Just got back from the clinic. Riley went into surgery at 1pm and at 3:15 he was in recovery. I was able to see him at 4pm. He looked pretty good! Sweaty, sleepy, druggy, but he did nose me through the bars as I talked to the surgeon's assist (Note: That's what I'm calling her. Actually I don't know her role, it sounded like she was the anesthesiologist during the surgery). Here's what she told me...
- They went through the sole AND the side of the hoof, basically extending the toe notch upward -- I don't know how far. There was black gook (not her words) extending from the farrier's notch to the coronary band.
- She didn't know if they could identify the source of the problem as bruising versus abscess. Apparently with really bad bruising the pressure can cause a tract to form. She said she would ask the surgeon for his best guess. I'm wondering if they'll get any lab results on the black gook.
- He'll be in the clinic a full week to get IV antibiotics and monitoring. It's not clear when he'll be released -- it depends on his progress.
- Toward the end of his time there, they'll put on a backwards shoe to keep pressure off the toe.
- They'll feed him at 11pm.
- They'll call me daily with an update.
And having two surgical entry points was something I didn't anticipate. I can appreciate that the surgeon was thorough, and I don't question the decision, hey, whatever it takes just make him better! Here is what I've read about each method of entry into the hoof...
- With the sole incision, the wound/hole will heal quickly (+), but the sole entry is more painful for the horse (-) and of course you have to keep the bottom of the foot clean and dry (-).
- The side entry is less painful for the horse (+), and easier to keep clean (+), but the healing will take longer (-), more or less until the hoof grows out.
It's the end of a long day, can you tell? :-) I guess it's human nature to short change the good news, like RILEY'S OKAY. At the moment, I just want to sleep, and thank goodness there's nothing stopping me from doing just that. I'll feel better in the morning...
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Oh I am so glad to hear it! And I thought that might be the hospital you would use (as soon as you said I-78 I was pretty sure of it). You and I might have crossed paths yesterday because the show I was at was about 2 miles up the road from the hospital. Riley is in excellent hands (I have nothing but good things to say about the surgen as well...he is a great vet and a good person to boot). Did you get to jog Riley out on the cool senor black top but not really thing before the surgery?
ReplyDeleteI am so happy that for the time being at least it looks like he is doing okay. As for the black goo...Riley is at a top notch place, just because they don't know exactly what it is doesn't mean that someone else wont. I am sure they will put the word out (they consulted on my horses injury) and find someone who will know what is going on.
I don't blame you for not breathing the sigh of relife yet. Please post tomorrow and let us know how his dinner goes down.
I'm so glad to hear that the surgery went well and that he's okay. Here's hoping they get the full information back to you as to what was all going on and he has a speedy, painless recovery!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear he's okay right now, and sending good thoughts for tonight and onward... hope you get some sleep!
ReplyDeleteSo glad the surgery went well! Sounds like he was in good hands.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about you and Riley, and imagining what a hard day this has been. Thank goodness this is behind you, and you can both focus on rest, healing, and growing strong again.
ReplyDeleteAll Right!!! Good news with a touch of worry, but it's pretty clear to me Riley is in the best of places with the best of care. I like the fact that the surgeon was so cautious.
ReplyDeleteThe backwards shoe. I once had a laminitis horse with both front shoes on backwards to take off the toe pressure. I hadn't heard of it before or since. I'd hate to be a tracker trying to follow Riley's progress across the plains. Three feet going one way and one the other. *lol* Might give you a chuckle thinking about it--make you feel better.
Hope you get a good night's rest and wake up with optimism. The time will fly by as you wait for Riley to recover. And just think of all the wonderful expertise you are going to develop at bandaging hoofs! *Ok,you can stop laughing now*
Hugs and support from New Jersey where it's as hot as it is there.
So happy to hear that he is ok :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll get some official answers soon - I can't wait to hear more about the mysterious black goo.
Fingers crossed that the rest of his recovery is quick and uneventful.
It is so stressful to have our horses in the hospital, but glad to hear it went well. Hoping for a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteWe'll continue the flow of good thought from our place to Riley (and you)--you will receive them best if you are SLEEPING!!! (that's what my mom calls "a hint")
ReplyDeleteBTW, putting a horseshoe on backwards is also the traditional way to foil witches, devilment, and bad luck. I guess that means that Riley's bad days are done now, right?
I am sending my best purrs for Riley to have a quick and easy recovery.
ReplyDeleteIt's really good that he came through the surgery OK - the general anesthesia is the part that really worries me, as well as how they recover immediately afterwards. Since they got at the root of the problem, with a little luck that should fix everything, even if it takes some time for his hoof to regrow. Best of luck with his daily progress.
ReplyDeleteLots of hugs and kisses to Riley from me and Tucker! He's in great hands. Glad to hear the scariest part is over (big sigh of relief). Sending healing vibes your way.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad to hear Riley is doing well! Sounds like a bit of a road ahead to recovery, but I'll be jingling for you.
ReplyDeleteGlad he is through and out okay! Hoping for a speedy recovery!!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear that things went well for your boy. I want to recommend Dermagel for healing if you can get a hold of it. My trainer's horse had a chip removed from the tip of his coffin bone and as a result had a HUGE hole in the sole of his foot. She cleaned the wound every day with Nolvasan, then rinsed with saline. Then put dermagel on it with Silvadine on top of that, with gauze pads and wrapping. She said the rate of healing was incredible. If you need a source for it shoot me an email - fmkaswyn at yahoo dot com. Hope it heals quickly!
ReplyDeleteI will keep sending out positive vibes, jingles, thoughts, I can imagine how overwhelming it all is right now (I am flashing back to when I had a horse go through colic surgery), I just took it one day at a time and eventually we were back in the saddle again. Sounds like you have a great vet facility. We will be anxious to hear how Riley's recovery is going.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update. Was worried and I know you must have found surgery day very stressful. Here's hoping for much sleep and healing in the next few days/weeks. You both got through it!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that the surgery went well for Riley. I'll keep him in my prayers for a complete and fast recovery.
ReplyDeleteI was on vacation this weeks so I'm just catching up. Glad to hear Riley is doing well so far. :) Hope you are too, since he's your "baby".
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