Cindy got this shot of our Belgian draft horse Beaver on Friday after giving him an oral anti-inflammatory paste called bute. Day after day last week, he would stand there after getting his medication and do this ... for several minutes. For horses, that's a fairly common expression you see when they smell or taste something new or different or, in this case, something they'd rather not have squirted in their mouths.
For two years now, we have been treating Beaver for a large sarcoid tumor on his belly. This is probably the worst location for one of these things because whenever he lies down, it gets squished under his tremendous weight and gets into contact with the ground as well. It's almost impossible to keep it bandaged, too, so keeping it clean is not really feasible, either. We tried two completely different treatment protocols but neither has worked, and the tumor continues to become infected and inflamed. Hence the bute paste for his latest flare-up.
Our equine vet, Dr. Erin Taylor, learned of an entirely new treatment for sarcoids that was recently pioneered by researchers at the University of Minnesota in a pilot study, so I will be trailering Beaver in to Erin's clinic on Monday to begin that protocol. I will post more on Beaver's treatment tomorrow.
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Good news on wobbly blind Briggs: His biopsy results came back as clean as the endoscopy was.
Yea Briggs. Sorry Beaver about the yuck!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | January 21, 2009 at 09:10 PM
I read the other post on Beaver's treatment. I wish him well. Wonderful news about Briggs. I'm happy nothing was found!
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | January 20, 2009 at 07:36 AM
Beaver looks like he just got a look at the latest stock market report - - what a great face. :)
Posted by: Moon Rani | January 19, 2009 at 03:52 PM
Good news on Briggs. Hope all goes well with Beaver.
Posted by: Anita Maloney | January 19, 2009 at 02:29 PM
Great news about Briggs. I love the photo!
Posted by: Maria Rose | January 19, 2009 at 08:52 AM
Good new re: Briggs! and poor Beaver - thinking of him! Will he have to stay away from the ranch during the new treatment?
Posted by: Julien Sharp | January 19, 2009 at 08:31 AM
I'm delighted to hear that Briggs got the all clear! Yipee!
Now let's hope the new protocol treatment for Beaver will be a great success! We're pulling for you Beaver! (How did a great horse like him get a funky name like that?!?)
Big warm hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger | January 19, 2009 at 03:11 AM
Way to go, sweet Briggs!:-)
Steve, please keep us posted about Beaver's new protocol. In the meantime, I'll be praying it works.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | January 19, 2009 at 01:25 AM
Glad to hear Briggs' results are fine.
Beaver looks sooo thrilled and cute at the same time!!!Here's hoping that this new protocol will serve Beaver well. How old is he?
Posted by: Nina | January 18, 2009 at 06:12 PM