Alita's Story

Weeks 17 & 18

September 22^nd - October 5th

This Heat is Hard

  There was a day or two that the weather let up and Alita seemed to be making some progress. She began to use her leg and actually walk semi-normal when she was out. I decided to go ahead and just leave her out with her friends in a small area so she could be a horse again.

  One day Melissa came over to take some photos of our colts that we have for sale. The horses because it was pretty nice out were all acting like kids and getting all excited. There was one point that Alita was out and Echo and Raja were passing her by time after time as they chased each other. Then to both our surprise we turned to see Alita running! OK it was a slow run but the girl was moving like I had not seen her move since this all happened. When she caught up with the other horses the three of them all stopped and that was that. It was just so nice to see her trying something she had not tried for over 4 months! Of course the following day she paid the price for her little escapade and she stayed in her stall due to being sore.

  A few days later she began to loosen up again and she was doing a little better. Then it got very hot and humid again and she began to go backwards. She was laying down a lot again so she had to be put back in her stall and paddock. She was bending the knee pretty severely again and she was back to hopping to propel forward.

  We bumped her Bute to 1&1/2 AM & 1 PM which seemed to help her a lot. Once this heat wave goes away we will back her down again. The flies and gnats are also bad right now however Alita takes being sprayed like a trooper and seems to know it is to help. Also when she gets her Bute I just put my hand over her nose and insert the syringe. She doesn't resist at all.

  Today is Saturday Oct 5th and it is a beautiful morning outside. Not only because it is cool and dry however also because Alita is trying to walk normal again. Her knee is still bent however she is taking 4 steps like she should be and not bringing her ear legs up or propelling forward.. This is a good sign. Hopefully she will continue to improve as the weather continues to cool off and dry out.

  She is still on her 14% feed 2x a day with Beet Pulp added, 1 cup of oil and her joint supplement. She still is also on Bute, 1 AM & 1 PM. If she continues to show improvement we will try to cut back. I would rather have her comfortable on the Bute and start to use the leg again and once she is consistently using it then wean her off the Bute. If she always thinks it is going to hurt she will avoid it however if she is on the Bute and it takes the edge off to where she IS using it more than that is what we need to do.

  We are looking at Saturday October 12^th to take her to the vet. We will use LaNet's trailer with the ramp to make it easier for her. She really is not getting worse however I want to see and have the vet evaluate what her knee is doing and how the tissue is coming back. Maybe we can see if filling her sac back up with fluid will help her at all. We will see.

  Diana is also going to do her raindrop technique hopefully soon as if it will help Alita we need to have it done.