BECAUSE MADELINE'S MOM HAS HAD SO MANY FOALS, SHE LOOKS PREGNANT EVEN WHEN SHE'S NOT... WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO TELL IF SHE HAS BEEN BRED AND IF SO, HOW FAR ALONG SHE IS. I WAS PRETTY SURE SHE WAS PREGNANT, BUT DID NOT KNOW IF THE FOAL WAS DUE SOON OR IF WE WOULD BE WAITING UNTIL FALL. BECAUSE OF THAT I CHECK HER REGULARLY TO SEE IF SHE IS GROWING AN UDDER AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT YES SHE IS! SO I E-MAILED LINDA TO TELL HER THAT MADELINE IS GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER AND THIS IS HER RESPONSE:
I just received your message about Madeline's mom. Awesome news, and will be excited to see pictures of the new one when he or she arrives. Will be interesting if it's the same color as Madeline. Love that color.
Madeline did well last night walking around, missed a few steps and drug her foot but would then pick it up and go but was one of her better nights in leg movement. She played in the back yard with her Dad while he mowed the grass, she loves that and to her its a treat to go on that side of the yard. She'll go out for a walk tonight in her treatment contraption when I get home and hoping that goes as well as she was doing last night in trolling around.
David said he is about ready to make a bracket for holding business cards and put it on the portable camping horse corrals. We had so many people come over to us on the Caballo Ride this last week to see Madeline and wanting to know where we got her. Was unreal, they all go nuts over her and expect to see her at the ride. You will have to give us some of your business cards or mail us some as I know there are many times we can provide them to someone asking how to get one.
Linda
MADELINE IS AN AWESOME EMBASSADOR FOR MINIATURE DONKEYS EVERYWHERE!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Stifle Update
I WROTE LINDA IN RESPONSE TO HER POST ABOUT THE SURCINGLE CONTRAPTION. ALTHOUGH IN GENERAL AN ONLY DONKEY IS A LONELY DONKEY, BECAUSE OF HER MULE BROTHERS AND GOAT AND DOG SISTERS, AND ALL THE TIME DAVID AND LINDA SPEND WITH HER, MADELINE IS DOING FINE ON HER OWN... AND WITH HAVING TO WEAR THIS CONTRAPTION, IT IS A VERY GOOD THING THAT SHE IS ON HER OWN! I CANNOT IMAGINE ANY DONKEY IN MY HERD WEARING THIS AND NOT HAVING THE OTHERS PLAYING WITH IT AND MAKING A MESS OF THINGS!
LINDA WROTE ME BACK:
Thanks, she is a sweetheart. We will keep you posted with updates with how she is doing. I did not want 50 questions everytime she went camping with us in the interim while she is being treated so I figured it was best to post an update on the forum, since so many asked about her leg at AZ Backcountry Fund Raiser.
Lorraine asked about babies at Caballo, I was not sure if you had anything available or if they were all spoken for. You're right, she loves Madeline because she is so sweet, and I know she loves her color. She would come by our campsite every day just to see Madeline as she had to walk past us to get to the Big Circus Tent for food every morning and night.
Linda
LINDA WROTE ME BACK:
Thanks, she is a sweetheart. We will keep you posted with updates with how she is doing. I did not want 50 questions everytime she went camping with us in the interim while she is being treated so I figured it was best to post an update on the forum, since so many asked about her leg at AZ Backcountry Fund Raiser.
Lorraine asked about babies at Caballo, I was not sure if you had anything available or if they were all spoken for. You're right, she loves Madeline because she is so sweet, and I know she loves her color. She would come by our campsite every day just to see Madeline as she had to walk past us to get to the Big Circus Tent for food every morning and night.
Linda
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Surcingle Contraption Information and Pictures
AN AzBCR POST FROM LINDA:
We figured we would share with you some up dated pictures of Madeline. Some of you on the Azbackcountry Fund Raiser ride noticed she was having a sticking stifle problem on her rear leg. Primarily it was one leg that would be worse then the other, but then both could stick and would cause her to drag the leg in a mosey walk. But would not be present at all at a trot or run as then she would move just normal.
The cause is a growth problem, where the ligaments in the legs and the body are not meshing together during growth. Not all miniatures will get this, but some can if there ligaments in their rear legs do not shrink properly as they grow. It's not hereditary but is common on extremely straight conformation which can bring on the problem if the ligaments and bones do not mesh during growth. Most cases in time and with exercise of the ligaments it will go away on its own, and sometimes it needs extra help.
On Monday March 15th our Vet Dr. Laura Harris came out to visit with Madeline to re-evaluate her movement with the sticking stifle on particularly the one rear leg. At that time she gave Madeline what she called "Donkey Quiet Juice" and sedated her so she could inject an iodine and almond oil solution into (3) ligament areas on both rear legs. So total she got 6 injections. She opted to do both rear legs as the popping sound is present on both rear legs. The popping sound can occur around 10 months if the ligaments and bone joints are showing signs of catching problems. Catching problems is when the ligaments catch on the leg bone as it moves, and this is what was makes a popping sound as they walk on the rear legs. If the ligament catches and does not release then the stifle joint in the leg can lock and remain locked then they drag the foot along in a stiff position instead of picking it up. You can get them to release the stifle by backing them up, but sometimes the next step they take it may lock again. It can continue to do this for several months, but they do not want it to lock and stay locked as then damage can occur. In Madeline's case, it was getting more common to see it locked then unlocked.
This idodine/almond oil solution causes a burning sensation in the legs for about 2 to 3 days, it stings like heck and scars the ligaments to shrink down around the bone joints. It can take several times to do this over a period of time. In Madeline's case, she may have to go another round in May, and maybe again in July.........They usually do not start any of this treatment until they are closer to age 2 to 2 1/2 as they can usally out grow this on their own, but if they start locking in the stifle, it can cause more problems and is why at 17 months Dr. Harris is starting early treatment on Madeline. If by the time Madeline reaches 2 years she is still having problems with the ligaments properly fitting around the leg joint - then she will have to undergo surgery to actually cut the ligament down so it no longer interferes. Laura is hopping with the early treatment of idodine/almond injections into the ligaments that the shrinking of the ligaments will occur without the need of the surgery. If the injection treatments do not cure the problem in full then Madeline will have to have surgery to permantely address the problem.....that is a last resort as far as Laura is concerned at this time as Madeline has several more months to out grow this under her care with the iodine injection treatments.
So............For those of you who may see her with us camping I have posted pictures for you of her. You may from time to time see her in this contraption that Laura has come up with for treatment in between her injection treatments. It helps to force Madeline to pick up her rear leg, as she walks along. It's a miniature horse surcingle, and elastic band with thumb clips on both ends (like the type on a dog leash), then clipped from the surcingle down to her single hobble. As she walks it makes her pick up the one leg which was the one that would lock stiff. Also on both legs are single leg straps that have chain weights on them to help to force her to pick up the legs as she walks, trots and runs with weights. She goes for her walks every day in this and spends lots of time in her turn out with it on as she grazes around............She will have to be in and out of this for several months while she is in the iodine injection treatment program.........or until she shows more signs that the ligaments are shrinking enough to no longer interfere with her movement on the rear legs.
I can tell you she is an awesome patient for the vet. Laura says she has met lots of donkeys, and has one of her own, but has not come across a donkey so people oriented like Madeline is .......She said the time Susan and us have put into Madeline on ground manners makes her an easy patient to work with when it comes to times having to be under vet care. She is a well cared for little donkey and hopefully her treatment pictures will help those of you with questions when you see her the next several months to understand what she is going through right now while she grows......
Ms. Madeline overall is doing very well, and is her normal playful self. She just spent a week in Skull Valley Arizona with her big brother mules camping on a week long catered ride. She had loads of loves from 140 plus people who were there on the ride. She just needs a little extra help right now, but is doing just fine.
Till next time.........
David and Linda
AN AzBCR MEMBER SAYS:
She is one lucky girl to have you as 'parents'
MY RESPONSE:
AMEN! I am so thankful that Linda keeps me updated and she was quick to assure me that it was not hereditary as that had me understandably quite worried... I am so sorry that our little girl has to go through this (and Dave and Linda too!!) but very grateful that Madeline has such great human parents! I feel confident that Dave and Linda are going above and beyond to make sure that Madeline gets the best care and treatment there is!
And wow, what a contraption!!
Kisses for my grand-donkey and hugs to her parents!!!
We figured we would share with you some up dated pictures of Madeline. Some of you on the Azbackcountry Fund Raiser ride noticed she was having a sticking stifle problem on her rear leg. Primarily it was one leg that would be worse then the other, but then both could stick and would cause her to drag the leg in a mosey walk. But would not be present at all at a trot or run as then she would move just normal.
The cause is a growth problem, where the ligaments in the legs and the body are not meshing together during growth. Not all miniatures will get this, but some can if there ligaments in their rear legs do not shrink properly as they grow. It's not hereditary but is common on extremely straight conformation which can bring on the problem if the ligaments and bones do not mesh during growth. Most cases in time and with exercise of the ligaments it will go away on its own, and sometimes it needs extra help.
On Monday March 15th our Vet Dr. Laura Harris came out to visit with Madeline to re-evaluate her movement with the sticking stifle on particularly the one rear leg. At that time she gave Madeline what she called "Donkey Quiet Juice" and sedated her so she could inject an iodine and almond oil solution into (3) ligament areas on both rear legs. So total she got 6 injections. She opted to do both rear legs as the popping sound is present on both rear legs. The popping sound can occur around 10 months if the ligaments and bone joints are showing signs of catching problems. Catching problems is when the ligaments catch on the leg bone as it moves, and this is what was makes a popping sound as they walk on the rear legs. If the ligament catches and does not release then the stifle joint in the leg can lock and remain locked then they drag the foot along in a stiff position instead of picking it up. You can get them to release the stifle by backing them up, but sometimes the next step they take it may lock again. It can continue to do this for several months, but they do not want it to lock and stay locked as then damage can occur. In Madeline's case, it was getting more common to see it locked then unlocked.
This idodine/almond oil solution causes a burning sensation in the legs for about 2 to 3 days, it stings like heck and scars the ligaments to shrink down around the bone joints. It can take several times to do this over a period of time. In Madeline's case, she may have to go another round in May, and maybe again in July.........They usually do not start any of this treatment until they are closer to age 2 to 2 1/2 as they can usally out grow this on their own, but if they start locking in the stifle, it can cause more problems and is why at 17 months Dr. Harris is starting early treatment on Madeline. If by the time Madeline reaches 2 years she is still having problems with the ligaments properly fitting around the leg joint - then she will have to undergo surgery to actually cut the ligament down so it no longer interferes. Laura is hopping with the early treatment of idodine/almond injections into the ligaments that the shrinking of the ligaments will occur without the need of the surgery. If the injection treatments do not cure the problem in full then Madeline will have to have surgery to permantely address the problem.....that is a last resort as far as Laura is concerned at this time as Madeline has several more months to out grow this under her care with the iodine injection treatments.
So............For those of you who may see her with us camping I have posted pictures for you of her. You may from time to time see her in this contraption that Laura has come up with for treatment in between her injection treatments. It helps to force Madeline to pick up her rear leg, as she walks along. It's a miniature horse surcingle, and elastic band with thumb clips on both ends (like the type on a dog leash), then clipped from the surcingle down to her single hobble. As she walks it makes her pick up the one leg which was the one that would lock stiff. Also on both legs are single leg straps that have chain weights on them to help to force her to pick up the legs as she walks, trots and runs with weights. She goes for her walks every day in this and spends lots of time in her turn out with it on as she grazes around............She will have to be in and out of this for several months while she is in the iodine injection treatment program.........or until she shows more signs that the ligaments are shrinking enough to no longer interfere with her movement on the rear legs.
I can tell you she is an awesome patient for the vet. Laura says she has met lots of donkeys, and has one of her own, but has not come across a donkey so people oriented like Madeline is .......She said the time Susan and us have put into Madeline on ground manners makes her an easy patient to work with when it comes to times having to be under vet care. She is a well cared for little donkey and hopefully her treatment pictures will help those of you with questions when you see her the next several months to understand what she is going through right now while she grows......
Ms. Madeline overall is doing very well, and is her normal playful self. She just spent a week in Skull Valley Arizona with her big brother mules camping on a week long catered ride. She had loads of loves from 140 plus people who were there on the ride. She just needs a little extra help right now, but is doing just fine.
Till next time.........
David and Linda
AN AzBCR MEMBER SAYS:
She is one lucky girl to have you as 'parents'
MY RESPONSE:
AMEN! I am so thankful that Linda keeps me updated and she was quick to assure me that it was not hereditary as that had me understandably quite worried... I am so sorry that our little girl has to go through this (and Dave and Linda too!!) but very grateful that Madeline has such great human parents! I feel confident that Dave and Linda are going above and beyond to make sure that Madeline gets the best care and treatment there is!
And wow, what a contraption!!
Kisses for my grand-donkey and hugs to her parents!!!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Travel and Stifle Update
AN E-MAIL FROM LINDA:
We left on the 20th for the week long catered trail ride in Skull Valley, just gone home a little while ago the 27th.
Madeline is doing okay, still some what stiff legged on the one rear leg but we have a contraption with surcingle and hobble on the one leg and elastic band hooked up to the surcingle to make her use the leg. It works pretty good, although she can still get lazy with it and try to not bend it. We still take her out for walks with the surcingle and hobble connection on to make her use it.........sometimes she fights it and we really have to make her go, then she'll go and get into a groove and work the leg. She may end up having to have the treatment again in May if she is still doing this, then possibly again after that........we just have to keep up with her on the walking on it and bending it. Otherwise it will be surgery if we can't get her through this. But it's still a last resort. I wish she did not have to go through all this.
She enjoyed the catered ride, and had tons and tons of visitors on her daily walks throughout camp......there was 160 people there, including Lorraine was there again, she surely loves Madeline. The Caballo Del Sol group has pretty much made her their mascot on the ride, they all look forward to seeing her each year. When we unloaded her from the trailer today when we came home, she was so excited to see her grass yard, she plopped herself down into it and laid flat out in the grass for hours......loving it...
We are going to the miniature horse show at West World Tomorrow, to check out some of their miniature horse vendors, for miniature hobbles and etc. Thankfully I had a mini surcingle so that was good and Laura was happy we did have it.
Linda
We left on the 20th for the week long catered trail ride in Skull Valley, just gone home a little while ago the 27th.
Madeline is doing okay, still some what stiff legged on the one rear leg but we have a contraption with surcingle and hobble on the one leg and elastic band hooked up to the surcingle to make her use the leg. It works pretty good, although she can still get lazy with it and try to not bend it. We still take her out for walks with the surcingle and hobble connection on to make her use it.........sometimes she fights it and we really have to make her go, then she'll go and get into a groove and work the leg. She may end up having to have the treatment again in May if she is still doing this, then possibly again after that........we just have to keep up with her on the walking on it and bending it. Otherwise it will be surgery if we can't get her through this. But it's still a last resort. I wish she did not have to go through all this.
She enjoyed the catered ride, and had tons and tons of visitors on her daily walks throughout camp......there was 160 people there, including Lorraine was there again, she surely loves Madeline. The Caballo Del Sol group has pretty much made her their mascot on the ride, they all look forward to seeing her each year. When we unloaded her from the trailer today when we came home, she was so excited to see her grass yard, she plopped herself down into it and laid flat out in the grass for hours......loving it...
We are going to the miniature horse show at West World Tomorrow, to check out some of their miniature horse vendors, for miniature hobbles and etc. Thankfully I had a mini surcingle so that was good and Laura was happy we did have it.
Linda
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Injection Update
Hi Susan,
Just wanted to let you know Madeline did very well tonight with her walking once I got her to move the one leg and not drag it. At one point she even got to running and kicking up her heels. Much better tonight than last night. On Tuesday night she pretty well beat me down to the ground as I had to tug and pull on her, push myself into her backside to get her moving, including forcing her to walk backwards several times if she opted to just stand there. I had worked her for an hour and half last night, and you could slowly see some flex coming back and bend with several steps. Tonight was much much better. She will sometimes when standing for a bit drag it, but she'll engage it and make it move when she really tries.
I heard from Laura Harris this morning when I was at work. She had known yesterday morning that David had a hard time getting Madeline to walk period, he tried like the dickens and she did not want to. Pretty much what Laura had said was that she won't want to, we'd have to make her. Then I found out this morning that she came by here (we did not know) and worked Madeline in the turn out for about 45 minutes. She is quite the vet, and like I said, she has a soft spot for Maddie. She is hand making a theraputic contraption that she wants us to use on Madeline to force her to use her leg now that she has shrunk the ligaments. The other leg is doing great, with this round appears to have taken full care of that one. This other one was the worst one, it's better, but has a long way to go for Madeline to work it now. Laura feels with therapy it will work itself out now.........she has surgery in the way back part of her mind as a last resort, but has several tricks up her sleeve to use on Madeline that she believes will work for her to work those tendons she has addressed with the injections.
That's it for now.
Linda
YAY, SOUNDING GOOD SO FAR!!! PLEASE KEEP YOUR PRAYERS COMING!!!
Just wanted to let you know Madeline did very well tonight with her walking once I got her to move the one leg and not drag it. At one point she even got to running and kicking up her heels. Much better tonight than last night. On Tuesday night she pretty well beat me down to the ground as I had to tug and pull on her, push myself into her backside to get her moving, including forcing her to walk backwards several times if she opted to just stand there. I had worked her for an hour and half last night, and you could slowly see some flex coming back and bend with several steps. Tonight was much much better. She will sometimes when standing for a bit drag it, but she'll engage it and make it move when she really tries.
I heard from Laura Harris this morning when I was at work. She had known yesterday morning that David had a hard time getting Madeline to walk period, he tried like the dickens and she did not want to. Pretty much what Laura had said was that she won't want to, we'd have to make her. Then I found out this morning that she came by here (we did not know) and worked Madeline in the turn out for about 45 minutes. She is quite the vet, and like I said, she has a soft spot for Maddie. She is hand making a theraputic contraption that she wants us to use on Madeline to force her to use her leg now that she has shrunk the ligaments. The other leg is doing great, with this round appears to have taken full care of that one. This other one was the worst one, it's better, but has a long way to go for Madeline to work it now. Laura feels with therapy it will work itself out now.........she has surgery in the way back part of her mind as a last resort, but has several tricks up her sleeve to use on Madeline that she believes will work for her to work those tendons she has addressed with the injections.
That's it for now.
Linda
YAY, SOUNDING GOOD SO FAR!!! PLEASE KEEP YOUR PRAYERS COMING!!!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Injection Day
E-MAIL FROM LINDA:
I had emailed Dr. Laura Harris again this morning and upon my email she has decided she want to inject Madeline's stifle NOW. She is coming out tonight to inject Madeline's one rear leg with the iodine solution. It keeps locking, as it did most of last week and was still doing so most of this weekend. It will sting like hell for about 3 days she says.......
Maddie has the problem with both rear legs, but the one is the one that keeps stifle sticking so I believe Laura's plan it to only inject that one........but she may do both, I'll know more tonight at 5:00 pm when she comes. We'll keep you posted.
Linda
AND HERE IS LINDA'S E-MAIL REPORT TO ME AFTER THE INJECTION:
Hi Susan,
Madeline is just now coming around out of sedation. Laura injected both rear legs all three ligaments in each of the two legs with the almond oil and iodine. Madeline was really good for her, and listened as we worked with her, held her head between my legs which for her is a comfort zone.
Laura said it will burn for the next 2 to 3 days. David will have to take her out in the morning for a 1 1/2 mile walk before he goes to work, she said she won't want to go tomorrow because it will burn but she has too. Then I have to do the same with her tomorrow night when I get home as she said she HAS to walk and use the muscles in the legs tomorrow as it will be important for the day following the injections.
She said the ligaments will scar and shrink from the injection which will relieve the leg from sticking and locking and it will take about 5 to 7 to 10 days to notice that difference. Then in 30 days depending on how much the ligaments shrink down on both legs, she may have to do it one more time on both legs in May. If this one time does the trick then she won't have too.
If after the second time the one leg is still not working like normal then she will have to go in surgically and cut at the ligament on that one leg. Laura is hoping with how Madeline reacts with this first treatment and how it turns out that only the injections will be needed times one or two cycles.
Right now, she is up, she is putting weight on both legs now, it's still popping sounding in the joints but she is not locking and not dragging either leg behind her. We will know more with her in about a week as the ligament shrinks......
That is your report for now, and now I need to go fix dinner.
Linda
GRANDMA SENDS KISSES TO HER PRECIOUS GIRL, AND HUGS TO DAVID AND LINDA FOR THEIR PART IN HER TREATMENT!
I had emailed Dr. Laura Harris again this morning and upon my email she has decided she want to inject Madeline's stifle NOW. She is coming out tonight to inject Madeline's one rear leg with the iodine solution. It keeps locking, as it did most of last week and was still doing so most of this weekend. It will sting like hell for about 3 days she says.......
Maddie has the problem with both rear legs, but the one is the one that keeps stifle sticking so I believe Laura's plan it to only inject that one........but she may do both, I'll know more tonight at 5:00 pm when she comes. We'll keep you posted.
Linda
AND HERE IS LINDA'S E-MAIL REPORT TO ME AFTER THE INJECTION:
Hi Susan,
Madeline is just now coming around out of sedation. Laura injected both rear legs all three ligaments in each of the two legs with the almond oil and iodine. Madeline was really good for her, and listened as we worked with her, held her head between my legs which for her is a comfort zone.
Laura said it will burn for the next 2 to 3 days. David will have to take her out in the morning for a 1 1/2 mile walk before he goes to work, she said she won't want to go tomorrow because it will burn but she has too. Then I have to do the same with her tomorrow night when I get home as she said she HAS to walk and use the muscles in the legs tomorrow as it will be important for the day following the injections.
She said the ligaments will scar and shrink from the injection which will relieve the leg from sticking and locking and it will take about 5 to 7 to 10 days to notice that difference. Then in 30 days depending on how much the ligaments shrink down on both legs, she may have to do it one more time on both legs in May. If this one time does the trick then she won't have too.
If after the second time the one leg is still not working like normal then she will have to go in surgically and cut at the ligament on that one leg. Laura is hoping with how Madeline reacts with this first treatment and how it turns out that only the injections will be needed times one or two cycles.
Right now, she is up, she is putting weight on both legs now, it's still popping sounding in the joints but she is not locking and not dragging either leg behind her. We will know more with her in about a week as the ligament shrinks......
That is your report for now, and now I need to go fix dinner.
Linda
GRANDMA SENDS KISSES TO HER PRECIOUS GIRL, AND HUGS TO DAVID AND LINDA FOR THEIR PART IN HER TREATMENT!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
