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Let's Deck the Stalls with Boughs of Plenty for 2018
31 days to 2018, YOUR donation means more horses can be helped!
On the 26th Day, there was Rascal!
31 days to 2018, YOUR donation means more horses can be helped!
On the 26th Day, there was Rascal!
AAE welcomed several young horses and burros from the DreamCatcher Wild Horse and Burro Sanctuary this year to support DreamCatcher's recovery and herd reduction efforts (focused on rehoming young/captive born mustangs). DreamCatcher is in a recovery period after the long illness and passing of their Executive Director, Barbara Clarke in November of 2016. There are many more young ones in need of homes.
Our first call from DreamCatchers came one morning in April of this year. There was an orphan foal. Mom, a mustang, wanted nothing to do with this little filly, and she scaled a fence, leaving her behind, an orphan. She was just a few hours old. We scrambled to clear the way; transport was coordinated, and off we went. We met in Reno to pick her up. She was about 4.5 hours away, and so met near the middle.
Unfortunately, when we got to Reno to make the "exchange". She was very weak, and definitely in a fragile state. She couldn't stand up on her own. We high-tailed it to Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center (LBEMC) on the way home.
Turns out, her blood results were not good. Initial indications were a selenium deficiency, and she was hospitalized. A call at midnight informed us her blood values were moving in wrong direction, and we were bracing for not so good news in the morning. HOWEVER, morning came, and she was fighting!
She was still quite sick, but she was drinking her milk replacer with a good appetite. That offered some optimism. She was dealing with a multitude of things: being rejected by mom, stresses of transport, secondary effects resulting from mom's malnourishment, and selenium deficiency which caused white muscle disease and kidney issues. She was fighting hard, but each day brought something new. First, it was IV's for fluids and medications, then an oxygen tube and a stomach tube to help with eating and prevent her from aspirating milk.
Next was an umbilical infection and belly edema. She couldn't get up without assistance. Every day she fought like a little warrior, and every day we could, we were there. Her spirit never waned, and she showed slow, steady improvement, but she needed round the clock care. Her stay in the hospital stretched to 13 days, and at that point, though still very sick, we brought her home to continue care. Obviously, the expense was huge.
Round the clock care at the barn took it's toll, but fortunately she got lots of love and attention. Even Holli helped watch over Rascal.
Then came that monumental Day 26, Rascal got up all by herself. Her wobbly little legs fought hard, but she DID it.
She rallied through meds and treatments, but her woes didn't stop there. She started having GI issues that turned out to be a very nasty bacteria and very nasty diarrhea! More meds, more treatment, and she finally "firmed up", thankfully!.
...and there's more. Her umbilical hernia grew, and at first glance, now she looked like a gelding. That needed repair. Once she was beyond the GI issues, we took her in for surgery to repair the hernia.
Thirty days into recovery and she was doing fabulously!
Then, a new intestinal issue popped up. It's been months, and we are still battling a GI mystery issue. However, through nearly all, she has been one happy and otherwise healthy lil' gal with the most amazing spirit! She's a character. She's sassy. She's naughty. She's sweet. She's an absolute love, and she's quite the entertainer. Rascal's story at AAE isn't over. Somehow, I think she has something to do with that.
Thankfully, because of many of you, Rascal has been able to get the care she needed, not only the initial emergency treatment, but the extended hospital stay and the various challenges she's had in her young life. It's hard to believe she just turned eight months old!
Our little fighter is still dealing with a few challenges, but she meets everyday with spunk and that fighter's attitude.
If you would like to help more horses get the help they need, please donate here.
Our first call from DreamCatchers came one morning in April of this year. There was an orphan foal. Mom, a mustang, wanted nothing to do with this little filly, and she scaled a fence, leaving her behind, an orphan. She was just a few hours old. We scrambled to clear the way; transport was coordinated, and off we went. We met in Reno to pick her up. She was about 4.5 hours away, and so met near the middle.
Unfortunately, when we got to Reno to make the "exchange". She was very weak, and definitely in a fragile state. She couldn't stand up on her own. We high-tailed it to Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center (LBEMC) on the way home.
Turns out, her blood results were not good. Initial indications were a selenium deficiency, and she was hospitalized. A call at midnight informed us her blood values were moving in wrong direction, and we were bracing for not so good news in the morning. HOWEVER, morning came, and she was fighting!
She was still quite sick, but she was drinking her milk replacer with a good appetite. That offered some optimism. She was dealing with a multitude of things: being rejected by mom, stresses of transport, secondary effects resulting from mom's malnourishment, and selenium deficiency which caused white muscle disease and kidney issues. She was fighting hard, but each day brought something new. First, it was IV's for fluids and medications, then an oxygen tube and a stomach tube to help with eating and prevent her from aspirating milk.
Next was an umbilical infection and belly edema. She couldn't get up without assistance. Every day she fought like a little warrior, and every day we could, we were there. Her spirit never waned, and she showed slow, steady improvement, but she needed round the clock care. Her stay in the hospital stretched to 13 days, and at that point, though still very sick, we brought her home to continue care. Obviously, the expense was huge.
Round the clock care at the barn took it's toll, but fortunately she got lots of love and attention. Even Holli helped watch over Rascal.
Then came that monumental Day 26, Rascal got up all by herself. Her wobbly little legs fought hard, but she DID it.
She rallied through meds and treatments, but her woes didn't stop there. She started having GI issues that turned out to be a very nasty bacteria and very nasty diarrhea! More meds, more treatment, and she finally "firmed up", thankfully!.
...and there's more. Her umbilical hernia grew, and at first glance, now she looked like a gelding. That needed repair. Once she was beyond the GI issues, we took her in for surgery to repair the hernia.
Thirty days into recovery and she was doing fabulously!
Then, a new intestinal issue popped up. It's been months, and we are still battling a GI mystery issue. However, through nearly all, she has been one happy and otherwise healthy lil' gal with the most amazing spirit! She's a character. She's sassy. She's naughty. She's sweet. She's an absolute love, and she's quite the entertainer. Rascal's story at AAE isn't over. Somehow, I think she has something to do with that.
Thankfully, because of many of you, Rascal has been able to get the care she needed, not only the initial emergency treatment, but the extended hospital stay and the various challenges she's had in her young life. It's hard to believe she just turned eight months old!
Our little fighter is still dealing with a few challenges, but she meets everyday with spunk and that fighter's attitude.
If you would like to help more horses get the help they need, please donate here.
