Apple's Blossom
Apple's Blossom
April 25th, 2005 8:45 am - March 16th, 2007 12:05 pm
UPDATED: 3/16/07
I am the barer of sad news.
Blossom was rushed into emergency care at the vets last night for severe colic. Although we tried everything, including expensive surgery, this morning she was unable to be saved. She was laid to rest on the surgery table at 12:05 today. She had presented with colic symptoms Friday am, but we thought she was out of the woods, but by lunch time she was in trouble again, and the vet was brought in to determine what to do. She was diagnosed with Anterior Enteritis (see internet descriptions below). We did not know this before we started surgery or we would not have proceeded. Her entire small bowel was dying or dead. She was unsaveable with no real reasons why this occurred. The bacteria in her intestines went haywire causing a severe bacterial infection in her small intestines where they started dying off. Changes in diet, hay, life style, pastures, pasture mates, stress are all common reasons for this, which were none of the reasons for Blossom. She has coliced before, so we think she just may have been predisposed to having an issue. So sad, they can be so delicate sometimes. She was able to touch our lives, even though briefly, with a lot of love and spunk. Her mother was just placed in a permanent home on Wednesday too.
Please let me know if any one has any questions.
Thanks for making her life so much better while she was with us. She will be extremely missed.
lori
Anterior enteritis is the Acute inflammation of the small intestine producing signs of abdominal distress, such as colic and diarrhea
Anterior Enteritis (AE) is an inflammatory disease of the small bowel of horses that causes colic and toxic shock. Recently the term duodenitis and proximal jejunitis has been substituted for anterior enteritis. Because of the severe pain and toxic-shock it often appears as a displaced bowel.
AE used to be a common inflammatory disease of the small bowel and though the incidence seems to be declining it still remains a fairly common cause of colic case referral to larger equine hospitals where more aggressive therapy can be instituted.
Duodenitis-Proximal Jejunitis (Anterior enteritis)**
The etiology has yet to be determined, however, Salmonella spp, clostridial toxins, and/or viral agents are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. This disease is primarily seen in the adult horse. Following an acute case of colic, a chronic state of gastric reflux (3-14 days) occurs, usually without abdominal pain. The clinical signs associated with DPJ include mild to severe colic followed by depression, colic signs when the stomach becomes distended with GIT reflux, obviously gastric reflux (large volumes), and fever (early on). Other clinical features which vary depending upon duration and severity include dehydration, altered mucous membrane color, prolonged CRT, tachycardia, absence of borborygmi, diarrhea (usually during the resolution phase). Rectal examination findings generally are filled but not severely distended small intestine.
The clinical laboratory findings include a leukocytosis with toxic neutrophils or the WBC may be normal, elevated PCV and TP. Hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hypokalemia with a metabolic acidosis occurs in long-standing or severe cases. Abdominocentesis reveals and elevated protein (>3.5 g/dl) and mild to moderate elevation in WBC (<10,000/ml). Fluid is usually yellow and turbid, may be serosanguinous if diapedesis occurs.
The primary rule out is intestinal obstruction.
The diagnosis is based upon history, clinical and lab findings, and rectal examination. The definitive diagnosis is made at surgery or necropsy.
Blossom has been weaned and without a hitch. She didn't seem to care one way or another. She has been buddies with Karma and has developed her own independence so when it was time for mom to leave it was no big deal.
Blossom is halter
broke ONLY. She has been groomed and some work with picking up her feet. She has
an attitude (like most babies) and should only be placed in experienced hands.
When she doesn't want to do something she can be very stubborn. She learns
quickly
and will make a great mount for someone who can bring her along properly. He
mother is an Appaloosa, and we feel her father must have been a Quarter Horse.
She looks like she has some superb breeding due to the QH lines she is already
displaying. We figure she should mature between 15.2 and 16 hands, a little
bigger than her mother, but this is just a guestamate. Blossom is ready to go to
that right home for some one interested in a project to end with an awesome
horse.
Updated photos coming soon
Placement Fee: $600
The miracle of life…well unless you are really lucky or have a very agreeable mare, you will probably miss the miracle of birth. Apple was agreeable and I was able to catch Blossom’s entrance into this new life. If I had blinked I would have missed it. Apple went into labor and Blossom was delivered in less than a half hour.
LCR purchased Apple at auction the day after Christmas 2004. She was already pregnant. We had no idea how far along she was, her vaccination or health history, or even the father. She was just another throwaway-bred mare, unfortunately we find this often. Luckily everything turned out okay for mom and baby.
Karma, also a throw away baby, came to LCR through a very caring young lady who purchased her from a sale also. Karma's Story
The conversation about breeding has come up many times with LCR and myself. I have written articles and spoke about being responsible when thinking of breeding. (See Responsible Breeding link). Another very controversial discussion right now in the horse world is the Bill to pass the Horses anti-slaughter law nationwide. Well, although I do not agree with slaughtering such magnificent animals, the true responsibility lies on the breeders. Anywhere from 50,000 – 80,000 horses are slaughter YEARLY for human consumption over seas. If we band slaughtering of equines, where are all those unwanted horses going to go? We need to first address the initial underlying reason there are so many surplus horses ending up in the slaughterhouses. Breeding programs for quality not quantity is ok, but what about the back yard breeders and mass producers who breed their mares just because they can, with no real outlook for where those foals may end up. People are breeding horses left and right with no quality controlled program in mind and these offspring and unwanted mothers are ending up being put on the dinner table. I do not agree that anyone should eat a horse, but we must first make it more difficult for the horses to fall into the hands of the slaughter house by not having so many unwanted horses available with no place to go. What can we do? Where do we go with all these extra horses? Where do we begin? Those should be the first questions to have answered. My opinion, start in the beginning, when, how, how many, and why are they being produced?
Lori
Apple Blossomed with a beautiful bay filly at 8:45 am Monday April 25th, 2005. Apple had been standing there waiting for breakfast as usual, but did not even get a chance to finish. Before she or anyone knew it she was in active labor. She had laid down and went into a text book delivery at ~8:15 and the filly was out by 8:45 am. With a little assistance in the tearing of the sack, she delivered easily. Healthy and struggling to stand immediately. Blossom needed a little assistance in the cutting of the umbilical cord, but was ready to go and all else was a normal as can be. Blossom was standing within 1/2 hour and ready to face the world. It was a chilly morning and she was shivering but with the help of a heat lamp and some towels she warmed up quickly. She was diligently trying to nurse, but could not quite get the hang of it. Hours went by and we were beginning to worry. She needed colostrum, the first milk produced by the mare to help develop a strong immune system. She needed to nurse, within 6 hours ideally, but definitely before 12 hours went by. Apple had so much milk that she was so full Blossom could not get a good hold to take those first swallows. We needed to help. Blossom was now getting frustrated and we didn't want her to give up trying. She was so hungry and determined to nurse. Apple, what a saint, allowed us to milk her to relieve some of the pressure, but since this was special milk, was could not discard it, Blossom needed it so we had to bottle feed it into her. this was tricky and she still wasn't getting the sucking and swallowing. With a dose syringe and 40+ mls of colostrum milk, Blossom had her first real meal. Not much, but enough to give her a taste to encourage her to want more. Blossom's instinct took over and her determination prevailed. She was nursing on her own, a little clumsy with a bit of drool, but it was working.
Now it was time for resting, lots of naps and moms love. Apple and her beautiful Blossom have bonded well and will be taking in the wonderful spring.
Visitations will be on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. Apple and Blossom will not be available for Placement until October 2005. Serious inquiries please fill out an Application and help us care for mom and baby so you are prepared for the fun that awaits.