On Saturday morning, as we were taking horses out to pasture, we found blind Rosie could barely walk. She looked so painful we suspected she was beginning to founder, a terrible and often life-threatening condition in which the coffin bone in the hoof rotates downwards. Rosie has always had foot problems; she has very thin soles, so she has had to wear shoes, boots, and pads at various times, and requires special trimming. After cleaning her hooves to make sure there wasn't a stone or pebble lodged inside that might be bruising her soles, I took her heart rate (elevated) and temperature (elevated), and then called our new equine vet, Dr. Steve Levine at Northern Equine.
Steve happened to be out on Saturday rounds that morning and was over here a short while later. After doing an initial exam, he ruled out founder and believed she might have an abscess in her left front foot. But at first there was no visible sign of an abscess. After paring back her hoof tissue, though, Steve found it -- and that was a relief. The last thing we wanted was a case of founder.
Once he drained and treated the abscess, he proceeded to wrap her foot. When he got done, I looked down and saw Rosie was now wearing a beautiful bandage in perfect Santa colors! Out of season, perhaps, but very stylish nonetheless!
Hmmm, another aspect of the move that I didn't think of until now - the transfer of all those veterinary records to the new vets! Talk about some serious paperwork!
Posted by: Heidi, Emmett the Beagle, and Moxie the kitty | July 01, 2010 at 11:03 PM
I'm glad Rosie's foot problem was a rather easy injury to fix. Hope she's feeling much better today. Thank you good Dr. Levine; nice work and a little Christmas cheer never hurts. : )
Posted by: boundforglory | July 01, 2010 at 11:11 AM
Seems Rosie is doing her Christmas in July. I'm so happy that Dr. Levine was able to come right out on the weekend to find Rosie's problem & get her all fixed up so she can feel better. Did she get a Santa cap with the bootie?
Big hugs all around,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger | July 01, 2010 at 03:37 AM
So happy that you have a wonderful, caring new vet and that he was able to get out to the ranch so quickly. It's wonderful that Rosie didn't have founder and the abscess was easily treated so she can be on her way to a quick recovery.
And that is one fashionable boot! :)
Posted by: Ann | July 01, 2010 at 02:48 AM
Aahh Xmas in July! ok well June. It's almost July. If Rosie could only see how styling she looks!! Thanks Dr. Steve for making I'm sure one of many house calls!!
Posted by: Laura, Levi & Timmy | June 30, 2010 at 11:39 PM
Love Dr. Steve's sense of colour and style! Rosie, hope you are feeling better real soon!
Posted by: Nina | June 30, 2010 at 10:33 PM
So happy to read that Rosie is on the mend. Can you say "Christmas In July" Absolutely love the wrap!The NH RDR is getting underway!!
Posted by: Doe George | June 30, 2010 at 09:45 PM
Poor Rosie/Lucky Rosie, that Dr. Steve could come by and come by quickly! Thank you, Dr. Steve!
Posted by: Vicki Small | June 30, 2010 at 09:02 PM
That's some stylin' footwear Miss Rosie! Glad you are on the mend.
Posted by: Ev | June 30, 2010 at 02:07 PM
Oh Rosie, speedy recovery beautiful girl!
Posted by: Sasha in MN | June 30, 2010 at 11:22 AM
and so it begins....New Hampshire style!
I wonder if you included the fact that they will become celebrities when you interviewed potential Vets.
Nice to meet you Dr. Levine! I hope you had time to walk around and meet all your new patients.
Is that Bo supervising??
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | June 30, 2010 at 10:41 AM
I sure hope she recovers well. Such a pretty girl!
Posted by: Suzanne | June 30, 2010 at 10:41 AM
Glad Rosie's doing better. But can we hear about Alayne's homecoming and how it was for her to be greeted by the animals at their new home? I would love to hear how excited the animals were to have "mom" home!
Posted by: Taz | June 30, 2010 at 10:33 AM
I bet Dr. Levine didn't know his photo would be on the web when he came out to help Rosie today. Welcome to the new doc. Glad Rosie is on the mend.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | June 30, 2010 at 09:57 AM
Bless you, bless you, Rosie. I hate that your were hurting.
It is wonderful to know Dr. Levine was so quick to respond, came to you, and was so great with Rosie.
Great to know you have such a good team in place for all the "children".
Posted by: Glenda | June 30, 2010 at 08:45 AM
Phew, so glad it wasn't founder. Welcome to Dr. Levine, glad he was in the area and had the quick answer. Heal up Rosie so you can get back to running.
Posted by: Dee in KY | June 30, 2010 at 07:07 AM
All new relationship building at RDR NH! Cute booties for Rosie!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | June 30, 2010 at 12:52 AM
Poor girl. Glad it was more easily treated. Dr. should get an award for fancy package wrapping!
Posted by: Reta Davis | June 30, 2010 at 12:46 AM
These local folks don't know what they've gotten themselves into with RDR. Do they know they will become wed sensations?
A good, no a great, idea for a future blog would be introducing the new med team to us out west. I live in Great Falls and always wanted to visit but never made the time and now you've left the neighborhood. Oh well...I have very good friends in Clairmont, NH and I haven't seen them in years and a visit seems in order for next summer. It's only 2 hours away once I hit Clairmont....I'll call first.
Hugs to all!
Posted by: Craig from Great Falls | June 29, 2010 at 11:33 PM
When did you dye your beard and start wearing glasses?
Posted by: Ray the Blind Dog | June 29, 2010 at 10:14 PM
I'm so glad the vet was available for Rosie and that she wasn't foundering! I see she still has her identification on her halter. Happy Holidays!
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | June 29, 2010 at 09:28 PM
Oh Rosie,
That sounds so painful. Looks like you will be in good hands with Dr. Levine though.
Rest up...what a beautiful girl you are.
Posted by: Chloe | June 29, 2010 at 08:22 PM
Poor Rosie-girl! Hopefully Dr Steve's skilled hands will help her feel better soon. Was this his first visit out to RDR Part Deaux? Does he know what he's in for with this crazy wonderful bunch?
Posted by: Heidi, Emmett the Beagle, and Moxie the kitty | June 29, 2010 at 07:59 PM
Sorry to hear about Rosie's foot issue but am very happy that you have found another wonderful vet in New Hampshire!
Posted by: Leah | June 29, 2010 at 07:58 PM
It is so nice to know that you already have people in the right places to help in the time of need. We still need a porch picture and we will be very patient, I bet it seems nice to have all togather again. Bless you all and thank you for all the wonderful pictures!
Posted by: Kathy and Harley | June 29, 2010 at 07:27 PM
Oh My Gosh!! A vet visit that you didn't have to trailer sweet Rosie to!! Yeah! That would have been a painful trip for her. Welcome Dr. Levine. Thank you for the quick work and stylish wrapping on Miss Rosie Toes (I had a pet named Rosie and called her Rosie-toes and it seemed fitting for this Rosie too). I am glad you could get out to RDR so quickly on a weekend. Steve & Alayne are so busy at this time and it is nice to know how close you are, and that you do farm calls on weekends. Thanks!! Anne
Posted by: Anne in FL | June 29, 2010 at 07:16 PM