Peritonitis

[greydales]

I'm so, so sorry to hear this - poor Curly, and you . I'm hoping with all my might that Curly pulls through, sending loads of healing vibes

How is he today?

[tinkerdorisalison]

how absolutely awful, sorry don't have any experience of this but am wishing you all the luck in the world.

Take care
alison x

[tinastephenson]

today has been terrible! This morning I went in to Curly and thought in my ignorance he looked brighter, i took (i thought) his heart rate and had it ad 44 brilliant, i wandered in had a coffee and phoned the vet to update.
Well the vet arrived very quickly and told me Curly had heart rate of 110! he had started to sweat profusely and very very quickly i begain to wonder if he was going to survive today.
The vet fitted a canular and got grade 4?? antibiotics into him plus strong painkillers. She also got him on a drip. we had to get 2000ml into him today, so we have been out there until 9 tonight just solely doing drips and injecting pain killers into his canular.
On the bright side he has been eating a little bit, after we managed to source the best bale of haylage ever.... His heart rate is down to 80 now. Paul is doing the 11 o'clock stint for me as I am exhausted! I will be up at 2 and 4 to check on him, if heart rate goes above 90 I have to get vet out again, plus he is so uncomfortable walking I want to ensure he is drinking enough etc. will be up by 6 to see him again anyway.
Vet will be back at 8 to check him again. If this course of aggresive antibiotics does not work there is only one more course of action available, that is to transport him to veterinary hospital and from what i understood was to insert two tubes into abdomen and two into buttocks, then to flush copious amounts of fluid through to push toxins from the body. I have decided I cannot put him through that....
I do not think he will travel well, if he survived the journey at all. I know we all love our ponies and Curly trusts me completely, he has stood for 7 hours today while i have mucked about changing drips and has not moaned for a minute. I dont think he would survive the journey with his heart rate as it is, neither does the vet but she has to give all options. If Curly is not going to survive this it has to be with some dignity, I have thought long and hard about this, if I do have to put him to sleep it will be at home where he is quiet and happy......
The toxins are causing havoc with his rear quarters. He is obviously in so much pain, its totally heartbreaking.

[Debbie]

You have to do what you know in your heart is right. And this is different for each person and each pony. There is absolutely nothing less in opting for a quiet, dignified transitioning at home. My heart really goes out to you as you and Curly struggle with this

[zeldalithgow]

Oh Tina how awful for all of you

[harveydales]

Oh Tina, my heart goes out to you. I'm desperately hoping and praying for good news this morning. Curly couldn't have a more loving and caring owner, brave enough to put him first.

[dalesponyrider]

Oh God, my heart goes out to you too Tina. What an horrific situation. I am hoping above hope that things are a little better today. I agree with you completely about keeping him peaceful at home but I am praying that decision will not have to be made.

[dollylanedales]

I am so sorry for you having to go through this with Curly. Having kept horses for 35 years I have faced this decision a few times.

I truly hope Curly has improved overnight. I fully understand what you are saying about him staying at home ....I would feel the same.

[olivia]

Tina,

I am not a million miles away so if this weekend you need me to come over and poo pick fields, muck out, what ever to lend a hand just let me know.

Sorry I couldn't get over before Saturday - but I've got things happening everyday I just can't get out of.

Olivia

[DalesLady]

this is a horrible time for you and I hope you don't have to make any decision you don't want to and that Curly pulls through this, thinking of you

[greydales]

How awful for you, I went through similar agonies with Pip but at the end of the day what you don't want as a caring owner is to see them suffer - and you know when enough is enough, despite the vets possibly wanting to try other things.

Whatever decision you make (and I know you will make the right one for Curly) I'm sending you loads of and hope Curly finds some respite from his suffering

Thinking of you x

[tinastephenson]

Thank you to everyone, it is a great comfort knowing you are all willing him on as well.
it was an exhausting night, only managed to get 2 hours sleep, but that is 2 hours more than poor Curly.. last night his canular moved so i had to remove it in case he rubbed himself sore. Poor lad, it was stitched in and I am not a nurse,
The vet has just been again, fitted another canular and has left me enough antibiotics, pain killers and eye drops (the toxins have now caused ulcers on his corneas) to last until Friday, the good news is his heart rate is down to 74.
I have got Stacy to buy out the local supermarket of carrots and fruits, his stomach is still not making much sound at all and we need to get his system going to give him some strength to fight!
we wont give up yet....
going back to him now so will post again later, thank you again to you all.

[dalesponyrider]

So good to hear he is still fighting. I was worried that it was going to be the worst news as it seems ages since we heard anything. I know it isn't and that you have much more important things to do but I think we are all checking here on and off all day to see how Curly is. Will keep praying hard.

[harveydales]

Yes, I've been checking on here every couple of hours too. I am so glad Curly is still fighting - we are all willing him to pull through. You must be shattered and traumatised yourself - sending tons of healing vibes for you all.

[Debbie]

No news is good news as it means he's still fighting on, and you're giving him the best possible chance at pulling through. I hope you can catch some light dozing while on watch. Every little bit helps