Spence's Journey

Spence's Journey

 On Tuesday May 7th Spence and I headed up to Perry,Ga to visit the vets at Equine Associates, LLC. The entire way there I fretted about poor Spence's right eye and once we were there the news wasn't much better than what I had prepared myself to handle. Spence underwent some basic testing and has been diagnosed with fungal keratitis in his right eye. After going over the options, I decided to bring Spence home and treat him with eye ointment three times a day. This way he is still able to maintain a normal routine of turnout with his buddies and stay in work...fingers crossed this keeps his stress level down while we figure out how well this treatment will work.

Day 1

Today we started the at home treatments. For the first couple of days Spence is on Banamine (a pain killer and inflammation reducer) to help him be more comfortable as well as having the fungacide ointment applied to his eye 3 times a day. Today was rough...sticking things in the eye of a horse is not easy! I remained calm though and we made it through. Today was Spence's first day back to work as well, so I started out slow and put him on the lunge line to get used to having to wear his fly mask during work. He was perfect about it!

Day 2

Today's treatments went about as well as Day 1...not great. We did go to work under saddle today, however, and Spence was right back to his old self...even with his fly mask. The last treatment of the day was fairly late and most certainly the most difficult...cue the meltdown. I just keep praying that this will work.

Day 3 and 4

We have finally made a break through!! I believe Spence and I have come to an understanding....cookie, eye treatment, another cookie. You got it, Spence...if it makes you happy enough to let me poke around your eye!

Day 5

The treatments are still going well and some of the brightness is coming back into Spence's right eye. Please continue to pray that this works for us!
   

 

 Spence being a trooper about working in his fly mask:)

Weekend #2

Sorry I haven't updated for a couple of days...between Spence's treatments 3 times a day and work I haven't had much time for anything other than collapsing when I get home. Spence has become incredibly tolerable of the medication in his eye, as long as it is followed up by a treat of course. His eye is starting to look brighter and he is squinting much less but I'm not convinced that there is a huge change in the opaqueness of the cornea. I have been known to see things as far worse though so fingers crossed I just can't tell because I see him everyday...we'll have to have Mike look at it again tomorrow. As far as day to day life though, Spence has been great. He is loving working again! He actually offered up lots of collected canter transitions yesterday and had a blast getting to ride with other horses in the arena. Which ever path we end up going down I know that work will continue to brighten his day and as long as I can laugh off the little spooks we'll be good as gold. I feel so blessed to have a horse that truly lights up about getting to work and who gives his all every ride...after the warm up that is! I'm also really lucky that he doesn't mind working in his fly mask...I'm working on finding a better fly mask for riding so that we can switch between them so if anyone has any suggestions of brands you like please share! If things don't start to improve more this week we'll be headed back to the vet to decide on our next course of treatment...good thing I paid off our first bill to make room for the next one....love you Spence!