares under the deck when all I would have to do is look down to see what was going on. We would never get any sleep!

And yes...there is a door behind the stall if you want to walk through the house instead of down the stairs  

WHAT???  You don't sleep in the stall for a couple weeks leading up to foaling??  I'm shocked!!  (Nevermind the monitor I had in the house to watch what was going on - that is different.....and I'm sure I'll be able to come up with a valid reason why if you just give me some time!   )  Maybe you could rig up a feeder for him that fills automatically - like maybe a bucket with a string attached to your wrist - wouldn't have to even get out of bed - just give that line a yank and tip that bucket.

I would share more of my clever, inventive ideas with you but I have to go brush burrs out of Karim's forelock now.  

[Phoenix]

Oh I'm so sorry to hear he was so sick. Praying that he comes thru. this aafe and sound. He is such a wonderful stallion.

[Rakis Arabians]

Phoenix, on 14 November 2010 - 02:24 PM, said:

Oh I'm so sorry to hear he was so sick. Praying that he comes thru. this aafe and sound. He is such a wonderful stallion.

Thank you so much! Jusstin continues to improve daily. He is up to his full appetite now which makes me happy since he lost so much weight (about 150 pounds). His incision is looking great! Closing up nicely with use of the belly band. Honestly, if you ever have a horse with abdominal surgery the belly band is the way to go. Supports their abdomen so it can heal without a hernia.

I will keep you all posted of Jusstin's progress.

Linda