Copper Kid Comes Home From The Hospital

I went to the vet hospital in Missoula today to pick up Copper Kid, our young Quarter Horse who went down in the pasture last Friday.  Copper came to us three years ago because he had a neurological condition called cervical vertebral instability, more commonly called Wobbler Syndrome.  You can read his original story here.  In the past two years his condition had dramatically improved, and he was able to gallop across the pasture like a regular horse.  He would even rear up on his hind legs in the corral while he was playing with another of our sighted horses.  We didn't consider him disabled any longer.

So when he went down on Friday, we were stunned.  What an incredible, devastating setback.  We found him lying on the ground on his left side, his right legs pawing at the air.  He was able to get up finally, and we slowly walked him back to the barns and loaded him into the horse trailer.  But he was clearly struggling to maintain his balance; he didn't know where his feet were in space.

Since Friday night he's been under the wonderful care of Dr. Erin Taylor, a board-certified veterinary surgeon, at Blue Mountain Veterinary Hospital. Today I also took our blind mare Lena in to see Dr. Taylor for a respiratory issue.  Here is Dr. Taylor listening to Lena's breathing, prior to performing some other tests.  She diagnosed Lena as having a mild case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  As a result, we now have a treatment plan for Lena to follow.

Once we finished Lena's exam, we moved on to the main event ... getting Copper home.  As you'll see in this video below that I took of Dr. Taylor and her vet tech, Courtney, walking Copper out to the trailer, he remains very compromised.  Look at how he crosses his feet, sways, drags his hooves, and generally seems not to know where his feet are.  (Courtney is holding his tail to help him balance.)  These are the classic signs of cervical vertebral instability.  This condition is classified into five grades, ranging from one -- barely noticeable -- to five, where the animal is down and unable to get up.  Copper is now a four.  Very, very serious.  And he's only 6 years old.

We have three options for Copper.  One is euthanasia, which we don't think is necessary because he's not in any pain and he is still clearly ambulatory ... if very wobbly!  The second option is spine stabilization surgery, which is an $8,000 to $10,000 procedure performed by an equine surgeon in California who specializes in this particular neurosurgery.  Yikes!  The operation would be done at Washington State University's veterinary teaching hospital in Pullman and the surgeon would fly in there to do it.  The third option is strict stall rest and a regimen of anti-inflammatories while we wait to see if he improves with time.  Time can do a lot to help.

Erin said the neurosurgeon would want to wait a few weeks anyway to see if Copper stabilizes a little more on his own.  If we proceeded with the surgical option, we would have to take Copper to WSU for a myelogram first.  The WSU vets would send the myelogram images to the neurosurgeon in California for review, who would then decide if Copper was, in fact, a good candidate for surgery.  It's possible he might conclude that surgery wouldn't really help, given the severity of his condition.  Dr. Taylor said the goal of the surgery would be to lower his grade by at least one and hopefully two levels, i.e., from a Grade 4 to a 3 or even 2.  Can we afford that surgery?  Can we justify it?  I don't know.  Like I said:  Yikes.

So that's where we are at this point.  We're really hoping that nature will ride to the rescue again and re-stabilize this handsome youngster all on his own.  But he is so much worse than when he first arrived, that's unlikely.  Despite how he looks in this video, he was still standing in the trailer when we got home!

Comments

[Tyler Kechely]

Thank God he is with you guys, where he is given a chance to be taken care of. Thank you guys for what you do. God is definately being honored by the work you do. Thank you for giving these animals a chance!

[Lona]

Copper is one beautiful and handsome horse, and it breaks my heart to know his condition worsened. Hang in there Copper, this may be God's way of testing you, and I know you will pass with flying colors. My prayers are with you, and your guardian angels that watch over you. May you have a speedy recovery and be back out running in the pature soon. I'm sending lots of prayers, hugs,and kisses your way. God Bless You!!

[Lisa]

a neurological condition resembling the human condition MS??

[Lisa]

Zippy acts like he has a neurological problem that mimics Multiple Sclerosis

[Kathy S.]

My heart goes out to Copper Kid and all the animals you care for. You are doing wonderful things out there for them all. Our prayers and thoughts go out to Copper Kid, Lena and all the animals. Keep up the good work. Kathy & Cowboy

[Beverly]

Be strong Copper! Everyone is sending loving thoughts and healing prayers your way. What a brave boy you are. I hope you're back grazing in the sunshine and lush pastures soon.Hugs and kisses to you sweet boy!

[Shirley & James]

The video of Copper Kid pierced my heart. Time will tell what direction you will need to take for this beautiful horse. In the meantime there are lots of good energy and prayers coming Copper Kid's way.

[Patty]

Yes, a Copper Kid Wellness Fund is a good idea! That is so sad to watch - he is such a beautiful boy!

[ginger & Tobias (the greythound)]

Copper Kid is so brave to be walking when he doesn't know where his feet are. I certainly hope that time will bring him back to the great shape he was previously in. The video was just heart wrenching, but important to see, as now we know what he's experiencing. He's in the right place to get the best love & care.
Sending special hugs,
ginger & the critters

[Priscilla Smith]

You are in my prayers, Copper. Be strong and keep the faith. A speedy and full recovery to you.
Hugs and Kisses to Copper.

[Margaret]

Likewise... totally hope Copper Kid improves without surgery. But if thats his best course, we'll certainly help.

[Mircat]

I think you should put it out to the world about a Copper Kid Wellness Fund and start collecting donations. If Mother Nature decides to help this boy then the fund could be put in a special emergency surgery account because sure as the sunrises, there will be another need down the road if not for him then someone else and it would be ready.

Sending wishes to the Cosmos to heal Copper Kid. Good luck everyone!
Mircat

[Boundforglory]

I'm sorry to hear that Copper's case has become so severe! I certainly hope he'll be better with stall rest and anti-inflammatories. We're sending him healing thoughts.

Glad you have a treatment plan for Lena. Thanks for your help Dr. Taylor!

[Mary Ware]

Copper Kid looks so sweet. If only he could have a little more input as to where his legs and hooves are taking him. He seems very strong and I hope the stall rest will get him back to his best normal. If not, I hope the surgery will be successful and he will be able to go out to the pastures again.
I'm know there are a bunch of us out here that would love to give extra to a Copper Kid Wellness Fund to be sure he has every chance if surgery becomes necessary.
I'm very, very glad that Lena is doing good.
Mary

[Janet]

Copper Kid, It must terrible not knowing where your feet are. I wish you a speedy recovery. You're in the best place for a recovery. I kiss your sweet face.

[Jessica, NL]

O my, what a beautiful horse and what a scary thing to see him float along like that. It's wonderful that he does, don't get me wrong, but I'd only seen your wobbly dog videos and they sort of bounce... This handsome guy weighs way too much for bouncing :-(. Keeping my fingers crossed for him.

[Carla Polastro-Nigro]

He's such a young and handsome horse, it breaks my heart to see him walk that way!:-(

I'll certaintly keep him in my thoughts and prayers, hoping he'll be feeling better soon.

[Laura Whale]

Oh Copper!!! I started crying as I read this blog and saw the video!! He has gotten worse. Copper was one of the very first horses I groomed the first time I came to volunteer over 3 years ago!!! He is such a handsome boy. I know he is in great hands. I will give him some xtra loving this weekend!!

[Karen]

Thanks for the update on Copper. You'll be in our thoughts over the next few weeks - will be hoping his time in stall rest will do the trick for him.