Supping on Supplements

Because of Odin's heart condition (see my other blog), I got curious about the massive amounts of money I am outlaying to the vets and the herb/supplement companies. Although the total adds up (for all pets) to a whopping $225/month, only $30 of that is Mercury, $125 is Willig, and $70 is Odin with his heart stuff. I didn't count cats because I don't feed theirs consistently. I'm hoping to cut Willig back (way back), but it will depend on if the hives come back.
Speaking of, not a hive on his body. He is clean as a whistle. Well - hive-wise. He is doing really well with turnout and all the "new" stuff there is to look at - traffic, lots of other horses, a house, a kubota ... but he has discovered the pleasure of rolling and then me cleaning it off.
He's doing really well on the lunge line, and I rode him yesterday and today (briefly, because I have NO leg muscles after two months of not riding at all, and basically 6 months of riding minimally). He's putting his head up like a giraffe a lot, and he really spends a lot of time looking to the outside (at stuff - not just balancing to the outside), but I'm pleased considering I only had a few lessons on him, and Bob didn't really get to spend much time riding him because of the hives. I really like his personality, but it will remain to be seen if he is too much horse for me on my own. I don't want to ruin him, but I'd really like to keep him.
Mercury is a sweetheart. Holy horse. He has been on stall rest his entire first week at the new barn, and the other boarders are marveling at how calm he is. I can plop a foot in a bucket and then wander off and do stuff (thank goodness - after two weeks of soaking each foot 15 min/day, I am SO tired of soaking feet), and he just stands there. The left front hoof (the one that had the shoe the longest) had a soft spot mid-week that I poked with the hoof pick and more pus and blood came out. Two days later, I squeezed more out with just my thumb, so I think that one needs another week of soaking. The right front foot (the one that hasn't had a shoe for about 8 weeks now and that had the monster abscess) seems to be almost completely healed. There is just one tiny sensitive spot. I have heard from two people that this winter has been really bad for abscesses.
I hope this week we can put shoes back on (and trim poor Merc's feet), and then this weekend he can start getting turned out. Then his next shoeing we'll put pads on and keep them on so this doesn't happen again.

Willig and Mercury moved to a new barn

It has been a very stressful two weeks. In addition to Odin being diagnosed with DCM (a heart condition, on the other blog), two openings came available at the barn I put the boys on a waitlist for, in case Willig's hives didn't clear up. I decided to move them, which was a really hard decision to make.
We also got the blood work back from Willig's allergy and blood tests. His liver, kidney, and thyroid results were normal. And his allergies - he was tested for about 100 of the most common - were not enlightening. He was allergic to about 5 things - three pollens, none of which are out right now; a grass which doesn't grow here; and that pyrethionine stuff that is in some fly sprays, which isn't being used on him right now. And those were "positive" results, but not "highly positive." It is fantastic news that he doesn't need allergy shots and doesn't have severe problems, but leaves the question of his hives a mystery.
He is looking great though! Last Wed or Thurs - 2-3 days before he moved - he cleared up almost totally. There were just a few scattered, very small hives.
A few more came back on Saturday morning, before he moved.
He is getting used to the new barn, but he's stressed out by it. There's more horses, more going on, and he goes in and out during the day. There's also more traffic nearby. I lunged him each day he's been there - he's been walking around, and he's getting much better. He's really antsy in the cross-ties, but I think it's just because there's so much to look at. Someone was jumping on Sunday, so I turned one jump into a little lunging jump, and he did FABULOUS! He also liked having something extra to think about - he was able to focus and not look around so much.
I'm going to work with the new farrier to get his feet back in shape. I didn't notice until this week, but the farrier we were using cut his feet too short and small. I think that's why he hasn't been able to move out in the front.
Poor Mercury had abscesses in both front feet that burst last week. He got really, suddenly lame on the left front, and the next day Dr. Mike came out and started that abscess draining. Then the next day, the farrier (two weeks late) was out, and his hoof that has been without a shoe for six weeks had a HUGE abscess. It was a ton of blood and pus. So he is sans shoes on both front feet, now three weeks overdue to have his feet done, and I am soaking every day in betadine and epsom salts. They are still soft, so it is at least another week before he gets shoes back on.
I've put him back on biotin, and once his feet are totally healed, he'll get pads on the front at least to keep this from happening again.
Next weekend I'll take pictures of them in their new home. It's a very professionally run barn, and I'm looking forward to being able to ride them both again. I won't be able to show this year, but if I can sell or lease Mercury, I hope that next spring I can buy a truck and trailer and show next season.

Hivey McHivealot

Yesterday Willig started on Platinum - the performance and allergy supplements. He started equi-derm at the beginning of the week.
His hives look a lot better. They are almost gone on his body (though there's a few small ones), but he has a fair amount on his neck. There are lots of them, but they are small.
Some hair is falling out on his legs from the swelling over the weekend, but the swelling has gone down. Yesterday he was feeling really energetic.