Pretty girl "Warren's Doogood" recently made the transition back to our facility to begin retraining, after a lengthy rehab following her rescue, back in August 2013.
Soon after Doogood's rescue, an abscess in her hoof appeared...but then failed to improve. X-rays showed the abscess had worked its way into her coffin bone. Several months of antibiotics were prescribed, as we waited and hoped the infection would clear. Fortunately, in the end, it did!
Recently, Doogood came home from foster care at Alison's to begin her off-the-track re-training. But she began to lose weight and showed signs of irritableness. Ruling out teeth problems and any other issues, we decided to look into gastric ulcers as the cause, sending Doogood to West Coast Equine Hospital for a gastroscopy. Via scope, ulcers were indeed confirmed.
Doogood has begun treatment on a course of Gastrogard (the most effective, and the only FDA-approved, means of treating acute ulcers) and her appetite is already back with a vengeance. Long term, Doogood can be maintained with free-choice hay, room to move and, if needed, cheaper acid-reducing drugs like ranitidine.
But considering the amount of physical pain and emotional upheaval Doogood's life has consisted of, since she came off the racetrack, it's not such a surprise her tummy is hurting a bit.
Fully rehabilitating these horses in need can be a longer-term project with some horses than others. But after overcoming the trauma their lives have been up until this point, it's part of our obligation to them, if we really are there to make them whole again.
Heal well, Doogood!
Soon after Doogood's rescue, an abscess in her hoof appeared...but then failed to improve. X-rays showed the abscess had worked its way into her coffin bone. Several months of antibiotics were prescribed, as we waited and hoped the infection would clear. Fortunately, in the end, it did!
Recently, Doogood came home from foster care at Alison's to begin her off-the-track re-training. But she began to lose weight and showed signs of irritableness. Ruling out teeth problems and any other issues, we decided to look into gastric ulcers as the cause, sending Doogood to West Coast Equine Hospital for a gastroscopy. Via scope, ulcers were indeed confirmed.
Doogood has begun treatment on a course of Gastrogard (the most effective, and the only FDA-approved, means of treating acute ulcers) and her appetite is already back with a vengeance. Long term, Doogood can be maintained with free-choice hay, room to move and, if needed, cheaper acid-reducing drugs like ranitidine.
But considering the amount of physical pain and emotional upheaval Doogood's life has consisted of, since she came off the racetrack, it's not such a surprise her tummy is hurting a bit.
Fully rehabilitating these horses in need can be a longer-term project with some horses than others. But after overcoming the trauma their lives have been up until this point, it's part of our obligation to them, if we really are there to make them whole again.
Heal well, Doogood!
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