On the 12th day of healing, my staples were removed..

Today was 12 days after surgery, and time to get the staples on the incision removed. The vet said I could do it with a staple remover, but I thought it was really the best if I hauled him down, and let them do it. First, I wanted to make sure it was looking good to the vet. We had some slight drainage, and a little puffy area in front of his sheath, that I (over) worried it would be the start of a hernia from the surgery. Next, if Hank took exception to me pulling them out, I wanted a vet to be able to give him a bit of a tranquilizer.

We arrived, and unloaded, and Hank had a worried look to him. Poor horse had been there to many times in the past couple months. But he marched into the exam room like a champ. They started removing the belly wrap, and of course it pulled on the hair and skin. Ouch! Then they had dropped the bandage on the ground for a moment and Hank sees it laying there, and does a huge "snooooort" and side passes away, with him keeping an eye on it like it was gonna get him. Of course we all laughed at him. I just never know what will tweak his brain. So the vet starts to remove staples, and the first couple he is really good. But then he kind of cocked a hind leg a little, and we decided a tranq would indeed be best. Even with that, I had to hold a twitch on him for a few, as they had some skin / flesh that had grown around them a little. But they got them all out, and he did not kick, and really, was a very good boy. She felt it best to wrap it one more time, to let the bit of open flesh finish healing. So, they assistants put one more wrap on him, which he gets to wear 5 days. Poor boy is SO thin, but now we can get him back to speed on full feed, and gaining some weight


After they were done, I looked at him, and the drugs had gone to the next level, and he was standing there, head down, zoned out.



As he dozed, I was able to talk to Dr. Williams a bit more about Hank, surgery, feed, future colics, and distance riding. I asked if he should not be fed the Coastal Bermuda Hay as many say it contributes to colic, but he saw no problem with it. Then he asked how much grain he ate. I am a minimalist for feeds, and only add things as needed, and told him he really does not eat grain. Just a little Purina Strategy, and beet pulp. He suggested not to feed him the HUGE meals of all he can eat hay before rides, and to look in to Platinum Performance to add to his diet. He feels he should be able to do distance again, and has no higher of a chance to colic again, than he did in the first place. Oh, another suggestion to our pasture was to add clover, as it adds nitrogen to the soil, and in turn the grass but the horses don't eat it. It is much cheaper, and more "natural" that the liquid fertilizers. I need to read up on that. It was now time to load him up, and take him home. Hopefully he will not need to visit Lonestar Park Equine Hospital for a long time. I would highly recommend them for ANY vet work. Excellent staff, great facility, and over all, their prices are no more than most equine vets.


I was asked to be sure to remember to show some photos of the other critters. So, tonight I got a photo of RJ and Orca, who were a couple feral Tom cats that found our house. Orca had been living around here almost 3 years before we trapped him, and got him neutered. RJ showed up one day, just as wild, and we got him trapped and fixed. I would not doubt it if Orca was RJ's daddy. They have some similarities. Anyway, after they were fixed, and we had them live in some large pet cages awhile, they got used to us, and the fact we fed them, and eventually tamed down. RJ would prefer to be a spoiled house cat, but that is not gonna happen. The photo is in the screened in porch, where the outdoor cats go at night, and are locked in after dark, to keep them safe from Coyotes. We built some kitty condos, where they can sleep and stay warm in the winter. During the day, we open the pet door, and let them out to go hunt around the house and barn. Our large 80 pound dog, Thelma, keeps and eye on them, and adores them. They know she is a "cool" dog, and will rub against her. It is an odd relationship, but she knows that she is to protect the kitties and keep coyotes away, and they know she loves them.