I went back today to help with the mare with hyperlipemia.

Last night she aborted her foal which, though it sounds awful and sad, is the best thing that could’ve happened.  It means she has a chance.  Not a huge chance, but a better chance.

I was greeted by Ken Lee, the croft cat.

This morning, the mare was in her pen looking more alert and aware of her surroundings.

We made the decision to let her out with a friend to see if she would begin to eat.

She was very wobbly on her legs, almost falling over, but we could see she was happy to be outside.  I am a great believer in fresh air, company as well as sleep contributing towards healing.

The mare had a bit of a roll and then a sleep – I think she is exhausted.

The vet came and we discussed whether to re-site the intravenous drip or to continue with the bottles.  He passed a naso-gastric tube and got a good bucket of water, electrolytes and dextrose down her, tested her blood glucose, took her temperature (slightly raised) and gave her some antibiotics.

The mare then had porridge made of fine oatmeal and apple juice plus brown sugar as well as water, every hour.  She passed urine (grapefruit juice colour) twice as well as a stool.  This encourages me.  The important bits, like kidneys and gut, are still working.

This is what a blood sample from an equine with hyperlipemia looks like.   The yellow bit is lipids (fat) in the blood.  Not good. Ugh.

And so we struggle to keep this mare alive.  She puts up with us pushing bottles down her every half an hour during the day.  She has to live.  I want her to live and she is not giving up yet and neither are we.

The only encouraging aspect so far was when I tried to catch her for the vet, she trotted off.  That cheered me up greatly.  Still, we have a very long way to go.

In the dim and distant, I trained and qualified as an Registered General Nurse (Nov ’81 set, if you are interested) at The Middlesex Hospital in London, W1.

I was not a very good nurse but my training has always stood me in good stead, especially today.

Daisy and I spent the day nursing a standard Shetland pony mare with hyperlipemia – a horrid illness that I knew very little about.

Poor love had been visited by the vet numerous times and by now had an intravenous drip of alternating glucose and Hartmans.

Firstly, I was there so the owner could get some rest (up for 40 hours straight and beginning to feel dizzy).

Secondly, I was there to keep the IV monitored (one drop per second) and to talk to the vet, with the owner, when he visited.

I left Daisy and OH to sort out the mess of the Thordale boys – unrug, feed, Haakon’s hoof dressing (thank you Jo), muck out, etc. while I drove over to become obssessed by the IV drip.

The bag had to be changed and I vaguely remembered what to do.  Then the thing stopped dripping with a huge air bubble in the tube bit before the drip chamber thingy.  I looked at it blankly knowing I was supposed to do something when luckily my hands remembered and did all the right things.  Most odd.  The last time I had monitored a drip was 30 years ago.

And so we pushed fluids orally and did our very best.  Every 30 minutes, I would hold the mare’s head up, while Daisy pushed a bottle of glucose water or “gruel” down her.   I hope the mare lives.  Please get all your healing vibes out for this lady.  Daisy and I really want her to live.  We gave her our best all day, while her owner slept.

This evening, the mare is looking perkier and even began to take an interest in her surroundings.

I may have been a lousy nurse for humans but at least I can remember vaguely what to do for animals!

In there is Daisy being Minioned.  The little boys were all very pleased to see her. She has a special way with Minions and they adore her.

Daisy thought everyone looked well and that Tiddles had put on weight and grown fluffier.

She also said that Storm looked like one of those dolls that you have as a child and then you cut its hair because you think it will look more realistic.  Instead it looks worse, the hair hacked at and is never quite the same again.  I think we have all done that.  I know I did.  Poor Storm.

Tiddles reminded her of his love of nose-kisseys.

I think we can all say that we are glad Daisy is home.

I know she has work to do for her finals but I know where I will find her if she has any spare time or wants to relax.

Being Minioned!

I am worrying about Haakon. He is not getting any better, despite being on painkillers and antibiotics and I don’t know what to do.  Sometimes I think his lameness is looking less and then he takes a bad step and is hopping again.

Add to this worry, now and I am worried about little Storm.  He looks awful.  This could be because they all came home this afternoon from being out in a big field, covered in mud.  I watched him walk with me and sucked my teeth – he does not have a strong confidant walk anymore and looked like he would fall over at any moment.

Compared with everyone else, Storm is not robust at the moment.  He is not ribby and you can’t feel any bones;  he just isn’t in as good a condition as his fellow Minions.  Maybe he will get bouncier when the real green grass arrives.

The others are all fine.

Tiddles is doing especially well.

He involves himself with everything, just at his own speed.

He is a very endearing little chap.

So I will go on worrying about Haakon and Storm.  I wish spring would arrive properly and we could all look forward rather than just going along on a day-by-day basis trying to keep everyone and everything upright while the last of winter blows itself out.

Oh yes, and we have two whole daffodils in the garden!  Yay.

Another windy day (as in gusting 50mph gale) so after mucking out 9 horses/ponies, I wanted to go for a walk and straighten my back up.

The dogs and I needed a change of scenery too.  Off we went to Sandness beach.

The wind was hitting the sea straight on so, although there were no big waves, there was some impressive sea spray being blown backwards.

The tide also seemed very high and I found myself standing in the sea foam on a few occasions.

We had the beach to ourselves, which is always nice.  It was loud, wet and windy and when I lost the feeling my fingers from the cold, we went back home having been thoroughly buffeted about.  Good for the soul.

On our way home, I saw a pair of Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) walking across the road towards the loch.

I managed to grab my camera just as they had reached their destination.  If it had been less windy, I would’ve left the car and observed them for longer.  I rather like swans though everyone knows they can “break a man’s arm!”

Home and lunch and everyone except Haakon, Storm and Tiddles, were out in the field grazing.  Haakon and his companions-of-the-day were confined to the stable.  Haakon is on daily antibiotics and analgesia now.  Let’s see if that helps.

Then the weather disintegrated and I happened to mention did anyone want to perhaps come in … and gallop, the whole lot had wedged themselves into their shed.

I didn’t have to ask twice!