I took blind Chance and our old mule, Lonesome George, in to Dr. Bill Brown's clinic in Missoula today so they could have their second round of chemotherapy. Both equines have lymphoma, and Bill recently learned about a new treatment protocol for this cancer from Ohio State University's School of Veterinary Medicine. There are two drugs involved, and each week we alternate between them. The second drug, cytoxan, needs to be administered intravenously, which is why we were at Bill's clinic.
In the first photo you can see the IV bags hanging from the horse stock, with the tubes running to the catheters in each animal's neck. Chance was really bored by this whole exercise, and spent most of his time in the stock yawning, rubbing his head on the post, trying to untie George, and ... failing that ... trying to untie the string holding the IV bags up. If you click on the second photo to view the larger image, you can see Chance has the string in his mouth and he's pulling on it for all it's worth.
Now, bear in the mind that he's blind, he has no eyes in his head, and he has lymphoma as well. Yet he's acting like any other horse. That's what we love about these guys ... they don't ever feel sorry for themselves, they just like to enjoy life, and that means being a horsey goofball at times.
(Click on photos for larger image.)
Chance is cracking me up! Animals are amazing. Even in the toughest of situations, they can be playful.
I truly hope these treatments will provide them with a happier, healthier, longer life.
Posted by: Mandy, Laramie, WY | February 08, 2006 at 06:51 PM
These two are so wonderful. I am hoping for all the best for them and that the new treatment will work.
Posted by: Leigh | February 08, 2006 at 04:21 PM