Tigris is a 10 year old Irish Sport Horse mare, my daughter competes in eventing. She completed the season at Prelim.
On 10/30 Tigris needed emergency colic surgery to save her life. We took her to Littleton Equine Medical Center. This blog captures the ups and downs of her recovery journey.
Tigris appeared uncomfortable in her pasture around 5 pm on October 30th. We walked her around for an hour hoping it would pass, however it got worse and worse. Tigris tried to throw herself on the ground repeatedly. I called our local vet who arrived quickly despite it feeling like an eternity! He gave her painkillers and recommended we head to the closest emergency equine hospital in Littleton, CO.
Upon arrival at Littleton Equine Medical Center, Tigris was still standing in the trailer. Little did I realize, the trajectory of our experiences was about to change forever. Upon intake exam, the vet became concerned about thickening in the wall of her large colon, Tigris’s continued discomfort, and inability to palpate due to pressure. The vet recommended emergency surgery and started to prepare Tigris.
I will spare y’all of the details from the surgery. Four hours later the surgery was completed and Tigris entered the recovery room. Then she spent five days in the ICU recovering. The vet team at Littleton is truly phenomenal and gave her the very best of care. This blog attempts to capture the ups and downs of Tigris’s recovery in the coming months. In addition to her recovery, I intend to share my emotional journey throughout, applying the Pressure Proof concepts and skills. I will also showcase products we incorporated to support her recovery.
Featuring Advice from Friends on Facebook
Q1: How to manage your horse coming home from the hospital, what to look out for, and how to manage stall rest?
“Clean and sanitize as much as you can, the biggest risk is from infection after they return back home.”
“Build an outdoor stall inside of a normal paddock. This way as they recover you can expand the panels and they are much happier being outside.”
“Check vitals often and administer all medications as prescribed. Keep an eye on manure patterns (and sniff test it). ”
“Use a blanket with a bellyband for the attachment to avoid straps that might aggravate the incision.”
Featured Products - Tigris’s Favorites
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