The chiropractic vet was here this afternoon to check Tessa out. She has been having some issues and I was having a hard time pinpointing exactly what the problems are. She is so gaited that it is nearly impossible to tell exactly what is going on with her. I was pretty sure that I was seeing several different problems, none of them so bad as to make her really lame, but enough to make her feel "off" when I try to ride her. The saddle fit trouble I am still having just made it all worse. My diagnosis went something like this:
There's something wonky going on in her shoulders, the vertebrae there are crooked and cock-eyed, her back is sore, her hip is wacky and her right stifle is just all messed up.
The vet's diagnosis was more along the lines of....the cervical blah blah is out, the illeo-sacral joint is blah blah blah, the patellar ligament could be blah blah blah and the right stifle is just all messed up.
Nice to know my diagnosis was spot on anyway:) The scary thing is that I used to know exactly what all of the blah blah blahs were. I still know what they look like, but I seem to be losing the language of it. The mind is a terrible thing to lose.
Anyway, he put as many of the joints back where they belong as possible. He could inject the stifle, which would make it better for 6-8 months. It's an option I am not real thrilled with and would rather hold off on as long as possible. The best thing for it, long term, would be for Tessa to lose 100 pounds (couldn't we all) and get more consistent work/exercise to improve the muscles and ligaments. Um yeah, I'll have to try to fit that in with the job, lame donkeys, torrential rains, blizzards, heat stroke, sun poisoning, hay making, equipment failures, etc, etc, etc.
Come to think of it, I've been overweight and had stifle problems all my life too. I guess we will just have to keep muddling through, fat and lame as we are. We make a fine pair.
And since it is so STINKIN' HOT and I am trying not to whine too much, how about some random Ramsey pictures that I never got around to posting on one of our very rare nice winter days.
Ahhhh that snow looks refreshing. It's stinking out here too 100+ but not your humidity. Di
ReplyDeleteI usually have a fair idea of where my horses are wonky, too. It's nice when you're right, isn't it! It would be even nicer if we knew how to fix them...
ReplyDeleteRamsey looks so cute with his one shaved leg :D
YES, the snow pictures are a welcome relief this week!
ReplyDeleteHot, hot. Blossom had a little heat exhaustion as a result of my giving in to his demands to play fetch. I didn't have him out for more than ten minutes, but he stopped eating and moped around for a few days. And I'm worried about the rabbits.
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck is a 'stifle'?
Thanks for the snow photos of Ramsey and Emma.
The stifle is the big joint at the front of the rear leg, right where the leg and belly come together. It is the equivalent of the human knee.
DeleteMaybe Blossom needs a little wading pool to jump in and cool off after a few throws.
Ah, my stifles have been replaced!
DeleteMy Lab Daisy loved a pool and the sprinkler but Blossom doesn't like getting wet. I try to cool him off with the hose, but he runs away. I guess the best heat relief for him is to keep him quiet in it. One more day, one more day.
You are so right... it's heck to get old!
ReplyDeleteLove the Ramsey shots!
Always a pleasure to see those beautiful donkeys!
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean about us all being lame and could be in better shape - we're all just bumping along the best we can with the hours available in the day... keep smiling and doing the best you can :-)
Mind. Yes. Lost. I keep putting mine down, carefully packaged in my head, and the darn thing goes rolling off on it's own! Next thing you know, The Gus will have it. And the thought of The Gus with my mind,(and head) is scary!
ReplyDeleteHot here too. 98. Hot dry wind. And a new fire.
Can you ride bare back and just sort of forget the saddle thing for a while? I'm thinking it's what I'll have to do. My guy seems to have some issues with saddles.
Maybe you could sit in the stock tank to cool off? What's a little donkey slobber between friends.
Count me in the Tessa Club. This heat wave has driven a lot of people and their animals nuts. The snow pictures are perfect.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see you have the services of a Chiropractic vet. I've had 3 Rottweilers adjusted. One would "shimmy" when you ran your hand down his spine -- and he stopped doing that after one adjustment. The other two, I can't remember, its been so long ago.
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