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Post by kigerfan on Apr 19, 2009 17:29:31 GMT -5
They are in our prayers here. I'm wondering one thing. When we use a whole lot of antibiotics, it kills all the good little bugs we have in our system that helps us digest our food. I wonder if it's the same way for horses and I wonder if yogurt is a viable solution for them as it is for us. Please keep us informed.
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Post by stlkigers on Apr 19, 2009 23:20:14 GMT -5
Here's the latest update:
Last week I told myself if Isabella made it through this weekend I think she will survive. Thursday was a rough day, she was dumpy and just didn't feel well and got a little fever and her heart rate was elevated more. On Friday she was again dumpy and her heart rate was still elevated, she was very tired. After two days of her struggle I was afraid she was indeed losing her battle when I would look into her eyes I cuold see that she was very tired and her motions very slow. We took her in to Dr. Jones on Friday to have staples removed from her abdomen and the nasty infection continued to drain for the 2nd day. I cannot imagine how much infection must have been backed up in there because after the staples were removed even more infection was draining out which is what we hoped would happen (it's still draining today which is 4 days after it opened itself up). Her vital signs were mostly good - good gut sounds, no pounding digital pulses, good membrane refill (or whatever they call it), not much to see on the ultra sound so pretty decent news except her heart rate was still high at 52. Dr. Jones ran a CBC which showed her immune system was finallly starting to improve. When she left KSU she did not have any immune system and they had started to wear gloves when working with her so they didn't carry anything from the other patient horses to her to make her sick. Immune system is at the very bottom of normal but that's a big improvement. Red blood cell count was better but white blood cell count was still way too high. Fibrinogen was 1,000 when we left KSU and it was up to 1,038 which was not good but not earth shattering either. I scanned and e-mailed all results to KSU who put their heads together because Isabella didn't seem to be making much ground on the two infections since her white blood cell count was still way too high. Dr. Vander werf met me at the KSU clinic yesterday with a new antibiotic to try. It's expensive (sigh...) but we've come this far so where do we stop?! Anyway, I rushed home to give Izzy her first dose of the new antibiotic in hopes that it will be the miracle drug that saves her. After Thursday and Friday being such crummy days she had a good day on Saturday. Late at night she got a little fever and heart rate was up to 60 but a half dose of bute knocked out the fever. Izzy has always been very vocal and last night all night long when we would get up to feed Sky she would YELL at us for food. We actually think she might be putting on a little weight. We still are not feeding her hay so Randy and I pull buckets of brome to feed her. We are not nearly as efficient as a horse when it grazes! This morning Izzy was the most alert and talkative that I've seen her since last Tuesday when she amazed us all with how good she felt after the calls we got from KSU on Monday evening that is was time for her to come home because there were so many things wrong with her. There still are but today she doesn't appear to know that!!! Her heart rate is finally back to 48 for the first time since Wednesday and she didn't have any fever this morning. She appears to be making more milk for Sky which we would be happy if she didn't so she could keep the calories for her body but apparently her body is feeling good enough to try. We bought a 50 lb bag of milk replacer yesterday and if Izzy gets well maybe we won't have to do that again in the near future!!! You all can continue to do the "do-do dance" because she is defecating just fine. :-) It's still soft like cow manure but that's probably do to all the grass she is eating and her ulcers. Anyway, more detail than I had planned to give but want you all to know that all our prayers are being answered so thanks to each and everyone of you for your prayers and well wishes. Izzy and Sky send their love!!! :-)
So that's the latest word from Kristi....Hopefully the mare will continue to improve.....We are all praying hard....
Angela
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Post by kigerfan on Apr 20, 2009 9:04:29 GMT -5
She sounds like a very strong girl with a very strong will to live. That's something that can help a lot in pulling her through. We'll keep her in our prayers.
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Post by DianneC on Apr 21, 2009 8:50:16 GMT -5
It does sound like she's much better. What a lot of drainage! Just getting that out must have helped a lot. The body is amazing that it knew to open up and drain.
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Post by DianneC on May 17, 2009 23:10:05 GMT -5
How are Izzy and Sky doing? Any update?
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Post by stlkigers on May 28, 2009 22:44:10 GMT -5
Dianne:
Sorry, it's been a bit crazy lately.....The poor Billingers! It's just not getting any better for them! We thought Izzy was out of the woods....the tear was looking great....Except she has a Klebsiella infection in her abdomen...So after many days back at the Vet Hospital she and Sky went home when they taught Kristi and Randy how to lavage her abdomen.....So amidst the occasional drain tube getting pulled out (once by the baby!) and having to be resewn in, Izzy was getting better, white count going down, and Sky was growing big....he's already a huge guy anyways! Well here's what happened to Sky on 05/23/09:
Little Sky who will be 9 weeks old tomorrow is at KSU and he is critical. Yesterday he started limping about 4PM and I found a very small puncture wound on the side of his knee. It was oozing so I did hydrotherapy and called Dr. Vander Werf who told me to give him ¼ tab of bute. We watched him overnight and his leg started swelling a little more. At 6AM I did hydrotherapy again and administered more bute. At 10AM we did hydrotherapy again and took pics to e-mail to Dr. Vander Werf. At noon we got a call from Dr. V who said we should get him to KSU. It was her day off but she came in to take care of her Bug and Izzy. The really scary thing is that from the time Sky started limping to the time we walked in the door at KSU it was just less than 24 hours and his knee joint was full of puss when they took a tap of it. The synovial fluid should be clear and brownish and Sky's was girl thingy looking. They had to take him to surgery right away. They lavaged the joints in his knee and tried to flush out the bacteria. Then they loaded him up with antibiotics because his CBC showed that the bacteria has probably reached his bloodstream and his temp was 104.4. I'm very alarmed at the rate that this bacteria has traveled. They will attempt to grow it in the lab but that will take a couple of days but we hope that it is some wimpy bacteria that we can knock out quickly. If Sky is comfortable tomorrow they will just keep administering antibiotics and they won't have to lavage his knee again in surgery. They did say sometimes that has to be done 2 or 3 times. I could barely bring myself to ask Dr. Holder what Sky's outlook is but he said at this time he is hopeful but typically day 2 or 3 are the ones that will tell us if we are gaining ground. The good news is all the doctors know us and our saga with Izzy and Sky so they told us they are treating very aggressively with antibiotics. Queen Isabella on the other hand is standing around the stall wondering why she is getting little attention. :-) Actually, I hate for her to be there being bored out of her head but separating the two of them is not an option. Okay, so if all goes well they are saying Sky will have to stay for 5 to 7 days. Please pray that all goes well. Last time we heard that Isabella had to stay for 3 weeks and go back for another week later. I am hopeful Sky's recovery story will go a little more smoothly than his momma's! Signed two very tired and frustrated mustang owners (we just hope Sky is as tough as his mom!!!).
So new update as of 5/27 is:
. They took Sky to surgery again yesterday to lavage his knee. They said the white cell count looked much better but his temp is still higher then they would like to see. They were able to get two colonies of bacteria to grow from his knee but they will know have names for those bacteria until today. Dr. V believes one will be Klebsiella - RATS!!! She does however think if it's the same strain as what Izzy is draining that it will be easier to kill thant he strain that was in her abdomen. I just pray she is right. Please keep Sky in your prayers, he has a good attitude and is bright but his temp needs to come down. Izzy pulled her drain tube out at midnight but Dr. V was still at the clinic so she sutured it back in. She is doing okay but is very cranky and ready to come home.
More later and thanks to you all!
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Post by angelsdream on May 29, 2009 11:57:49 GMT -5
The Billingers cant seem to get a break, can they? So sorry for all that has happened. Thanks a lot for keeping us updated on them. Sounds like they hopefully they may be out of the woods for the moment! I will keep them in my prayers...
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Post by DianneC on May 30, 2009 0:25:29 GMT -5
Thanks Angela, give Randy and Kristy a hug for us. They are two really great people and great horsemen.. Glad Izzy is well enough to be cranky. Sky has a great start and we know how tough these guys can be. Hope he gets better quickly and they can all go home for some peace and quiet.
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Post by fantasykiger on Jun 1, 2009 12:02:02 GMT -5
Oh my goodness, when these these two horses pull thru' I am thinking they need to change the name of thier ranch to MIRCLE MUSTANG RANCH that is all there is to it. Talk about a struggle and fight to survive. Someone needs to write a book. I wish them the very best of course and making requests to send good spirits, angels whatever their way to watch Izzy and Sky.
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Post by stlkigers on Jun 1, 2009 23:11:58 GMT -5
New update as of today:
Sky and Izzy are still at KSU. I'm expecting a call today but as of yesterday I'm expecting exploratory surgery on Sky's knee today to see if he still has anything in the puncture wound. The best news would be that they find and remove something so he can finally get well and get home where he and Izzy belong!
Here's hoping the duo will still pull thru and all will be ok.......
Angela
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Post by stlkigers on Jun 7, 2009 9:15:35 GMT -5
Yet another update on these two from 6/3 (and I do believe that Sky is now temp free as of 6/5):
"On Monday the surgeons did not find anything in the puncture wound in Sky's knee. I'm very discouraged at this point for my horses - they have been troopers and deserve a break for Pete's sake!!! We have seen critical cases come and go and my two are still there and it's very tough. Sky acts like he feels good (wants to chew everyone and everything and wants to run around and play with Izzy) but of course is lame on his leg. His temps are still high (as of yesterday but haven't heard this morning but I'm not really expecting any change). No one knows what is causing the fever and I think we are out of ideas. Ideas anyone??? They pulled samples from Sky's knee on Monday but as of last night still didn't have the results. Can you say turtle speed? Dr. Roquest phoned and said she visited with the two surgeons and because they know we will keep close watch on Sky that they are okay sending them home now. They said we could come after them today but Sky's knee now has an open wound (from the surgery) that goes directly into his joint which we will have to keep wrapped and dry. We got a lot of rain and now mud last night so we will be picking them up tomorrow and hopefully his run will not be as soggy as today. I just hope and pray that we get the same kind of results that we got when we brought Izzy home in April. We will have to watch Sky like a hawk to make sure he doesn't go backwards. The last thing I want to do is anything to reverse what has been done but frankly since no one knows what is causing his fever who knows how much longer this can go on. Izzy is stable so we will just keep treating her like we have for all the other time she has been home. The abscess has been shrinking so I just pray that what Dr. Beard speculates about the abscess being difficult if not impossible to heal is wrong. We will not give up on her!!!"
I do believe they are hopeful cause both horses are doing much better at home....Izzy has gained alot of weight back and the abscess seems to be getting smaller and smaller.....If anyone can pull these guys thru this it will be Kristi and Randy...
Angela
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Post by fantasykiger on Jun 12, 2009 15:13:16 GMT -5
Gosh , I wish I could be more helpful but really I know those two horses are getting the best care, with folks that love them dearly..saying a prayer for both and I really hope both horses pull thru  |
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