He's Not Lonesome George, But He's Close

Ever since we lost our beloved old mule Lonesome George last year, Alayne and I have felt like something was missing around the ranch.  We felt, well, mule-less.  We didn't realize it until he died, but George had turned us into 'mule people.'  Amidst the hundreds of calls and emails to take animals over the past year, we patiently waited for someone to call us about an old mule who needed a home.  Someone finally did.  The description sounded just like George:  sweet, gentle, friendly, easy-going.  And occasionally mulish.

This is Roy, and he is definitely old.  When he first arrived a couple of weeks ago, we could tell just by looking at him that he was downright uncomfortable, if not painful.  The way he walked, the way he stood still, the way he was always trying to rest one foot or another -- something was wrong.  For one thing, his hooves were in bad shape.  Poorly trimmed, his rear hooves in particular looked more like short stovepipes.  But his joints seemed to be quite painful, too.

Our equine vet, Dr. Erin Taylor, had looked at Roy for the first time when she was at the ranch the previous week.  She diagnosed him as having ringbone -- a severe arthritic condition -- in at least one leg and she suspected other problems in multiple joints in all four legs, but said we'd need to take X-rays to know for sure what was happening.

Erin also told us the kind of corrective trimming and shoeing Roy needed on his feet, so our farrier came out yesterday to work on Roy's hooves.  We could immediately see an improvement in this sweet old boy's gait.

On my way to Pullman, Washington, this afternoon to pick up Copper Kid at WSU, I dropped Roy off at Erin's clinic, Blue Mountain Veterinary Hospital.  Erin was going to do further exams and take the X-rays we needed.  In the first photo above, Erin is feeling Roy's stifle joint while vet tech Courtney holds him.

Demonstrating that he is indeed a mule, Roy hit the brakes when Courtney tried to lead him into the stall.  I handed the camera to Erin so I could assist by patting him on the rump with the broom.  Erin decided to turn the tables on me and started taking photos of the action. 

As we continued to plead, cajole and pat the mule fanny with the broom, Erin stepped behind me and got this interesting shot of Courtney tugging on said mule from one end, and the broom-on-bottom at the other end.  It worked, and Roy entered the stall a few seconds later.  (Hey, this was the second time he'd been in the stall, so he was just being a mule about it!)

I left Roy there, and Erin said she'd call me once she had all the X-rays taken and evaluated.

A few hours later I was heading down Fourth of July Pass in the Idaho panhandle, just east of Coeur d'Alene, when my cellphone rang.  It was Erin.  All she said was, "He's a walking arthritic nightmare."  Oh, no.

Sure enough, virtually all of his joints are inflamed with severe arthritis.  No wonder he looked like he was in pain.  He was.

Fortunately, the treatment is simple and straightforward:  inject his joints with cortisone.  We have an old, sighted Appaloosa named Crazy Horse who we almost euthanized two years ago because he could barely walk, his joints were so bad.  We had tried all the fancy, expensive injectable joint drugs out there -- Adequan and Legend, among them.  Nothing worked.  Then we tried cortisone.  The day after we injected his joints with cortisone, he was trotting across the pasture.  We couldn't believe it.  He's needed only two rounds of the cortisone injections in two years, so we have become big fans of this therapy. 

There is some risk, because too much steroids can cause an equine to founder, but given what we now know about Roy's condition, it's a risk worth taking.  This is a treatment that he absolutely needed. 

So Erin was going to inject Roy's joints this afternoon, and I will pick him up tomorrow on my way back to the ranch with Copper.

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Yes, Copper's finally coming home.  He tested negative for EPM, unfortunately, so we have nothing else we can do for him except manage his Wobbler's the best we can.

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(Click on photos for larger image.)

Comments

[Shirley & James, Portland, OR]

Roy is going to feel so much better soon! Poor guy he needs this type of treatment in his elder years. These animals are the lucky ones--although I know you and Alayne feel lucky. Look forward to hearing how he responds.

[Nina]

So glad to hear there is treatment that will help old Roy....he is definitely at the right place!

Welcome back, Copper!

[Janet]

Mules are wonderful creatures.

Best of luck on your steroid treatments, Roy. I've seen it work wonders on horses I've worked with, too.

And, welcome back home, Copper.

[Boundforglory]

I'm glad Roy found his way to you; his poor joints need some RDR attention! Welcome Roy!
I hope he's hee-hawing around the pastures soon...won't that be a nice sound again?
With time, rest and love, I do hope Copper becomes more mobile so he can enjoy the ranch to its fullest once again. Everyone is rooting for you, handsome Copper.