[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference noted::equitation

Title:Equine Notes Conference
Notice:Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151
Moderator:MTADMS::COBURNIO
Created:Tue Feb 11 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2080
Total number of notes:22383

1847.0. "Older horse w/ Abscessed Tooth " by AKOCOA::LPIERCE (Happy New Year) Mon Jan 17 1994 09:47

I gave my 32ish yr old Pinto gelding to a friend a few yrs ago to be retired.
She has taken very good care of him for the past 2yrs.  But a few weeks
ago he got an abscessed tooth, the tooth is so bad you can smell it from
a mile away.  She called the vet and the vet gave her penicillin and told
her it will fall out in time.

Well, 1st I don't like her vet and never did, 2nd, this horse is 32ish and
he has the biggest heart you've ever seen, he still acts like a colt and is
full of life..more life then a 4yr old.

To see him in this much pain is to much for me to take.  He can't eat and he
is not happy and he is not himself.

Have your horses ever had an abscess tooth? did the vet tell you to wait till
it fell out?  It's been 2 week now, how much longer should his poor horse
who has given us everything suffer?

I'm just besides myself

Louisa
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1847.1MPO::ROBINSONyou have HOW MANY cats??Mon Jan 17 1994 11:095
    
    	I'd get a vet who will pull the tooth and flush the infection
    	out of the socket.
    
    	Sherry
1847.2Me too!DECWET::JDADDAMIOSeattle Rain Festival: 1/1-12/31Mon Jan 17 1994 13:202
    Me too!
    
1847.3over headsAKOCOA::LPIERCEHappy New YearMon Jan 17 1994 14:3618
    
    I called my vet and she agreed the tooth must come out.  now, I have
    a problem.  I called the other vet (i'm waiting for her call back)
    I have to handle this w/ kit gloves due to the horse not really
    belonging to me anymore.
    
    I'm sure I can handle this w/tact, I know it looks like I'm going
    over the new-owners head, but I'd go over anyone to protect this
    horse at any cost.
    
    The person who has him now is a friend, but she's a bit odd!  It's
    a long story and I know she loves this horse..she just thinks that
    he'll be fine when the tooth falls out..she thinks of them as horses
    where I think of them as so much more then that.
    
    and I just can't see any animal suffer espally horses
    
    Louisa
1847.4POWDML::MANDILENot unless your butt has eyesTue Jan 18 1994 10:128
    
    Well, if the horse now belongs to her, you need to discuss this
    matter with her, first.  Among other things, is the vet bill for
    removal of the tooth.  She may not be willing to pay for another
    vet call, when she already paid for one and is following that vet's
    orders (wrong that they might be).
    
    Good luck!
1847.5MPO::ROBINSONyou have HOW MANY cats??Tue Jan 18 1994 11:055
    
    	Better a quick barn call now than one later when the abcess has
    	gone into the jaw! The infection can't drain properly with the
    	tooth still in there and think of the pressure underneath it in the 
    	meantime!
1847.6AKOCOA::LPIERCEThat's my StoryWed Jan 19 1994 11:2224
    
    I called my friends vet, but she didn't call me back until I was
    gone from work.  so the vet called my friend..my freind tells the
    vet that everything is fine w/the horse and I just worry alot.
    
    I asked my friend if the tooth fell out yet and she does not know.
    I told her I think in the best interest of the horse that we should
    know forsure if the tooth came out (I dont think it has)  so that
    way we can stop an infection going to the jaw.. the friend just
    tells me his fine and not to worry.
    
    I know money w/this person is no problem and she does love the
    horse...but she is a bit slow and she really doesn't get it 1/2
    the time (in a nice way) and she is one of those people who you
    can't tell anything to..they just know all.
    
    So, I guess I'm stuck..I've done all I can...the horse is still in
    pain very much and the tooth still smells like death, so bad you
    can't walk near him w/out tossing your cookies
    
    I can't belive the vet just did come up to give him another look
    over and see if the tooth is out..it's been 12 or 13days now.
    
    Lou
1847.7SWAM1::OHL_TASnarf killer extrodinairThu Mar 03 1994 18:254
    I have been away from this notesfile for a while.  What happened to the
    old man?
    
    
1847.8??AKOCOA::LPIERCEThat's my StoryFri Mar 04 1994 09:069
    
    I guess he's still alive?  I have not seen the person who has him
    since.  She makes me so frustrated..I just want to pop her one in
    the chin...she never listens.  I wish there was a way to get him
    back.
    
    I could find out how he is, but I don't think I want to know.
    
    Lou
1847.9SWAM1::OHL_TASnarf killer extrodinairFri Mar 04 1994 12:2711
    I know what you mean.  My EX took the horses with him when we
    separated.  He is an accomplised horseman but has never had broodmares
    before.  I really worry about the girls foaling.  One of them is maden
    and the other is 22 years old and hasn't foaled successfully in years. 
    She did take well this time though.  The were due near the end of Feb
    and since he hasn't called, I'll have to assume they did okay.  I'm too
    scared to call and find out that one or more of them have had some type
    of problem.  Also, he was having money trouble.  I just hope he didn't
    sell the older one.  She really needs TLC as do most older horses.
    
    
1847.10AKOCOA::LPIERCEThat's my StoryTue Mar 08 1994 15:108
    
    I went to see him this weekend.  He still has alittle bit of
    snot in his nose, but not like before.  but, he looks good and
    he is acting fine.  We still don't know if the tooth is gone.
    but since the smell is gone.. I guess I will assume the tooth
    is gone :-?
    
    
1847.11SWAM1::OHL_TAOuch! Ice burns to the face!Wed Mar 09 1994 12:596
    Great!!!  The snot thing comes and goes, just like kids.
    
    I'm happy the old guy is doing better.  Now if I could only get up the
    nerve to check on my mare in Idaho.
    
    
1847.12updateAKOCOA::LPIERCEThat's my StoryMon Mar 21 1994 08:3312
    
    I went to see the old man this weekend.  The person who has him
    told us, he is getting sick again.. alot of stuff comming out of
    his nose and more infection.  She said she put him back on
    pennacillian.  she did call her vet...but they are still not
    worried about if the tooth is still in or not!
    
    Does anyone have any documentation on absess teeth?  she wont
    listen to me...so maybe is she reads it in a journal or something
    she might take more action?
    
    Lou
1847.13SWAM1::MASSEY_VIOuch! Ice burns to the face!Mon Mar 21 1994 12:316
    I'm very sorry to hear that he is ill once again.  Good luck and I dont
    have a thing on absesed teeth.  I have never really had a problem with
    them before.
    
    Gin
    
1847.14updateAKOCOA::LPIERCEThat's my StoryMon Apr 11 1994 12:4220
    
    update:
    
    Well, the horse is still sick.  The lady called the vet again.  the
    vet came out and took xrays (about time)!  the tooth is on the top
    by the brain...it is loose but not that loose.
    
    The Vet does not want to take it out...due to it being close to the
    brain and they whole it would leave would be to much for the horse.
    
    They could send him to tuffs and have it removed and stiched up but
    horse is a scrabler in a trailer...so the lady does not want to put
    him in the trailer....
    
    I say...pad him up good...and get him to tuffs!  this horse is
    going to die from all the toxins!
    
    what is w/ these people?  
    
    Lou
1847.15JoeAKOCOA::LPIERCEThat's my StoryTue May 10 1994 09:3930
    
    Update:
    
    I new ower had called the vet to xrays and the xrays finally came back.
    They show a 'growth' above the loose tooth.  They think the 'growth'
    is causing the absessing.  
    
    They could take the horse to tuffs, do a biopsy and put him through
    all kinds of test to see what this is, but at his age, 33 - the owner
    does not think he should have to go through all this.
    
    It looks like she will put him down in the next week or so.  after
    we all have said goodbye.
    
    --
    
    This type of death for this horse is just not right!  This horse is
    a fighter and full of life and spunk..you would never know  he is
    33  - he acts like he's 10!  
    
    I knew Joe would have to die someday, but not from a 'growth' that
    is causig him discomfort.  Joe should of went out in a blaze of glory!
    
    He deserves more then a pat on the head, a carrott and a lethal
    injection
    
    I'm sorry, I can't go on.. I started to cry again.  This is to hard
    to deal with.
    
    Lou