Ralphie

Height: 16.2 hh (est)
Weight: 1,350 lbs (est)
DOB: 2003 (est)
​Sex: Gelding
Color: Cream
Breed:  American Cream Draft
DNA: ​1st Cream Draft
2nd Morgan Horse
​3rd Percheron
Adoption Fee:  TBD
Category: In Rehab

Ralphie's Fundraiser

Ralphie's Story

Ralphie came to AAE in October 2020.  He was diagnosed with several health issues his family was not equipped to manage, especially with upcoming winter weather.  He had a mass on his lower right eyelid (suspect squamous cell carcinoma) and a mass on his left hind pastern (suspect sarcoid or proud flesh).  His family attempted conservative treatments, which were unsuccessful.  They also tried an alternative treatment that showed some improvement over time, but did not resolve. 

Veterinary exam indicated the eye was a suspected squamous cell carcinoma, and the leg mass was possibly proud flesh (granuloma) or a sarcoid.  A small suspect lesion was also observed on his sheath.  Because so much of his lower eyelid was affected, removal of the mass (eyelid) would also require removal of the eye.  Ralphie's eye was painful and drained constantly.  The drainage and odor was a huge attractant to flies, and flies were a huge nuisance.  The pastern mass was chronically clipped by his other hoof, re-opening/re-agitating the mass, and the drainage/odor was also a huge attractant to flies.  While initially at AAE, Ralphie's eye was cleaned and treated twice a day, and he wore a fly mask covered with Swat 24/7, but the blanket of flies that covered the eye area was still disgusting.   The pastern mass was managed with bandaging and bell boots; the drainage seeped through the bandage, and flies were an issue there, as well.  Ralphie still managed to occasionally clip the protruding mass under the boot/bandage.  While sedated for eye removal, the mass will be surgically removed.  That will be removed, as well.  Ralphie came to AAE  with hope we can help him.  Rather than delay and risk further infiltration of cancerous cells using the alternative treatment, AAE opted to move forward with surgeries.  

Thanks to the support of AAE's horse-loving community, funds for surgeries, biopsies, and post-op care were quickly raised, and Ralphie's surgeries and biopsies were done.  With surgery come complications.  About five days after returning to AAE, Ralphie's "eye" developed excessive drainage with a nasty odor.  Complications happen.  Back to the hospital we went.  A few sutures were removed to allow better drainage and to allow cleaning of the surgical site, Unfortunately, it was a bit painful to treat, and being the big strong guy Ralphie is, sedation was needed.  Ralphie was re-admitted and spent another nine days in the hospital until the orbit had healed enough that cleaning no longer required sedation. 

Since returning to AAE, the eye site is healing well, and Ralphie is adapting very well to his loss of vision on the right side.  His leg is also healing nicely, but very slowly.

Graphic photos of Ralphie.

Ralphie is a big, handsome, and gentle giant!  He follows everyone around and enjoys any kind of attention.  However, when food is involved, he gets quite pushy.  He's relatively good with handling his hooves, but he has been impatient with the farrier.
 
Ralphie's basic vaccines, deworming, and hoof care are current, and he'll soon get his dental and a microchip.