CLOUD

[mykingdomforahorse]

Oh thank you, Shawna! HOORAY!

He's not as little as he looks in the photo with me. I had to scooch down to see him, because he was hunkered down, and at first didn't want to move forward. After I turned on the lights, he was okay, saw the food awaiting him and was good to go! This boy is an Olympic gold medal eater!

He's got a bit further to go, weight-wise, because you can see his spine and ribs in the sun, but I was so impressed with how well Shawna rehabbed him, and with the weight she put on him. He needs to build up more muscle all over, because he ate all his muscle during starvation. Poor, poor boy. Thank God that chapter is over.

I'll let you guys know how the vet visit goes tomorrow. I'm sending more photos to Leanne to post for me, too, and more Cloud photos in daylight.

Cloud sends his love to all, and huge thank yous to Shawna and CBER.

Em

[mykingdomforahorse]

Howdy everyone!

I'm hoping I can get this post up before losing my internet connection -- the winds we had here really messed with the phone lines and I'm lucky to have gotten online at all (tried for almost an hour, and eventually will lose the connection. Phone company is working on it, should be good by 7pm ... trying now, Leanne, to send photos to you, but it's a toss up ... )

The vet was out and it went really well! Hooray! He believes Cloud to be 15 years old, but likes to give a range -- 15 to 20 years. Cloud's temp, pulse, heart and respiration were all normal and sounded great! His teeth desperately need a floating, as we all already know, and he, like Shawna, believes Cloud's weight is due to malnutrition (lack of care before CBER) and because his chewing is hindered by his teeth being in bad shape.

We all decided not to float him yet at his weight (sedation being the concern after his past ordeal) until his tests come back. We had blood drawn, we're doing a fecal, and I got good advice on feeding and care and overall had a great vet visit. Cloud was calm and cooperative, and all is well at this juncture.

We're hoping to float his teeth next week, after the tests come back, and then give him his winter vaccinations. My husband surprised me by rearranging his schedule to be here for the vet exam, awwww. He really likes Cloud, and was going on to the vet about Cloud's diet and his observations on Cloud ... very sweet.

Interesting part at the end, during chit chat, was to find out my vet is PRO SLAUGHTER! Made me laugh -- it figures. He thinks the closing of America's slaughterhouses was a big mistake. But, he does agree that the root of the problem is overbreeding. I knew better than to get into a debate -- it's like debating politics or religion.

I told him, imo, it would surely help the horses, and help horse owners to do right by their horses if vets came down on their fee for humane euthanasia. He just looked at me, lol, smiled at me, I smiled back, and then he went on his way.

And Good old Cloudy boy went back to his grass, munching away like a champ.

I'm very excited about floating Cloud's teeth. It's the last component for making him ultra-comfortable and pain free. The vet agreed with me, that he needs time to just be a horse -- carefree and happy, comfortable and secure. He's well on his way! He also agreed with my plan to take Cloud's weight gain slowly. It's much better on his organs and his system as a whole.

And then one day, when he's normal weight and back to being just a regular horse, I'll get up on him and see what he's got.

Em

[agilitygal]

No doubt, he's got plenty!

[mykingdomforahorse]

It's so exciting, isn't it, climbing on and riding for the first time. But even if I couldn't ride him, that's okay, too. But it looks good -- he's sound and sturdy. He's already listening to me on the ground, and today I led him all around his corral with an "imaginary" rope -- he also backs on the word "back" with a push cue on his shoulder, and today he allowed a hug. He knows "walk on" but won't always move, lol. His trust is earned, he's saying, but I have all the time in the world.

This afternoon, he trotted around in a moment of sheer happiness. He had his tail real high and then he chased a low flying bird, tossing his head afterwards in true Arab fashion, like Ha ha, I'm King of the corral! It was wonderful to see him lightening up and happy, and it also fondly reminded me of Takoda. It just feels like Cloud was meant to be here, and I'm just so happy that he's happy, and starting to trust and relax.

We had a coyote, the same one (I'm sure of it) in Cloud's corral again last night. Cloud was lying in the stall, pretty close to it and just watching it, unafraid. He probably thinks it's just another one of my dogs!

Em

agilitygal said:

No doubt, he's got plenty!

[kidznhorses]

Em! You sound like the most wonderful home in the world for Cloud. He's so lucky to have you. I'm looking forward to lots of pictures of the two of you together and can't wait for the day you can ride him. It will happen! I can tell!

mta: I can't believe how much better Cloud looks after being at Shawna's! Well on his way to a full recovery! ;D

[mykingdomforahorse]

Awwwww, thank you! That's the best possible compliment anyone could give me.

As soon as I'm done with this flu, I'll take some good photos of Cloud and I, and Cloud after his bath. I'm *dying* to wash him, but we've had a cold front since he arrived; it's like winter came overnight, literally. Can't wait to get him squeaky clean, but with his thick coat, I need a warm day. Hopefully this weekend, although it's been quite cloudy here the last few days.

Yes, Shawna has a gift for rehabbing horses, no doubt in my mind. I emailed the vet Cloud's lot photos, he wanted to see his original condition and his coat, and he was impressed, too.

We got Cloud's test results back today, was waiting for the vet to call back to clarify something and got the call, so off I go to post it below.

I'm so thankful there's a place I can go on and on about Cloud.

Em

kidznhorses said:

Em! You sound like the most wonderful home in the world for Cloud. He's so lucky to have you. I'm looking forward to lots of pictures of the two of you together and can't wait for the day you can ride him. It will happen! I can tell!

mta: I can't believe how much better Cloud looks after being at Shawna's! Well on his way to a full recovery! ;D

[mykingdomforahorse]

Cloud's test results came back today, and there are some issues, but most likely nothing irreversible, according to my vet. Some of it I don't quite understand, as I haven't gotten a chance to research it, so if anyone has ideas about what he means, I'm all ears.

First he said Cloud has allergies. I didn't ask him to elaborate -- blood tests can detect this? Does he mean to certain foods? I'll ask him when he's back out next week.

He said the big issue is that Cloud is anemic. Cloud's fecal showed a big parasite infestation of encysted (I think that's the word, usually I'm not so lazy but my head is pounding, this flu really took me down) large and small strongyles. He was wormed by Shawna, but the vet says it's bigger than that, meaning the routine wormings we give to our horses. He believes Cloud was neglected for a long, long time before Shawna/CBER.

He believes the infestation to be the cause of Cloud's low weight (the worms are getting Cloud's nutrition) the colicky episodes (we had another tiny episode last night, but I'm a pro at this point, no biggie), the looser stools and the big belly. He also thinks the anemia ties in to Cloud's malnutrition from previous lack of care and his teeth. He has me picking up panacur in a double dose to administer for 5 to 7 days. Then, in a month or so we'll do another blood draw.

He is prescribing Cloud a low dose of prednisone (doesn't that help the body produce more red blood cells?) and he has me putting Cloud on "Red Cell" an iron-rich supplement (that smells to me like that people stuff -- that "vitamins in a jug" drinkable stuff, ugh! No wonder Cloud won't take it!)

Cloud refused to eat anything with it in there, of course. I went through 3 bran mashes tonight, trying to sneak it in and cover it up, lol, but no go. Finally, he ate the fourth bran mash the only way he likes it -- bran, water and salt. So I'm going to get a dosing syringe for that.

Lastly, Cloud's globulin was normal but "high-normal" and the vet thinks he could've had either a previous abscess of some sort, or an infection passing from his system. He's not sure, but after all Cloud went through before he was rescued, it doesn't surprise him.

The vet was both pleased and surprised that Cloud checked out so well, considering. To say I was relieved is an understatement. For Cloud's sake -- I'd love for him to be a happy, healthy, strong horse and regain some lost time.

Of course, if the anemia didn't pass after treatment, we'll look into other causes. But the vet believes it to be the better case scenario, going by how healthy, alert and energetic Cloud is, even with the anemia.

It's interesting to me how interested he seems in Cloud, especially because of his slaughter-bound history, and him being pro slaughter. Maybe Cloud will help him see slaughter differently. Animals are quite the teachers.

Lastly, we got the green light to proceed with Cloud's floating, which will take place next week. While he's sedated, he'll also clean his sheath. The farrier is coming out to trim the boys this weekend, and he's excited to meet Cloud, too.

Cloud has definitely built up a following around here, putting a sweet horse face on the slaughter statistics for people unfamiliar with slaughter and slaughter-bound equines.

Good ol' Cloud.

Em

[afinenettle]

We really never know how our decisions ripple out into the world. I teared up reading your post and knowing that little Cloud is an ambassador for anti slaughter and how much he has suffered and how much he is going to enjoy his new life.
Thank you for taking him.

[agilitygal]

Yes! Put a sweet horse face to the slaughter issue. You go, Cloud boy. You show them!

[mykingdomforahorse]

Thank you for your reply, Afinenettle.

I so agree with you. Everything is so much more connected -- people, animals, thoughts, actions -- than we sometimes can fathom or realize.

Cloud being with us has been healing for me after losing Takoda -- it's like Cloud "reinstated" some power on my part -- for example, I couldn't help Takoda's colic, but I can Cloud's. And, hearing Cloud being his Arab self, reminding me often of Takoda, it isn't sad at all, like I thought it could be. Instead, it's sweet and healing.

I do believe the animals we encounter in our lifetimes are connected to us before we "manifest" here on earth, and I can accept that Takoda's time was up, and it is now Cloud's turn. And, because of the "dream" contact with my grandmother when I was 8, I've lived my whole life knowing there is something more that we move on to after this present life is over.

So, although I miss my animal babies who've passed, I feel it's a temporary separation and they'll be waiting for me when it's my time to go. My husband jokes that I'm already filling up my ranch in the next life, so it's ready when the time comes.

Em

afinenettle said:

We really never know how our decisions ripple out into the world. I teared up reading your post and knowing that little Cloud is an ambassador for anti slaughter and how much he has suffered and how much he is going to enjoy his new life.
Thank you for taking him.

[mykingdomforahorse]

There you are, Agilitygal! I couldn't find your post response from a few days ago under a different thread, but on that note, I wanted to tell you that it's never too late for dreams to come true.

As for Cloud, it remains impossible for me to fathom this sweet boy going to slaughter. It's impossible to fathom any of them going -- it's especially hard thinking of the ones like Cloud who are so people-oriented and trusting, trusting people straight into fear, pain, horror and death.

What I did tell the vet was that it doesn't have to be a case of slaughter vs. neglect/suffering -- it doesn't have to be one or the other -- or so black and white -- there are other options, and a wide gray area that needs to be acknowledged and plumbed.

We need to think outside the kill box, plain and simple.

Overbreeding needs to be considered a root cause of slaughter, along with greed. We're such a throw away society -- people are even throwing newborn infants in the garbage. Many people are forgetting what's most important -- living beings of every species -- not status, money or prestige.

But, some of us haven't forgotten ... and many such people are on this board.

Em

agilitygal said:

Yes! Put a sweet horse face to the slaughter issue. You go, Cloud boy. You show them!

[kw]

Yup, Panacur Power Pak should clear those encysted strongyles right out! ;D Cooper had the same thing, and it helped his big belly and his loose stools.

Rock was put on Red Cell after his colic surgery when he was anemic. It made him a complete lunatic, so be prepared for that possibility. Luckily, his blood work normalized quickly, and his feet started touching the ground again.

Best wishes and thanks for loving this adorable horse so much!

[mykingdomforahorse]

Thank you so much, Kw!

So it sounds like we're on the right track with Cloud.

When you say "lunatic", you mean in a feel-good way, right? Cloud hasn't been very active (understandably) so some feel-good lunacy might do him good.

Wow, Rock's colic must've been scary -- I hope both he and Cooper are doing great now. I read in Equus that 1 in 4 equines die of colic -- that statistic always worries me since I have 4 out there.

And awwww, thank you -- Cloud *is* a cutie, although I'm also incurably biased, lol. He's very much on a people wavelength, which makes the bond even easier to forge. And it's nice to have a "talking" horse at the ranch again. He's so straight forward with his affection and wants that he has *me* feeling like an animal communicator!

Is your Cooper a CBER horse, too?

Em

kw said:

Yup, Panacur Power Pak should clear those encysted strongyles right out! ;D Cooper had the same thing, and it helped his big belly and his loose stools.

Rock was put on Red Cell after his colic surgery when he was anemic. It made him a complete lunatic, so be prepared for that possibility. Luckily, his blood work normalized quickly, and his feet started touching the ground again.

Best wishes and thanks for loving this adorable horse so much!

[kw]

When Sam first discovered the feedlot, she bought 10 horses with the intention of rehabbing and rehoming. Cooper (formerly known as Drifter) was one of those 10. So he was a CBER horse, but I didn't find him the usual way. And he's also the only vocal one of my group, so I totally understand how awesome it is to finally hear some nickering and neighing going on! ;D

I'm guessing Cloud won't be quite the crazy man Rock was on the Red Cell. Rock is an OTTB and was a fit event horse when he went in for surgery. And his personality was, uh, a bit crazy anyway. I was supposed to hand walk him twice a day, but it was more like me hanging onto the lead rope while he pranced and drug me around. Not fun! The Red Cell may be just what Cloud needs to feel normal. But I do believe it's very important to monitor the bloodwork as too much iron can be dangerous.

Sounds like you're doing all the right things! That is one lucky horse!

[mykingdomforahorse]

Thank you so much, Kw, for your replies and for the great advice. I'll definitely keep Cloud's blood monitored while he's taking the iron supplement.

Any photos of your horses? (hint hint! )

And, what you wrote made me smile -- because *I* feel like the lucky one!!!!!

Em

kw said:

When Sam first discovered the feedlot, she bought 10 horses with the intention of rehabbing and rehoming. Cooper (formerly known as Drifter) was one of those 10. So he was a CBER horse, but I didn't find him the usual way. And he's also the only vocal one of my group, so I totally understand how awesome it is to finally hear some nickering and neighing going on! ;D

I'm guessing Cloud won't be quite the crazy man Rock was on the Red Cell. Rock is an OTTB and was a fit event horse when he went in for surgery. And his personality was, uh, a bit crazy anyway. I was supposed to hand walk him twice a day, but it was more like me hanging onto the lead rope while he pranced and drug me around. Not fun! The Red Cell may be just what Cloud needs to feel normal. But I do believe it's very important to monitor the bloodwork as too much iron can be dangerous.

Sounds like you're doing all the right things! That is one lucky horse!

[cybercat]

I am finally getting the chance to post Em's pictures of Cloud! Em will add captions to them in a little bit...













AND HERE'S EM HERSELF...

[cybercat]

Em sent other pictures that will be posted under the Introducing Myself page...ENJOY!

[mykingdomforahorse]

Let me see if I can finally post photos! Santa (in the form of a tech guy, of course ) installed high speed the day before yesterday, but it is only working sporadically. I'm on with it for the first time tonight, and OMG, what a difference, especially with Photobucket!

Anyway, without further adieu, here are photos of Cloud in his blanket, Cloud and the boys meeting each other for the first time (only to be separated hours later, when Cloud came down with his cold. Which, by the way, he's recovered from with flying colors, and today I heard no cough at all! Hooray!) and Cloud and the boys and my husband (who bears his own resemblance to Santa Claus, lol!).

Here goes -- Hoping it doesn't post ginormously!










MTA -- It worked! Hooray! I also wanted to point out his weight -- he's gaining great weight and looks like a completely different horse. Jack says he looks "angelic" -- I want to call him my little lamb!

Em

[barbpurple]

great job with him cloud,,he looks great,, also isn't photobucket just great

[mykingdomforahorse]

Also, the vet says Cloud will be ready for his floating in two weeks! I told him we were so excited. It was put on hold due to his illness.

And -- drumroll, please -- the vet called me "Dear". Twice! Lol. So, he isn't as crusty as he first was, when dealing with me and Takoda. Or, Cloud is softening him up a little. I hope it's the latter.

Em

[mykingdomforahorse]

Thank you, Barb! No greater compliment, I'm just over the moon with how well Cloud has rehabbed, both here and at Shawna's.

Yes, Photobucket is GREAT -- BUT -- with high speed internet! Tonight is my first time with high speed working -- but mostly it won't work -- something's wrong, so my computer is going to have to go in for repair, sigh, and you guys will be without me for 15 days! (Lol.) I'm waiting until after the holidays to send it in.

Anyhow, before it would take 20 minutes to try to upload 3 photos, and only one or two would upload, then my whole computer would freeze and crash. Now, I uploaded 11 photos in 3 minutes! Wow! Blew me away.

Em

barbpurple said:

great job with him cloud,,he looks great,, also isn't photobucket just great

[mykingdomforahorse]

UPDATE!


The vet just left. He cleaned Cloud's sheath, drew blood for a CBC and to check his anemia, took manure for another fecal and floated his teeth!

Cloud was a real trooper, doing all that was asked of him, even though (even with sedation) he wasn't liking the sheath cleaning one bit!

The vet ranked him a *5* on the Henneke scale (!) He's come so far since the end of September. Last week I started him on maintenance rations, and it's been obvious from his demeanor that he feels happy, healthy and secure.

What really touched me, though, was at the end of the visit. The vet asked us if we would be going to the horse symposium on Sunday, where he'll be one of the lecturers. I had to tell him that after paying for Cloud's vetting things would be tight, plus I'd sent my ticket money to help a woman take care of her horse (Spiker) so no, we wouldn't be able to make it this time.

He said, well, let me pay it forward, then -- I'll take $50 off Cloud's vetting so you can come on Sunday.

I was floored, and I'm so grateful! We'll *definitely* be going to the symposium now, which if you remember includes a panel discussion on the unwanted horse.

What also was amazing is that my pro-slaughter vet is now not so pro-slaughter! I think Cloud has played a small part in that, as he can't get over how wonderful Cloud is, and yet Cloud was in WA waiting to be shipped.

Anyway, it's so unlike my vet. I was definitely touched!

Now, we just wait for Cloud's test results to come in. I'm moved to tears thinking of how far Cloud has come, and how much more comfortable he will be, now and for always. He's such a good, good boy. One of the best.


MTA -- His fecal results are in and he's definitely wormy still, as we suspected after his history. So Cloud's on a stepped up deworming schedule, and after 3 more rounds of wormers, we'll do another fecal.

MTA -- He's chewing so much better, now, and he's much more comfortable chewing, it's obvious. You were right on, Shawna. The vet said his teeth had horrible hooks, like he hadn't been floated in years.

Em

[agilitygal]

Pretty good update. He's lookin' good. Knew he was a keeper!

[mykingdomforahorse]

Thanks. He's settled in here like he's never lived anywhere else.

I'll be so glad when we've got the worms licked.

Em

agilitygal said:

Pretty good update. He's lookin' good. Knew he was a keeper!

[piopico]

"Maintenance rations'? yes, he's getting a little porky?? But isn't it nice to see him all rounded out? Good job with him........and with the Vet too!!!

[mykingdomforahorse]

LOL!

Yup, a little chubby is good, considering! But I think a lot of it is his hay belly. When my others were refeeding they had them, too, but Cloud takes the prize!

What's interesting with Cloud is that his spine still sticks out, and so do his hip bones. Not like they did originally, but even slightly chubby, the bones are there.

We've lessened his alfalfa and we'll keep him on free feed bermuda like my other guys. He's down to bran mashes twice a week now, and mostly because he loves them so much. I'm surprised he gained back his weight on bermuda, alfalfa and bran mashes! The senior gave him diarrhea, even the low sugar type, so we kept it simple and followed the UC Davis refeeding protocol.

It's only the last week or two that he's no longer so ravenously hungry. It was so sad to watch. All the boy's done so far (no exaggeration) is eat!

I'm just waiting to see if, after he builds more muscle and everything redistributes, his spine is more covered. I'll be extra careful that he's well blanketed for the saddle.

Speaking of riding, he's just about ready. His teeth are floated, his weight is good and he's very relaxed. So exciting.

We're anxiously awaiting the results of his bloodwork. Between the depletion from starvation and the heavy load of parasites, it's no wonder he came up anemic. There's a really good chance that's all it was.

Em

[mykingdomforahorse]

UPDATE -- and it's all GOOD!

I just heard back from the vet on Cloud's second bloodwork results and they look good!

I don't have a copy yet, and I can't remember which value it is, but whatever value related to anemia that showed as a 26 is now a 29! He's almost at the border point between anemic and normal. Most importantly, since his values are improving, it's more likely the anemia isn't the marker of a deeper problem(s) but due to the starvation and heavy worm load.

Hooray! Such good news.

Cloud's priorly elevated WBC count is now down to normal values and we think it was indicative of the cold he came down with or stress from the lot/a passing infection.

Another value is slightly elevated that would indicate swelling/irritation in the large intestine, but not enough to worry about presently, and most likely attributable to the heavy worm load. (Poor wormy lamb of mine.) So we'll keep an eye on it.

As I've written previously, Cloud still has a heavy worm load. The vet was actually surprised and said that if he didn't know how meticulous I am with mucking, he'd wonder if Cloud was reinfecting himself. (I am meticulous with mucking, but moreso, the worms just gross me out!)

I explained to him that others with horses off the lot also had heavy worm loads, so it's to be expected with Cloud, too.

The vet instructed us to give Cloud Equimax dewormer (done), double dose Strongid in six weeks, and then six weeks later, Equimax again. Somewhere in there Cloud will get another CBC and fecal check.

I'm just so happy to see Cloud feeling better as we go along, and with added weight and strength. More often now I catch him running off and doing his little kick out, then pointing his head in the air and doing that head thing happy Arabs do. ;D

He is feeling much better and eating comfortably since his float, no longer pushing against his leg to help him chew. His demeanor is also much happier and lighter, as he had bouts of grumpiness I'd now attribute to his teeth hurting him.

He does two new things that are so sweet -- if I'm leaning against the fence and he wants my attention, he'll reach out and tug on my ponytail. Also, when I'm standing by him, every once in awhile he'll lean over and rest his head on my shoulder with a big sigh.

The first time he did either, I was so surprised. He arrived here so sweet but definitely reserved, like a horse that's been emotionally let down. At first he was clingy in ways easily mistaken for affection, but now that he feels safe, he's definitely making us work for it.

It's obvious this horse lost someone he loved and remains on the fence about loving a person again. Each day we make progress. There's no rush, and no agenda. Just the sameness and routine here has been healing for him emotionally, so we take it at his pace and respect his boundaries.

He is so grateful to be fed. Just the act of feeding him and doing it at the same times each day (us being reliable) has been healing for him. He's such a good-hearted horse.

Em

[paintedlady]

Em Im so happy he is doing better. He is a sweetie. Im sure being fed every day is a big plus for him. Thank you for loving him PL ;D

[mykingdomforahorse]

Awwwwwwww, thank you, Painted lady. ;D

I've always said (and mean it) we'd love him no matter what. But it IS so nice to see him running now, and so full of energy and life. I'm happy for him much more than for us.

(and p.s. -- *THANK YOU* for your donation for Tacoma! My heart is breaking for that baby. I just put 50$ toward him, too; between us that's a good chunk of bail! I'm saying prayers and crossing everything! I wish so badly I could afford to take him myself, but I truly can't. And being so far away is no help, either.)

Em

[agilitygal]

Good news for Cloud. Very pleased. I think he's a keeper!