I learned about a horse illness I had never heard of this week - tick paralysis. Strikes horses, cattle and dogs. It can be caused by a single tick getting itself attached to your animal. If the tick happens to have a particularly nasty poison in its system, one tick can poison a horse all by itself - cause paralysis and loss of motor function. If it is not caught and treated in time, the paralysis will stop the breathing or the heart and the animal will die.
I looked out into my pasture one evening this week. One of the yearlings was laying down. Would have thought nothing of it (they lay down all the time), except that I happen to look out as he was struggling to rise. And it was immediately apparent that something was wrong.
He looked like a new-born foal trying to get up. He would get two feet under him, then flop over before he could get the others where he wanted them. I rushed out there, expecting to find a leg injury of some sort, but there was nothing obviously wrong. Except that he was also clearly not right. He looked dazed and nothing I did seemed to allow him to get his legs under him long enough to stand.
I put in a call to the vet and then sent my mom to get some neighbors. I still assumed it was a leg injury and that we would have to find some way to get him out of this pasture and into a vet clinic for ex rays and treatment. Of course, he was in the most remote pasture we've got, in a spot that required crossing at least three creeks to get to. There would be no getting a truck out to him. My only thought was to round up enough of my neighbors that we could carry him out - all 500-600 lbs of him.
My neighbors responded immediately and came to help. At one point we had five adults and 4 kids out there in the field with him. He was shaking and his breathing was ragged, so we ran to the house for blankets. Stripped a half dozen blankets off my bed and had all the kids carry them out to him while I mixed up some mare's milk replacer, and vitamins and put it all in a bottle.
I got back out there to find him covered in blankets and surrounded by people who were talking to him and petting him and generally fussing all over him. He had stopped shaking and now he just looked weak. His eyes weren't quite so glazed. I had the kids help me feed him from the bottle I had mixed up and as his strength began to come back, I sent them to the barn for a bucket of straight grain. Soon he was gobbling that up as quickly as we could give it to him. The kids held handfuls of it next to his mouth (he still couldn't sit up normally, so we fed him on his side) and he ate the whole bucket.
We managed to get him up at one point and it was clear he was not at all able to walk. It was as if he couldn't figure out which was was up - he just wobbled and fell over. It was about then that I started to realize it wasn't a leg injury - that it looked a lot more like poison. Something was affecting his brain or his motor skills. But I had no idea what could do this to him. We keep our fields well free of poisonous plants and there is nothing else around that I knew of that could cause this kind of reaction in a horse.
The vet got there right as we were debating the best way to carry a 500 lb animal over three creeks and 20 acres of marshy land to get him somewhere safe. I met her as she walked across the field and told her I was suspecting that this was not a leg injury at all, but some sort of poison. She said that what I described sounded like classic tick paralysis.
I had never heard of that. It only takes one tick, she explained. If the tick has something in its system that is bad enough to poison the horse, it can kill it. The only way to reverse the problem is to remove the tick.
Of course, searching for a tick on an animal that big isn't always easy. But then, that wasn't what she did. She just gave him a shot of Ivermectin - the same thing we use ever few months to worm our horses with, but in a more quick acting form. She said it could take up to 12 hours, but often it worked in 15 minutes. We stood around and waited. 15 minutes later, our little guy shook himself and stood up. A few false starts and he managed it. He was wobbling, but clearly vastly improved. We spent a half hour out there making sure he could walk. And we went around and treated all the other horses with Ivermectin just to be safe. I watched him for most of the evening and, while he clearly didn't stand or walk normally, he did stand and he did walk.
Its been about four days since then and he is still a little shaky. Apparently it takes a while for all the swelling to go down and his spine to return to normal. I have him in a smaller pasture so I can keep a closer eye on him and I spend some time with him every day, just fussing over him and making sure he is still improving. Most likely he will recover completely and be none the worse for wear. And I am reading everything I can about this odd illness which I had never heard of before.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Ducks
Okay, so I adopted two baby ducks shortly after Easter. Typical of the season, someone bought them for their kids to enjoy on Easter morning but three days later were tired of them. They dumped them at a vet clinic and the vet clinic called me.
They are Peking ducks - my favorite kind, but also a kind that is hard pressed to survive up here. They were bred strictly for meat and they have been striped of any ability to survive int he wild. They are bright white (so much so that they almost glow int he dark), they can't fly and they walk slowly, they grow so easily and quickly that their body often becomes too much for their legs and if they live to their full growth, they are likely to have crippled legs. But I really like these ducks, so I took them in and decided to give them a try at a life.
I raised them in the house in a crate in the living room. Once they got old enough I would draw them a bath every evening and let them swim around in the tub for a while. And three times per day I made them big bowls of salad and fresh vegetables, all soaked in a pot of water (becuase they love to look for food in the water). They never got very people-friendly (smart ducks) but I enjoyed them immensely. When they got too big for the crate, I moved them to the chicken house which has a bit of protection.
They've done great outside and I figured they were happier there -they never did get calm around me (though they learned to call to me if I slept in too late and didn't make their salad at a reasonable hour). But I miss them in the house. I guess I am lonely without Dave here, and I do worry about them outside. So a couple nights ago I walked down towards the barn one evening to check on them. They took one look at me and started squawking desperately and rushing towards me. Followed me right up to the house and in the front door.
Yes, I did let them in the front door. (I mentioned I was lonely, right). I made them their salad and they ate it so quickly I ended up making them two more before bedtime. Then they settled down by the wood stove and slept happily through the night. In the morning I let them out the front door and started cleaning duck poop off of everything (it is amazing how much two ducks can poop...)
The next night they showed up at the front door all on their own. This time I took the precaution of putting down some old sheets and arranging things so that they would be confined to the kitchen so they couldn't do so much damage to my carpets. In the morning, when I let them out again, I just picked up the sheets (COMPLETELY poop soaked) and put them in the washer. And so we've been doing things for about three weeks.
So here's the problem: I have a lot of guests around here during the summer. My mom was here a few days ago and she had her dog with her (who did not take ducks in the house with quite the equanimity my dogs seem to). And my dad and Ruth are coming next week. And after that we have three months straight of guests. Somehow I don't think I can keep letting the ducks in every night - its just too messy and too much work. And not everyone is quite so... fond of pushy, ornery ducks as I am.
Also, I have a lot to do around here. And some days I am really struggling to keep up. Its not like I NEED the added work of cleaning up after ducks every morning or the added hassle of blocking off my kitchen and plastering it with old sheets every evening (you would not believe the variety of surfaces ducks can get their poop on). So I think I have to stop letting them in. And maybe they'd be just as happy if I just made them a salad and left it outside every night... (but that's another problem - we are trying to be very money conscious and salad and fresh veggies cost a LOT. For the past month, I haven't eaten any fresh food myself because I have been saving it all for them...)
Two nights ago I didn't let them in. But last night I did - they just make me happy. I like their company. But what am I going to do tonight? And for the rest of their lives? I can't let them in forever. I simply can't. Their poop is really awful. And if anyone ever tells you it is possible to make a diaper for a duck, don't you believe them. I have tried everything and it simply doesn't work. Their tails are too big, too strong... well, just take my word for it. It just doesn't work.
So now I am trying to decide what to do about them. Haven't figured it out yet. Anybody have any good ideas?
They are Peking ducks - my favorite kind, but also a kind that is hard pressed to survive up here. They were bred strictly for meat and they have been striped of any ability to survive int he wild. They are bright white (so much so that they almost glow int he dark), they can't fly and they walk slowly, they grow so easily and quickly that their body often becomes too much for their legs and if they live to their full growth, they are likely to have crippled legs. But I really like these ducks, so I took them in and decided to give them a try at a life.
I raised them in the house in a crate in the living room. Once they got old enough I would draw them a bath every evening and let them swim around in the tub for a while. And three times per day I made them big bowls of salad and fresh vegetables, all soaked in a pot of water (becuase they love to look for food in the water). They never got very people-friendly (smart ducks) but I enjoyed them immensely. When they got too big for the crate, I moved them to the chicken house which has a bit of protection.
They've done great outside and I figured they were happier there -they never did get calm around me (though they learned to call to me if I slept in too late and didn't make their salad at a reasonable hour). But I miss them in the house. I guess I am lonely without Dave here, and I do worry about them outside. So a couple nights ago I walked down towards the barn one evening to check on them. They took one look at me and started squawking desperately and rushing towards me. Followed me right up to the house and in the front door.
Yes, I did let them in the front door. (I mentioned I was lonely, right). I made them their salad and they ate it so quickly I ended up making them two more before bedtime. Then they settled down by the wood stove and slept happily through the night. In the morning I let them out the front door and started cleaning duck poop off of everything (it is amazing how much two ducks can poop...)
The next night they showed up at the front door all on their own. This time I took the precaution of putting down some old sheets and arranging things so that they would be confined to the kitchen so they couldn't do so much damage to my carpets. In the morning, when I let them out again, I just picked up the sheets (COMPLETELY poop soaked) and put them in the washer. And so we've been doing things for about three weeks.
So here's the problem: I have a lot of guests around here during the summer. My mom was here a few days ago and she had her dog with her (who did not take ducks in the house with quite the equanimity my dogs seem to). And my dad and Ruth are coming next week. And after that we have three months straight of guests. Somehow I don't think I can keep letting the ducks in every night - its just too messy and too much work. And not everyone is quite so... fond of pushy, ornery ducks as I am.
Also, I have a lot to do around here. And some days I am really struggling to keep up. Its not like I NEED the added work of cleaning up after ducks every morning or the added hassle of blocking off my kitchen and plastering it with old sheets every evening (you would not believe the variety of surfaces ducks can get their poop on). So I think I have to stop letting them in. And maybe they'd be just as happy if I just made them a salad and left it outside every night... (but that's another problem - we are trying to be very money conscious and salad and fresh veggies cost a LOT. For the past month, I haven't eaten any fresh food myself because I have been saving it all for them...)
Two nights ago I didn't let them in. But last night I did - they just make me happy. I like their company. But what am I going to do tonight? And for the rest of their lives? I can't let them in forever. I simply can't. Their poop is really awful. And if anyone ever tells you it is possible to make a diaper for a duck, don't you believe them. I have tried everything and it simply doesn't work. Their tails are too big, too strong... well, just take my word for it. It just doesn't work.
So now I am trying to decide what to do about them. Haven't figured it out yet. Anybody have any good ideas?
Friday May 9, 2008
Had two neighbors work with me for 6 hours today getting all the fallen trees out of the goat barn pasture. We cleared about 40 trees that were knocked down at the beginning of the winter and that took out all our fencing in that pasture. All exhausted but the amount of work we did was great. I very much hope that on Monday we can move on to clearing the old fencing and getting a new fence up. I just finished with one outside mare and have three more coming this week. We need the extra space!
Friday, May 2, 2008
May 2, 2008
Beautiful, sunny day and the ground is drying fast, snow is melting fast. If this keeps up we will have almost no mud season to speak of!
Tried to breed Ryder and the visiting mare this morning but Ryder couldn't get his timing right. Kept belling before he could get in. Finally put them both in stalls alone and gave them a few hours to think about it. Came back and had no problem at all. Went smoothly. I've bred this mare each day she has been in heat and expect her to go out soon. Pleased with how her breeding is proceeding. Pleased that I am getting this job done so well with only me here to do it.
Moved a few horses around. Got a few fences worked on. Got the electric up and going. All is well at the ranch!
Tried to breed Ryder and the visiting mare this morning but Ryder couldn't get his timing right. Kept belling before he could get in. Finally put them both in stalls alone and gave them a few hours to think about it. Came back and had no problem at all. Went smoothly. I've bred this mare each day she has been in heat and expect her to go out soon. Pleased with how her breeding is proceeding. Pleased that I am getting this job done so well with only me here to do it.
Moved a few horses around. Got a few fences worked on. Got the electric up and going. All is well at the ranch!
May 1, 2008
Seems like spring has finally shown up. As of the past three days, the snow is melting. Creek has jumped its banks and there is lots and lots of mud, but not as bad as most years so far. Temperatures are in the 30's getting up higher every few days.
Started my first breeding client of the year. Did the breeding by myself yesterday and it went well. No one here to help this year, so I am glad I have the routine down well enough to handle on my own.
Fences down in the back 20 today - Jared is here fixing that. Had hoped to get him going on a different project, but seems like there is always upkeep needed that takes precedence!
Echo and Cowboy got themselves over a deep part of the creek (Echo so she could be near Ryder, Cowboy because he is in love with Echo...). They couldn't get themselves back the way they had come - I left them on this little island of dry for two days, hoping they would get up the motivation to jump the creek back the other way. Finally went out and forced Cowboy across, getting myself dunked up to my waste in the process. Didn't want to force Echo the same way, as it was pretty deep and she is pretty pregnant. So I coxed her closer to Ryder's pasture and took her through a gate into there (couldn't do that with Cowboy unless I moved Ryder out, as they would have fought). All was well until Cowboy got so panicked that Echo was going in with Ryder that he JUMPED THE CREEK AGAIN and got himself suck on the little island of dry AGAIN. I finally just fed him there.
Am breeding today and moving some horses. Fixing fence. All pretty normal spring around here.
Started my first breeding client of the year. Did the breeding by myself yesterday and it went well. No one here to help this year, so I am glad I have the routine down well enough to handle on my own.
Fences down in the back 20 today - Jared is here fixing that. Had hoped to get him going on a different project, but seems like there is always upkeep needed that takes precedence!
Echo and Cowboy got themselves over a deep part of the creek (Echo so she could be near Ryder, Cowboy because he is in love with Echo...). They couldn't get themselves back the way they had come - I left them on this little island of dry for two days, hoping they would get up the motivation to jump the creek back the other way. Finally went out and forced Cowboy across, getting myself dunked up to my waste in the process. Didn't want to force Echo the same way, as it was pretty deep and she is pretty pregnant. So I coxed her closer to Ryder's pasture and took her through a gate into there (couldn't do that with Cowboy unless I moved Ryder out, as they would have fought). All was well until Cowboy got so panicked that Echo was going in with Ryder that he JUMPED THE CREEK AGAIN and got himself suck on the little island of dry AGAIN. I finally just fed him there.
Am breeding today and moving some horses. Fixing fence. All pretty normal spring around here.
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