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| ' Rosie ' |
The vet was here Friday morning for the last round of vaccinations and I got the final test results for Rosie on her PSSM blood test. It was negative. So that’s 2 negatives after the first one was positive. He said it doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have it, he’s still suspicious that she might have it because of the first test. The only way to be totally sure is to do a muscle biopsy, which I’m not going to do. He suggested the best thing to do is to keep her on the PSSM diet and exercise regimen she’s on. So that’s what I’m going to do and see how it goes.
Personally, I think her first test came back positive because of her Lyme’s. I think it could have affected the test. She’s almost done with her doses of doxycycline and I’ll see how she seems when she’s totally finished with the medication. I’ve been longeing her lightly almost every day, just some easy walk and trot for a few minutes before she goes out. Our herd goes out all day from around 7 a.m.-7p.m. or later some nights. They travel back and forth from the front to back fields which cover around 30 acres up and down hills so she’s getting plenty of exercise during the day. She’s also sporting a grazing muzzle to cut down on her consumption of grass, which she resents when I put it on her in the morning. Like I used to hate it when my mother told me “ It’s for your own good” I’m sure she doesn’t care one bit when I tell her the same thing.
Quote for Today
Love means attention, which means looking after the things we love.
That’s a wise choice to treat her like PSSM, just in case. It will probably be good for her. Poor thing with the grazing muzzle. I sympathize!
ReplyDeleteThe diet is a good one and probably will do her good. She can certainly lose a few pounds so the muzzle is necessary. But she does resent it.
DeleteI’m glad that it’s negative. It sounds like they get lots of exercise.
ReplyDeleteMe too. They do get a lot of exercise meandering from one place to the next all day. Sometimes I have to take the Kubota mule to go and find them.
DeleteAwww they always make the most pathetic faces when they have to wear grazing nuzzles. I am glad her latest test was negative. Fingers crossed she continues to improve.
ReplyDeleteThanks, and yes she does look pathetic. With a look that says I've personally betrayed her by not letting her eat as much grass as she can after a long winter.
DeleteGlad Rosie is doing well. Do you use slow feed nets with the grazing muzzles? Just curious. I am uncomfortable using muzzles with our net, and even the feeder. Koda would probably benefit from wearing one, especially now that he is a pasture ornament. Your 30 acres with hills sounds like a dream, sooo good for the horses to have varied terrain!
ReplyDeleteHi aurora. I don't use grazing muzzles for slow feed nets or even for the hay we have in the feeders. It's impossible for them to eat the hay even if it was on the ground. The muzzles are only for grazing on grass. They have one hole in the bottom of the muzzle to slow down grass consumption. You couldn't get hay through the hole. Now that we have grass we don't use the feeders anymore. They only get hay at night in their stalls in the slow feeder nets. I'm sure Koda will be getting some work as soon as your shoulder is feeling better. I'm currently not riding Rosie until she's off her meds but she benefits from getting lunged almost daily.
DeleteI am not familiar with muzzles, never used one before. Pretty sure I've seen pastured horses out muzzled with hay feeders. They likely didn't have nets, that would be very unsafe. Makes total sense that it's either a muzzle or a slow net. A muzzle wouldn't work for Koda, because we have to supplement hay year round. Thanks, I always learn new things from you :)
DeleteWell, I don't know how much anyone can learn from me but thanks for the compliment. ;)
DeleteGlad the tests are negative - hope she is better after the doxy and maybe losing some weight will also be helpful. She’s in the best of care.
ReplyDeleteThanks billie, I'm glad they were negative too. She seems a lot better now that she's almost done with the doxy. Losing weight will definitely benefit her and everyone else around here including me! I might have to get myself a Hannibal Lechter snack mask too ;)
DeleteSo glad the tests came back negative. Fingers crossed things continue on an upward trajectory!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathryn! Fingers crossed here too.
DeleteOh, I'm sorry to hear that Rosie's been having some health issues! But very glad to hear about the negative PSSM. You're right about the diet, it certainly couldn't hurt, and it will be a positive step towards keeping her healthy. I feel sorry for her having to wear the grazing muzzle though...I tried putting one on Missy a few times and she looked so depressed that I couldn't keep doing it. :( But, I know too much grass is the enemy. Our solution to having too much grass for the horses to graze is no more fertilizing and only re-seed once maybe every 5-6 years. So far, so good. I'd rather have less grass than too much, for their health. Personally, I think over fertilizing is a major component in the increase in endocrine problems in horses in so many countries. The grass is becoming over chemically enhanced and produces grasses that are too lush. Most horses don't need that rich of grass to maintain health. Stepping down from my soapbox now... :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have her issues in hand though. And like all of us - plenty of exercise is always a good thing! Enjoy this lovely spring weather!!
Thanks Lori! She doesn't mind her diet or exercise but I do get the stink eye whenever that muzzle goes on! We don't really fertilize our grass but there's just so much of it for five horses she definitely needs to eat less. Sami is sporting a muzzle too and I have to fight him to get it on. Blue had one but figured out how to wreck it so I'm waiting for a new one to arrive. Hanz and Grady don't need one...yet.
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