Well, it has been a couple of up and down days for me and Parlay.
On the positive side, Parlay is eating better. Wow, it is such a relief to see him eat. I guess it's the Mom in me that makes me so damned anxious when he would just stand and stare at me or the food like I was starving him. That, and the fact that I was pretty sure that Animal Control was going to be banging on my door any day... =-(
He is now eating 3-4 times a day (thank GOD for horse loving neighbors! I have a wonderful relationship with a woman down the street... she loves Parlay!!). Parlay is getting about 3-3.5 lbs per feeding of Superior by Agway 12% pellets and Strategy Ovals. I am mixing into that about 1/2 cup of corn oil, 2x a day. He also gets FatCat (when he doesn't blow it out) Platform Electrolyte pellets (that, more often than not, end up as the last thing at the bottom of the bucket--how does he DO that?!?) and Omega Horseshine, which he had been getting before this whole mess (and, like some of the other stuff, sometimes gets left behind--*sigh*) Today, I am going to start adding back in the Nutrena Empower.
More good news... my vet has come up with a paste form of Lasix. What a relief honestly, because my poor horse was looking so dejected about getting injections from me 2x a day. That does NOTHING for either of our morales! Yeah, I have been almost in tears over the "yes! Got the vein!--- um, no, lost the vein." Some goes in IV, some IM, usually more than one prick at a shot... CURSES, I hate the shots.
So we have the paste. Now, does it work? Well, I started with the max dose on the syringe--3 CCs. Seemed okay and even better? PARLAY ATE IT OFF OF A TREAT. What are the odds of THAT?? I tasted it (and peed for hours---just kidding) and it is pretty innocuous. Par made a face, but he ate it and looked for something else--to me that is a good sign!
BUT, last night I found a problem. Pulse, 54, Respiration 34. Yup, he was breaking through. Of course, I hem and haw about what to do until I text my vet at midnight (and that crazy woman is STILL working!!) Even before she replied, I prepared a syringe of Lasix to give internally. Parlay was scaring me--he looked anxious and agitated again and he was breathing so shallowly.
I tried to give the stuff IV with no luck. Just didn't appear to be enough blood volume to puff up the vein for me to get it. 3 tries and in it went--IM. 45 minutes later, the respiration was only down to 30, but he looked better. Calmer. Didn't do much for me, because I didn't sleep well AT ALL.
So, this am I ran out to see how he was doing. Better. 25 respiration and seems a bit less stressed. However, the coughing returns... not good.
I will have to write more later. There is just too much going on and my work phone is ringing off the hook...
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Working on "THE PLAN"
Today was a weird day for Parlay. His P&R were on the high side (58/22) and he had the bloody nose trickle. (which is TOTALLY perplexing because honestly, it's only the right nostril (and always has been) and I never know when he will have one--I can't seem to find the trigger!)
I gave 4 cc's of Lasix IV and then had to resort to IM because I could not seem to keep the needle in the vein. =-( Parlay was pretty agitated in general, so having him bounce around makes him a bit of a moving target!
He has gotten 3 meals today so far and I plan to give him one more before I go to bed. Interestingly, he already appears to be a bit less ribby from just 3 days on this plan of "molasses-free-many-meals." I am trying to work him up to about 10 lbs a day of the 12% pellet, along with hay, grass, and a multitude of treats. This is actually DOWN from what he USED to eat, which was as much as 12 lbs of Senior over the course of a day (I told you he was a hard keeper!!)
I decided to start to add corn oil tonight. It's a bit risky, I know, but he really needs those calories! A friend sent me an interesting article on picky eaters and I may try a couple of the ideas listed, such as using teas for flavoring (masking), adding some different herbs for variety and to stop trying so hard.
The other part of my *plan* is in full swing... that is the supplementation of the CoQ10. I have yet to find the appropriate dosage for a horse online or from a vet, but I am going to go with what my own doctor prescribed for me, and that would be about 1.5 mg per lb. I am going to continue upping the dosage until I hit about 1200 mg per day. So far, so good with the Entenmann's Bars. Highly recommend!
I also decided to hold off on the hawthorn supplement for the moment---I want to see how one thing works at a time and the CoQ10 is my main focus. At this point, it appears that God is giving me a little leeway to play with my treatment plan, so I am going to take advantage of it and space things out.
One thing that has been working like a charm is Horse Quencher. Thank Heaven for that stuff (Heaven and HARRY that is, who donated about 4 tubs of it to the cause--THANK YOU!!) I have been giving about 4 gallons of the mix and have taken to adding "Apple a Day," electrolyte and FatCat supplement to it. Parlay loves his afternoon tea. I get such a feeling of satisfaction when he slurps it down. I am probably going to keep on adding stuff to it as long as he keeps on drinking it! My next additive will probably be some additional rice bran. I am also toying with the idea of adding beet pulp shreds and eventually turning it into a mash of sorts.
The extra fluid and calories along with the replacement electrolytes can't be anything but good, so I am pleased with how that is working out.
I am hoping that the humidity dies down a bit. I am sure that it is making breathing a bit more of a challenge for my boy. I inquired about better dosages of albuterol to nebulize, but of course, I am not sure that the nebulizing does very much for him anyway. I would really have to do it consistently to assess that---right now, I am doing it when he appears to be struggling for breath (like heaving) but that has been pretty infrequent. More often I see him breathing rapidly in short, shallow breaths when he is distressed.
Of course, PARLAY doesn't think he is distressed. He is LOVING all of the attention, that is for sure!!
I gave 4 cc's of Lasix IV and then had to resort to IM because I could not seem to keep the needle in the vein. =-( Parlay was pretty agitated in general, so having him bounce around makes him a bit of a moving target!
He has gotten 3 meals today so far and I plan to give him one more before I go to bed. Interestingly, he already appears to be a bit less ribby from just 3 days on this plan of "molasses-free-many-meals." I am trying to work him up to about 10 lbs a day of the 12% pellet, along with hay, grass, and a multitude of treats. This is actually DOWN from what he USED to eat, which was as much as 12 lbs of Senior over the course of a day (I told you he was a hard keeper!!)
I decided to start to add corn oil tonight. It's a bit risky, I know, but he really needs those calories! A friend sent me an interesting article on picky eaters and I may try a couple of the ideas listed, such as using teas for flavoring (masking), adding some different herbs for variety and to stop trying so hard.
The other part of my *plan* is in full swing... that is the supplementation of the CoQ10. I have yet to find the appropriate dosage for a horse online or from a vet, but I am going to go with what my own doctor prescribed for me, and that would be about 1.5 mg per lb. I am going to continue upping the dosage until I hit about 1200 mg per day. So far, so good with the Entenmann's Bars. Highly recommend!
I also decided to hold off on the hawthorn supplement for the moment---I want to see how one thing works at a time and the CoQ10 is my main focus. At this point, it appears that God is giving me a little leeway to play with my treatment plan, so I am going to take advantage of it and space things out.
One thing that has been working like a charm is Horse Quencher. Thank Heaven for that stuff (Heaven and HARRY that is, who donated about 4 tubs of it to the cause--THANK YOU!!) I have been giving about 4 gallons of the mix and have taken to adding "Apple a Day," electrolyte and FatCat supplement to it. Parlay loves his afternoon tea. I get such a feeling of satisfaction when he slurps it down. I am probably going to keep on adding stuff to it as long as he keeps on drinking it! My next additive will probably be some additional rice bran. I am also toying with the idea of adding beet pulp shreds and eventually turning it into a mash of sorts.
The extra fluid and calories along with the replacement electrolytes can't be anything but good, so I am pleased with how that is working out.
I am hoping that the humidity dies down a bit. I am sure that it is making breathing a bit more of a challenge for my boy. I inquired about better dosages of albuterol to nebulize, but of course, I am not sure that the nebulizing does very much for him anyway. I would really have to do it consistently to assess that---right now, I am doing it when he appears to be struggling for breath (like heaving) but that has been pretty infrequent. More often I see him breathing rapidly in short, shallow breaths when he is distressed.
Of course, PARLAY doesn't think he is distressed. He is LOVING all of the attention, that is for sure!!
It's the Molasses!
Who would have thought?
It appears that the hunger strike *may* be over!!
For whatever reason, Parlay has decided that he doesn't want molasses. Maybe it is some sort of weird reaction from the Lasix?? Who knows-- but he seems to be much more interested in any feed or treat that does NOT contain molasses, so I am eliminating it from everything.
Sooooo... over the next couple of days/weeks I am going to try and get Parlay plumped up a bit with regular 'ole pellets. I am using Agway Superior 12 and the Strategy Ovals. I will attempt to get him to eat about 3-4 times a day. I am hoping to also introduce some rice bran or Cocosoya oil to beef him back up, but first I just want him to continue being INTERESTED in food--something he has not been in weeks.
Tonight, heart rate was a bit high at 54, but the respiration was normal (YAY!) at 12. So strange!
It is humid (rainy) and Par HATES to get wet. However, it is so balmy out that he is going to have to deal with it. The atmosphere outside is better than it would be inside, I think. Hopefully the rain is over for tonight.
In the meantime, we had a little chat over his molasses-free meal. I explained that he really needs to communicate better so that I can do what he needs me to do. You know, a little telepathy or something?? I also told him that it would be okay by me if he wanted to stay here on Earth for a couple (10-15) more years...
He sighs. Nudges me for a carrot or some other tasty morsel. He then looks out to the paddock to see if anyone is at "HIS" hay pile. I give him a hug (much to his chagrin) and off he goes to kick some butt, pelting me with a bit of mud on his way for good measure.
I sigh. Another day in the life!
It appears that the hunger strike *may* be over!!
For whatever reason, Parlay has decided that he doesn't want molasses. Maybe it is some sort of weird reaction from the Lasix?? Who knows-- but he seems to be much more interested in any feed or treat that does NOT contain molasses, so I am eliminating it from everything.
Sooooo... over the next couple of days/weeks I am going to try and get Parlay plumped up a bit with regular 'ole pellets. I am using Agway Superior 12 and the Strategy Ovals. I will attempt to get him to eat about 3-4 times a day. I am hoping to also introduce some rice bran or Cocosoya oil to beef him back up, but first I just want him to continue being INTERESTED in food--something he has not been in weeks.
Tonight, heart rate was a bit high at 54, but the respiration was normal (YAY!) at 12. So strange!
It is humid (rainy) and Par HATES to get wet. However, it is so balmy out that he is going to have to deal with it. The atmosphere outside is better than it would be inside, I think. Hopefully the rain is over for tonight.
In the meantime, we had a little chat over his molasses-free meal. I explained that he really needs to communicate better so that I can do what he needs me to do. You know, a little telepathy or something?? I also told him that it would be okay by me if he wanted to stay here on Earth for a couple (10-15) more years...
He sighs. Nudges me for a carrot or some other tasty morsel. He then looks out to the paddock to see if anyone is at "HIS" hay pile. I give him a hug (much to his chagrin) and off he goes to kick some butt, pelting me with a bit of mud on his way for good measure.
I sigh. Another day in the life!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Small Successes
54/20
Still giving Lasix at 6 cc, IV, 2x a day
So, I have finally had some success with the CoQ10 supplement. ENTENMANNS!
Yup, Entenmanns had these apple cinnamon bars on sale, so I figured I would give then a try. They are soft cookie like bars with a sticky apple-cinnamony goo in the middle. When cut in half they make a little, sticky pocket! PERFECT for jamming 2-3 pills into! So far, this is WORKING!! Parlay is eating them (not with much gusto, but whatever! He is EATING them!)
Par also ate 80% of his dinner tonight! Woo HOO! He is seriously looking like a rescue horse at this point, so I am letting him eat anything he will--which happens to be the Purina's Strategy Ovals--No accounting for taste, I guess!
It seems as if Par seems pretty comfortable tonight. The humidity let up a bit and the cooler air appears to be agreeing with him. He certainly has his ups and downs. Going out to the paddock these days is always a bit nerve wracking. I feel like I never know what I am going to find. I will say, however, that over the past couple of days I feel like I am relaxing a bit more about it.
Yesterday morning he had that anxious look about him-- the wild eye, the jerky body movements... He also had a bit of a cough which always makes me nervous too. I gave the Lasix and hoped that it would quickly help him to breathe and relax. It is pretty disconcerting and eerie to see his heart beating in his chest and in his neck. A "jugular pulse," is the term for that pulsation in the neck. Parlay has always had a bit of a pulse there, but now it is quite visibly strong and that is a bit scary.
The coughing and the bloody noses keep me alert, to be sure--Par seems unfazed by it all, but to me it is upsetting. I keep hoping and praying that we can all settle into a bit more of a "normal," life, but the curve balls keep on coming!!
Anyway, I am pleased about the CoQ10 and hopeful that the program that we are following will keep Parlay as comfortable as he can be for as long as he can.
Headed off for prayer and bed.
Still giving Lasix at 6 cc, IV, 2x a day
So, I have finally had some success with the CoQ10 supplement. ENTENMANNS!
Yup, Entenmanns had these apple cinnamon bars on sale, so I figured I would give then a try. They are soft cookie like bars with a sticky apple-cinnamony goo in the middle. When cut in half they make a little, sticky pocket! PERFECT for jamming 2-3 pills into! So far, this is WORKING!! Parlay is eating them (not with much gusto, but whatever! He is EATING them!)
Par also ate 80% of his dinner tonight! Woo HOO! He is seriously looking like a rescue horse at this point, so I am letting him eat anything he will--which happens to be the Purina's Strategy Ovals--No accounting for taste, I guess!
It seems as if Par seems pretty comfortable tonight. The humidity let up a bit and the cooler air appears to be agreeing with him. He certainly has his ups and downs. Going out to the paddock these days is always a bit nerve wracking. I feel like I never know what I am going to find. I will say, however, that over the past couple of days I feel like I am relaxing a bit more about it.
Yesterday morning he had that anxious look about him-- the wild eye, the jerky body movements... He also had a bit of a cough which always makes me nervous too. I gave the Lasix and hoped that it would quickly help him to breathe and relax. It is pretty disconcerting and eerie to see his heart beating in his chest and in his neck. A "jugular pulse," is the term for that pulsation in the neck. Parlay has always had a bit of a pulse there, but now it is quite visibly strong and that is a bit scary.
The coughing and the bloody noses keep me alert, to be sure--Par seems unfazed by it all, but to me it is upsetting. I keep hoping and praying that we can all settle into a bit more of a "normal," life, but the curve balls keep on coming!!
Anyway, I am pleased about the CoQ10 and hopeful that the program that we are following will keep Parlay as comfortable as he can be for as long as he can.
Headed off for prayer and bed.
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