We had noticed our blind mare Lena was lying down more than normal in her corral this past week, but it was usually in early afternoon when it was warmest -- and she wasn't showing signs of any other problems. So we weren't sure what to make of it. But by Saturday afternoon she was gimpy and ouchy on her feet, and our first thought was founder, or laminitis, a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition. Having been through this before with other horses, we knew what to do for initial care: get her in a dry stall with a thick, soft bed of wood shavings as a cushion for her feet; control her diet; and get bute, an anti-inflammatory medication, in her. As Alayne led Lena out of the corral and down to the barn (named, appropriately enough, Lena's Barn), I called one of our equine vets, Dr. Angela Langer, and left her a voicemail.
While we walked Lena down the drive, we noticed that suddenly she picked up her pace, she didn't seem ouchy at all, and she had a nice little swing to her gait. Hmm, we thought, maybe she's not foundering. When Angela called back, she said she suspected what we were starting to wonder ourselves: Lena may have just been standing around too much on ice and snow. Angela said she'd seen a number of "ouchy" horses in recent weeks for this reason. Lena has a very nice, fully enclosed shed in her corral, where there is no ice or snow on the floor inside, but for some reason she's not spending enough time in there and too much time outside. And the more she stands on the ice and snow, not moving, the stiffer she gets.
So the "treatment" is pretty much the same as it would be for laminitis: Stall rest on thick wood shavings, a controlled diet (just in case), and bute. Which brings us to the subject of this post: beautiful blind Lena getting her medication today. I don't care if it's apple-flavored or molasses-flavored, some horses won't fall for the flavoring trick and instinctively know it's just medicine -- and they want nothing to do with it. In the photo above, I had just started squirting the bute paste in Lena's mouth.
Next came the "squeeze play" -- holding her mouth closed to keep her from spitting it out:
And finally, the "hold 'em high" maneuver to help get it swallowed:
Frankly, I'd rather medicate a horse any day than try to get a pill in a cat. But that's a subject for another day.
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For those who missed blind Willie's return, you can read it here.
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Lynda, you can buy Pill Pockets at PetsMart or Petco, and probably other places....they are just like a treat with a hole in it...you stick the pill in the hole and it's pliable, so you can squish the treat together to cover the pill. Good Luck!
Leila
Posted by: Leila - Washington | February 04, 2010 at 12:01 AM
My neighbor had a cat that needed liquid meds, and she asked for my help in adminstering. First we'd have to chase the cat from under the bed, catch the cat and wrap her in a towel, and I'd give the medicine (my friend got to hold the cat, who would show us the full repetoire of hissing, spitting, and fury. That cat was MAD. My friend tried it the nice way first and since the cat really needed the meds, there was no time to "negotiate."
Posted by: Adele in the Bronx | February 01, 2010 at 07:01 PM
Dogs are so easy (and naive).....just wrap that pill in a piece of lunch meat or cheese or shove it in a bit of hot dog and it is gone in a flash. Cats are far to clever to fall for such tricks!
Posted by: Marla | February 01, 2010 at 06:10 PM
The cat & the pill thing is not all that bad once you & kitty get the hang of it. Just takes practice & something tells me you can do it if you can give a horse medicine. I gave pills for over 7 years, 2x a day to my Sasha who is at Rainbow Bridge now. I won't say it was all smooth sailing but after a few tries we got it down (no pun intended)!!!
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | February 01, 2010 at 03:20 PM
Debbie, what are pill pockets? Where can I buy them?
Thanks.
Posted by: Lynda | February 01, 2010 at 02:37 PM
To Steve and all those who have a hard time giving pills to cats: I've discovered Pill Pockets which makes giving pills to cats so amazingly simple! The cats just think they are a snack. Don't suppose they make them big enough for horses!! :-)
Posted by: Leila - Washington | February 01, 2010 at 02:02 PM
Oh lord! I cannot imagine trying to get a horse to take flavored paste! I am a bit of a star when it comes to giving pills to dogs, but last year our vet gave us a wormer in an oral solution. What a mess! After two weeks, the dogs still had worms and the next medication was dispensed in a pill form. Worms gone, no problem. I have to believe the reason that the oral solution didn't work might have been because it was on the kitchen floor, the dogs' fur, the walls, my pants - in short, everywhere but IN the dogs.
Can't you give Bute in a shot?
Posted by: Vickie | February 01, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Even my vet cannot get my cat to take a pill! He tried several times and then gave up.
Posted by: Chloe | February 01, 2010 at 12:42 PM
I've never medicated a horse, but I'm totally on board with you about giving a pill to a cat. Also very glad Lena is doing alright! I'd be stiff in that temperature myself!
Posted by: Dawn | February 01, 2010 at 10:51 AM
Ha, I agree with the cat & pills issue, but I would rather give a cat a pill than a liquid medicine. My cat used to just hold it in her mouth, then when I let her go she would shake her head & spew medicine all over the house. What a mess. Good luck with Lena!
Posted by: Kathy | February 01, 2010 at 10:09 AM
I so relate to these photos... trying to administer bute to the big, big draft horses at Horses' Haven where I volunteer! We have your same technique, that is certain! We read that lavender has a calming effect on animals as well as people. We started to put a dab of pure lavender oil on our wrists before administering meds. For some of the horses, we actually found that they were a bit calmer and put their heads down! Amazing!
Posted by: Kari | February 01, 2010 at 09:30 AM
I totally agree about giving pills to cats. (We have three cats.)
Posted by: Lynda | February 01, 2010 at 09:13 AM
Looks like a tough job, Steve. I agree about pilling cats, though...I'd rather medicate a rabid wolverine!! Have you tried Pill Pockets for the cats? So far I have had good luck with them....
Posted by: Debbie | February 01, 2010 at 07:40 AM
Whahaha... the movements are similar but why is it always SO much more difficult with the ever gracious-just-not-for-pills felines??
Good to hear that Lena is otherwise ok, but for the winter...
Posted by: Jessica, NL | February 01, 2010 at 05:50 AM
Pills and cats don't mix well together:))) I only have one cat, and every time she needs medicine (in pills) it's harder on me than on her:))
Posted by: Sandra | February 01, 2010 at 04:51 AM