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TREW Max - Rehomed

March 2009

Max is a 16 wk old Paint Colt, who has come to us straight from his breeder. Max has some serious health issues, and his breeder was not in a position to pay for his Veterinary needs. We were approached with the option that either we take Max in, or he was to be euthanased this weekend. After having spoken to Max's breeder at length, and the Vet who attended Max the day before he was delivered here, the TREW Committee were of the opinion that Max deserved to be given the opportunity of Veterinary attention, and the chance of recovery if at all possible. To date Max had received no diagnosis or treatment, and we felt we could provide him with this. We are grateful to his breeder that she has sought out this option for Max prior to having him put to sleep.

Max has been here for only one night so far, so early days in his care. We are looking at pneumonia at this stage. Max has difficulty breathing, and the noise created by him doing so is quite upsetting. His breeder tells us that this began at the age of 4 weeks. Max was weaned at 12 weeks, and has since been hard fed high performance processed feeds by the breeder.

It is obvious that he isn't thriving, and is quite ribby and pot bellied. He has been scoped, and his trachea, all the way into his lungs is severely congested with mucus.

Max is a beautiful natured little man, very 'soft', calm, and sensible. For a boy of just 16 weeks, he has taken the float trip and move to a new home very well, and is already nickering out when he sees people coming. He has a voracious appetite, which is great. Our Vet Jude came to see him today, and he was incredibly well behaved with his exam and needles. We are sparing no effort with this baby, but it is way too early to give a prognosis pending further tests. Jude took bloods today, which should rule out a couple of possibilities. We are hoping desperately that he does not have the Rhodococcus Equi bacteria -'Rattles', which is a potentially fatal pneumonia in foals.

April 09

Unfortunately there is not a great deal of news that we can share re the little fella as yet. He has been on a course of antibiotics, to clear up any infections he could possibly have, (horses diagnosed with pneumonia are aggressively treated with systemic antibiotics), then the plan is that we scope him again.

Having spent a lot of time observing Max's breathing, when he does it, when he doesn't etc., both Jude and I have a feeling that Max's problem could actually be as a result of a physical/structural problem. Max is showing no signs of an infectious disease, no nasal discharge, fever or depression. It has become pretty clear that the source of his problem is within his upper airway. When Jude scopes Max, she will be having a thorough look for indications of problems in his guttural region, larynx, and with his palate.

Some of the more common structural problems affecting the respiratory tracts of horses include dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP), nasopharyngeal collapse, laryngeal hemiplegia (roaring), epiglottic entrapment, and recurrent airway obstruction (RAO, also called heaves). Once a diagnosis of any one of these abnormalities is made, surgery is generally an option. If ultimately it is decided that surgery can help him, he will have it. The success rates are variable.

Max's condition is gradually improving. He is starting to fill out along his top line, and is obviously feeling better within himself. His sporadic breathing difficulties, unpleasant as he sounds at times, really don't seem to upset him. He is starting to have the occasional hoon about the yard, and I am seeing glimmers of him behaving like any young colt should. His hooning does not seem to exacerbate his breathing difficulties at all.

I have been spending as much time with him as I am able, and we go for good long walks every day. He is not convinced that grass is food as yet, but considering that we have had no decent rain here for months, and that my property is completely bare, this really isn't an issue! He's a very obliging little man, and a very fast learner. We are learning to do pretty much everything both with, and without the halter...worming, medicating, picking up of feet, etc. He stops, turns, backs etc. by voice command, and stands like a trooper to be rugged and unrugged. He is overdue to have his feet trimmed, so that's near the top of the list also. I have just started to give him some company during the days, as I am fairly confident now that he is not contagious. I have been putting Dinki the Donkey in with him, as she's the only resident in whom I have 100% confidence to not injure him. She is as steady as the day is long. He really enjoys the company, and makes little forays to Dinki to try to make friends. She's pretty much indifferent, but he draws comfort from having her there.

So there we have it at this stage. No clear diagnosis as yet, frustrating, I know, but we will get there. He is eating well, his general health and condition is improving, and he is going to school everyday. I will get some pictures of Max with his new Donkey friend, and will also get some when he has his next scope, and will share what we find.

May 2009

Two other conditions that we haven't mentioned as yet that were apparent upon Max's arrival are that he has an Umbilical Hernia, and Physitis. As far as priorities go, the Hernia can wait.

The Physitis is a matter of management. For those who aren't aware of this condition, it is a disturbance of growth, and most commonly manifests itself in foals as enlarged, often painful areas, just above their knees or hocks. There are several recognised causes of Physitis, the first being nutrition. This type of Physitis is seen in foals on rich pasture and/or being fed a high level of concentrates/energy.

Ideally, leaving foals on mum for an appropriate period is going to provide your foal with appropriate nutrition in line with their stage of development. Don't mess with mother nature if you can help it, she knows best! If your mare becomes low in condition while feeding her foal, supplement the mare, and provide her with the nutrition she needs to cope with the demands being placed upon her.

If you have foals or young horses you suspect have this disorder, consult with your Vet and evaluate your feeding program to ward off more serious growth problems in the future.

Max is doing fabulously well as far as his condition and state of mind goes. To date he has had no treatment for his breathing issue, and is thriving nonetheless. He's a happy little chappy who is really starting to come out of himself and grow in confidence.

At this time, our priority is to get Max to a satisfactory state of health and balance through good and appropriate nutrition. The benefits of this are already showing. We plan to address his physiological abnormality in the short term future. It does not hinder him in any way at this time. We would like to see him stronger and healthier before we put him through the rigors of possible surgery and the pre surgical evaluations.

June 2009

Well Max is going to enter another chapter of his journey today. TREW member Leigh, and his partner Rebecca have very kindly agreed to care for Max for a time.

I had begun to be concerned about Max's emotional development. He is doing so well physically, but the more well, and 'aware' he is becoming, the more obvious it was becoming that he needed 'more'. Unfortunately my property is tiny, (under 4 acres), and all the paddocks are small, so since being here, Max has been living a fairly confined life, isolated from other horses.

The trial with Dinki was pretty much a non event, as he did not regard her as another horse/company, and she pretty much ignored him, and there are no other horses here at the moment who are suitable as paddock company for Max. I have been watching him and thinking, and decided that what he most needs at this stage is the company of other adult horses, and room to move. He has no idea 'what' he is, and has no example to follow. Being weaned at 12 weeks, and living an isolated life here since has not helped his development, and he is very lacking in confidence.

Leigh has very generously offered to take Max on for a period and provide him with what he sorely needs. He will have the company of a couple of Leigh's quiet adult horses, and be housed in a much larger paddock. Leigh has been constructing new fences on his property to set up the ideal scenario for Max, and we have every confidence that Max will be in good hands. Leigh and Rebecca are good 'horse people', and I have been reassured that Rebecca will provide Max with all the smooching that he has been getting here! Leigh will be a good 'leader' for Max, and provide Max with all the guidance he needs.

I'm really going to miss the little fella, as he sure has come to mean a lot to me, but I am also excited, because I am absolutely positive that this change in circumstances for the time being for Max will result in a happier, better balanced, and more confident young man.

Max does still occasionally make that rasping sound when he puts his head to the ground, but we are convinced that it's a physical deformity of some kind, and not an illness. It does seem to be diminishing as he grows, but at this time it is not the priority, as far as providing what the young man needs goes. It does not affect him in any way, is not detracting from his quality of life at all, and our Vet does not feel it necessary to investigate it further at this point in his care. We will get to it one day, as we do need to know what it is.

Max loaded like a dream... just two minutes thinking time, and he followed me up onto the float on a loose lead and stood there calmly. Leigh reports that he travelled well, and at the time Leigh rang me, Max was excitedly getting to know his neighbours from his new paddock. We're looking forward to pics today from Leigh and Rebecca of Max in his new surroundings.

Sincere thanks to Leigh and Rebecca, from all of us who love little Max, for your support in this next phase of Max's care and development.

July 2009

Some great news for Max. A couple of weeks ago Leigh and Rebecca made the decision to permanently adopt our little Max, and we can't imagine a better scenario for him, we're all thrilled to bits. Leigh is doing some great work with Max, and when the time comes, will start him and get him going.

Max is blossoming under Leigh's care, and that of Leigh's old stockhorse 'Stocky'. Stocky is apparently taking his role of Nanny very seriously, and Max is growing in confidence every day through having a solid 'horsey buddy'. Max's health is brilliant, and he has really begun to grow and fill out a lot. Leigh and Max have grown very close, and, we have no doubt, will be mates for life.

Congratulations to Leigh and Rebecca on the new family member, and congratulations to Max also, for excelling in all of your lessons little man! Some harder than others...I hear you did very well at 'How to eat a carrot 101.' Very important lesson to learn!

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