Cooper's 17th and a half month! Gruesome in places!

[Whatanejit]

This months update is quite late for several reasons that will be come clear as I go along.

We are now at the new place 11 weeks and loving the peace and quiet. The four geldings have formed a lovely herd and get on really well.

My Cooper fittening regime was going great guns.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/Augbeforeride.png

We had our month of walk and trot for 1 hr and were beginning to introduce a short canter towards the end of the ride. He was happy going first or last (most of the time :p)

We even had him hacking on his own with me on the bike for company.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/AugOHgoingout.png

August was to be a month of up to two hour hacks with a little bit more canter as we were working towards a le Trec comp mid sept.

He was feeling great, wanting to trot when I was busy chatting to my friend. Indeed the night before his routine blood test he insisted on cantering when we were trying to make them walk - a bit naughty but I let him as I thought well he is feeling good - I'll let him dictate to me how is aches and pains are.

The results of the blood tests showed another set back in the muscle damage (myopathy) :o:confused:

What a bummer.......

He is looking and acting so well - no real clues this time like there was before - he certainly is loving his alpha oil and supplements and frequently asks for more....

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/Aug07cooperandbowl.png

With a long deliberation we decided we would go to Liphook for further investigations and a muscle biopsy - a second opinion is always useful.
Contributing to our decision is the fact that the insurance company will stop paying for this condition as of the end of this month.


While waiting for the appointment my folks came to stay and made a fuss ..

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/Aug07mummeandCoops.png



So we headed to Liphook yesterday .....

I caught him bright and early on this dismal morning......

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/Liphook1.png

Haynet, travel boots and bag of carrots at the ready.....

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH2.png

Nice boots Coops

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH3.png

wishes.

[Whatanejit]

So whats going on mum?

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH4.png

Where are you taking Cooper?

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH5.png

Don't worry guys I'll be back soon.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH6.png

Nearly there......

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH7.png

At last.....

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH8.png

Comforting groom while we are waiting for the vet.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH9.png

Into the procedure room and locked into the stocks.. what's going on here then?

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH10.png

Administering a sedative

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH11.png

Oooooohh - feeling woozy - better lean on this bar else I'll fall over.

Nice square patch on bum hibiscrubbed till clean and then covered in alcohol.......

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH12.png

Look away now if you are squeamish!

[Whatanejit]

The incision.........

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/th_The1stIncision.jpg (http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/?action=view&current=The1stIncision.flv)

Cutting through to the muscle........

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/th_Goingabitdeeper.jpg (http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/?action=view&current=Goingabitdeeper.flv)


Isolating the muscle for biopsy


http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH13.png

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/th_Isolatingthemuscle.jpg (http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/?action=view&current=Isolatingthemuscle.flv)


Here it is......

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH14.png

Nice bit of suturing.......

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/th_Suturingitbackupagain.jpg (http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/?action=view&current=Suturingitbackupagain.flv)

Bloody mess

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH16.png

Nice and tidy..

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH15.png

Dressing got a bit traumatised in the lorry :oops:

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH17.png

[Whatanejit]

Ahhhhhh back to the boys again.......

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa100/GuinnessDecker/LH18.png

Back home by 1300hrs!

It was great to get a second opinion as my vet has been a bit errrr passive -

It was me who initiated the diet change last Dec - this vet highly applauded those efforts saying it would have been the first thing he would have recommended.

He made us feel very positive about things, was very kind to Coops and was interested from a scientific point of view.

He thinks that we need to take it easier when bringing him back into work and not let him over exert himself - which he thinks is what has happened this time.

Results of biopsy next week at the latest.

Antibiotics for a week.

Coops was fabulously behaved throughout - I was so proud of him.


Oh, we weighed him on their scales and he was...................

I tell you what = why don't you have a guess?

[NicP]

What a good boy he was, he is just so gorgeous. I don't blame you for getting the second opinion and it sounds like you have got much more positive feedback from this vet which must make you feel better.

I have no idea re weight as I am useless at things like that!

Let us know the biopsy results and how he heals up.

[Bozzy]

What a brilliant boy he is, looks as though he just takes it all in his stride :) Fingers crossed for the results.

Weight...complete guess at 540kg??

[Skib]

I am sorry Cooper needed this visit. But what a brilliant post. Letting us see what happens in the horse hospital. Thanks Dee.

[Roofio]

his personalised freezemark has made me giggle! :D

hope you get some anwers soon... my weight guess would be...610kgs. but then i dont know how tall he is so thats a total stab in the dark! :)

[Lucyad]

You are so good at taking pictures of everything and taking time to let us all know what is going on. It is very interesting and informative - thanks! I hope that everything is OK with Cooper - he is certainly loking very well. Waiting with baited breath for results!

[Palomino Mare]

those clips of the op were fascinating - thanks for sharing!!

hope it all gets sorted soon. oh and 650kg?

[fitz]

580 kg..
sorry the bloods didnt come back clear.. again. Sounds like you have a good interested person on the case now...

[Ruskii]

I'm going to say 630 kg ... I bet I'm far off :o

Glad he's one the mend and you had a second opinion, I did a double take at the pic of the sign to Liphook, I'm up round that way nearly every fortnight for dog training ;) Lovely neck of the woods there :)

[Sammii]

I'm not even going to attempt the weight...

And I seemed to have missed the big red writing telling me to look away :(

Thanks for sharing :p :D

[chickflick1066]

Oh Aunty Dee, big healing hugs to Coops :D

[Jill_H]

I am so sorry that you have had another setback with Cooper - poor boy. It must be very frustrating and worrying for you all. Everything crossed for good biopsy results and a successful and speedy return to work this time!!!

Jill x

[Clare-22]

Oh Dee sorry to hear the problem has raised its head again {hugs}

Keeping everything crossed for the all clear with the results, and it is just a case of getting him back to work at whatever pace he can cope with.

At least this time you have the assurance of a second opinion, I have heard wonderful things about Liphock :)

Thanks for the sqeamish warning though :o

Ooh as for weight, I am useless at these things, 680kg?

[curlycal]

What an interesting update, as a hopefully future horse owner I find your story both interesting and educational Thank you

I love reading about the lovely Coops

Fingers crossed you get to the bottom of the problem.

Cal x

[coverblown]

hopefully you will get a result on this one Dee - there's some real evidence in those photos thats for sure.

It is lovely seeing him looking so happy in his new home, alongside the others of course.

Great photo-diary as ever....

He's a big lad, but doesn't seem over-fat or anything - so I'm going 500kg

[Whatanejit]

Thanks for the well wishes folks.

The patient is doing very well today and is taking his antibiotics without hesitation in his feed :)

Mmmmmmmm - some of you are waaaaaaaaaay out on the weight and so far only 1 person has got it spot on! :D

All will be revealed later.

:p

[chickflick1066]

No way is he only 500kg! That's nearly the same as Stumpy!! :o

[fitz]

I reckon Bozzy is on the money with 540 kg actually.

[Est]

Hmmmm. I'm with whoever said 580kgs I think :)

The pics were interesting Dee - thanks for sharing!

Hugs and get well wishes to Coops :)

[NoviceNic]

I just want to send a massive hug for you all. Cooper get well very soon and may you enjoy your little canters soon....:)

[LindaAd]

I'm glad Cooper's doing well.

Those photos brought back painful memories for me. Not just Liphook, where Barney had his operation, and the examination, months later, when they told me that in spite of all the care, he wouldn't get better, but the other horse hospital where I watched Ginny dying, in May.

[Chinarider]

Fascinating stuff Dee, thx for the update. What a time you are having with your boy :eek: You can pretty much call your self an expert owner with all you have been through!!!

Hope this time you can get the result you are after, and then get on with enjoying your horse :)

[fitz]

So what weight is he then?? I'm very curious now.

[capalldubh]

Oh dear, poor Cooper and you! I can identify with the two steps forward one step back, Jackson seems good at that too. Just beginning hacking quietly on own when he came up lame on Friday, we think either an infected cut on foot or another abscess :-( Really, they're such big robust looking beasties, but they seem to go wrong so easily... My little hairy share cob is 19 this year and never got sick or lame, why oh why does my big 5 year old get stuff wrong with him all the time?

Here's hoping you get a more definative diagnosis from Liphook and that Cooper feels as well as he looks :)

ETA I'm guessing 580kg too, given his height and build...

[Whatanejit]

Thanks again folks - I;ve got more pics and vids uploading after taking his dressing off tonight.



He ways a mahooooooooosive..........

680 Kg!



Who ate all the pies?

[NoviceNic]

:eek: :eek: Blimey all the pies are with Captain and Cooper it would seem...:D

How much did your tape say Cooper weighed Dee???

[Whatanejit]

Old RI weighed him with the tape last summer and he was about 590 Kg - so he has put on a few pounds in the last year :eek:

Vet says he needs to fill out more!

He did go through 5 bales of hay a week last winter!

[Clare-22]

Ooh as for weight, I am useless at these things, 680kg?

Do I win a prize :D

Loki is about 650kg so I thought Coops may be a touch more :)

[VickiGG]

680kgs - wow!!
He doesn't look 680kgs - he must be really tall.... :)

Goodness you were brave watching, photographing and filming all that - I would have fainted. I didn't watch the videos..... too squeemish for moi. I looks at the piccies though.... hey - I'm a vegetarian - who can blame me.... just can't handle blood.

Well I hope they can figure it out for you Dee.... lovely looking Equine Hospital.

To be honest I don't think the vets would even have thought to test for that at all here.... so you are lucky to have such knowledge on your doorstep. :)

Coops looks grand and happy..... 5 bales of hay a week - wow - with grass as well? Garbo gets no grass really and it's winter here... and 4-5 slices of hay a day. I think he needs more - if I had my own place I would give him ad-lib hay.

[NoviceNic]

Captain was on adlib hay last Winter and went through 5 bales a week. With grazing...:rolleyes:

[fitz]

Wow! 680 kg! I never would have guessed that...