Post by syndi on Dec 23, 2006 22:47:23 GMT -5
I saw this on another board and realized it wasn't here, I asked shellyr for permission to put it here because this was a rescue horse that Bandana got off the lot:
Well, as you may know, in spite of everyone's efforts for Noelle last night, she didn't make it. She was very emaciated when she came to the ranch. She had Strangles when she arrived, but started draining immediately. She was completely terrified of people and couldn't even tolerate the thought of being close to a human, let alone allowing them to touch her.
Last night, she was forced to allow us to touch her so we could doctor her. She submitted to it all with wide-eyed fear, but was never aggressive or defensive in any way. Just about every time we touched her, she jumped. Her heart was pounding, but I'm not sure if it was from fear or from the illness. Probably both.
I got to the ranch this morning, and Noelle was flat out and not even able to lift her head. Her legs were still swollen. Syndi was already there, and we covered her with another sleeping bag, blankets, and tarps to keep her warm. It was pretty obvious that she was too far gone at this point to do anything for her. I made the decision to call my vet and end her suffering.
As we waited for my vet to arrive, we tried to make her as comfortable as possible. She refused to eat anything, and would not drink unless water was syringed into her mouth, and then half the time she wouldn't swallow it. Syndi and I sat next to her stroking her and talking softly to her. Syndi sang her a beautiful Indian lullaby, and Noelle almost closed her eyes in sheer relaxation. I believe she actually started to enjoy our touch. When I moved out of her sight, she would roll her eyes and look for me. I petted her and stroked her, and cried over her while she left this life. It is so heartbreaking. I just feel drained, exhausted, numb.
I want to say a special thank you to Syndi and her husband, Bryce. They were there within 5 minutes of me calling them last night, and spent the entire morning and part of the afternoon at the ranch helping us bury Noelle. Noelle now lies next to her friend, Honey. I miss the 2 of them very much.
Noelle (Chance) the day after she arrived at the ranch
Well, as you may know, in spite of everyone's efforts for Noelle last night, she didn't make it. She was very emaciated when she came to the ranch. She had Strangles when she arrived, but started draining immediately. She was completely terrified of people and couldn't even tolerate the thought of being close to a human, let alone allowing them to touch her.
Last night, she was forced to allow us to touch her so we could doctor her. She submitted to it all with wide-eyed fear, but was never aggressive or defensive in any way. Just about every time we touched her, she jumped. Her heart was pounding, but I'm not sure if it was from fear or from the illness. Probably both.
I got to the ranch this morning, and Noelle was flat out and not even able to lift her head. Her legs were still swollen. Syndi was already there, and we covered her with another sleeping bag, blankets, and tarps to keep her warm. It was pretty obvious that she was too far gone at this point to do anything for her. I made the decision to call my vet and end her suffering.
As we waited for my vet to arrive, we tried to make her as comfortable as possible. She refused to eat anything, and would not drink unless water was syringed into her mouth, and then half the time she wouldn't swallow it. Syndi and I sat next to her stroking her and talking softly to her. Syndi sang her a beautiful Indian lullaby, and Noelle almost closed her eyes in sheer relaxation. I believe she actually started to enjoy our touch. When I moved out of her sight, she would roll her eyes and look for me. I petted her and stroked her, and cried over her while she left this life. It is so heartbreaking. I just feel drained, exhausted, numb.
I want to say a special thank you to Syndi and her husband, Bryce. They were there within 5 minutes of me calling them last night, and spent the entire morning and part of the afternoon at the ranch helping us bury Noelle. Noelle now lies next to her friend, Honey. I miss the 2 of them very much.
Noelle (Chance) the day after she arrived at the ranch
