Tomorrow is the day!

Finally, Kobeejo is coming home tomorrow! IVs are all out and he's back on free-choice hay. Wendy picked me up about1:30pm and we went up to see him.

Otis was back in his stall across from Kobeejo today, so he was moved to another wing and now he's back. I don't know why; they don't give info on other horses. There are two other horses in his wing as well now. A pretty mare named Cher who nickered every time Kobeejo walked by, and the mare who came in yesterday next to him.

I spoke to a tech, Jason, who came over while I took Kobeejo out for his walk and grazing. Jason had been part of a "Toxic Plant Tour" to teach people all about plants that are toxic to pets and horses. He saw me out there and left the tour to come talk to me.

He told me he was in the operating room when KJ had his surgery and he was in charge of keeping KJ's intestines wet while they were out on a table during the surgery. He told me the lipoma "stalk" was wrapped pretty tightly around Kobee's small intestine. They found a few other lipomas too, one that was there so long it was petrified, but would never have caused him trouble. They removed it anyway. He told me this does not mean this can't happen again (I HOPE NOT!!) as lipomas in older horses are always growing.

No matter how much research I do on colic, ulcers, etc., there are always so many things that only experience can teach. Not being a vet with schooling and internships and tons of experience, there's no way to know all I could. But it won't stop me from researching.

Kobee's attitude today was normal. He pigged out on grass, then went back to his stall and dug into his hay.

I have heard so many compliments during the 8 days Kobeejo has been at Tufts. My excessive care for him is helping him in so many ways. I know someday something will take him away from me, but in the meantime, I will always do EVERYTHING I can for him. I have heard everything from "I cannot believe that horse is 27 years old!" to "He is in amazing shape." to "You are an incredible mom to him."

What made me feel most confident was that they spoke to me in an even fashion... not down to me as if I didn't know anything. They did in the beginning, but they soon realized the extent of my horse knowledge and began to treat me with respect. I've never had that before. And I had no problem asking about the many things I do not know.

What I can't figure is how many people don't listen to me when I try to explain to them what they could be doing to help their horses and make them healthier. Kobeejo is proof that proper diet and care can be a life saver. Crap happens and everyone knows that, but why make it harder on your horse, especially if they get ill? If you feed small amounts of hay and then feed big amounts of grain, you are literally killing your horse slowly from the inside. Then if something happens, the horse is at a disadvantage.

I find ego plays a big part in the improper care of the domestic horse. Horse people are stubborn to change, particularly those who have had horses all their lives. What was done 50 years or so ago was quite wrong in so many ways.

Even today, researchers are still learning. For instance, I had always learned that horses on 24/7 free-choice hay could not get ulcers. But, Kobeejo has bad ulcers. He's always been on 24/7 free-choice hay. Even the vets don't know why he has them. I've heard horses can't get stress ulcers, but now I am hearing stress can definitely contribute to them. I think that, when the barn where he is boarded changed owners, and they cut his paddock in half and put up all electric fence so he can no longer play with others over the fence, that he got so stressed, these ulcers cropped up. He is a very stoic horse and does not show stress. I've also heard some horses may just be predisposed to ulcers at birth. Kobeejo, being stoic, may have had many ulcers in his life, and never showed it. Although, if he had ulcers any longer without treatment, they could have burst and killed him. So, I am a bit nervous about this. How will I know if he has them down the road? He doesn't show it.

One day at a time I guess.









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