Losing Lizzie

Lizzie --- 1991 to October 26, 2013

I've been really depressed lately, all things considered.  As most of you know, Lizzie, my mare, was euthanized after her surgery Saturday night at LSU after they informed me that her recovery would have been lengthy and in fact she would have been unlikely to actually recover.  She was 22 years old with Cushings disease, she had 22 feet of intestines removed in that surgery, septicemia (an infected bloodstream), and laminitis in her feet.  Poor baby.  So she was euthanized while still under anesthetic.  She's going to be cremated and I will get at least part of her ashes back.  I guess it's a bit peculiar, but I'll feel a little better once I have those remains of her back with me.

 

When we took Lizzie away to LSU, Arthur (our mule) began throwing a hissy fit!  He stood at the gate leading out to the horse trailer and brayed incredibly loudly over night.  The next day he began checking in her stall, then running along the fence and calling LOUDLY, then he would stand there for a little while and wait to see if she was going to answer.  Then he'd run further down and do it again.  And again.  And again.  Finally, by mid-week he began hanging out right next to Duke constantly.  He even went into Duke's stall with him and joined him in eating his hay -- something Duke NEVER allowed until now!  I guess even HE was sorry for Arthur.  But now the two of them have begun to behave pretty much as usual - except they're still together all the time.

 

Then on Wednesday, Boo had surgery too, over at AVS, having growths on his mouth removed and sent out to determine if they are malignant.  While they were at it, they cleaned his teeth, too, though, so his mouth IS in a lot better shape now, although he has to eat canned dog food for the next week or so.  He came through it quite well, thankfully.  (He IS almost 13 years old now, so I was a bit concerned about him being anesthetized.)  Haven't heard yet what the tumor results are.  Fingers crossed.

 

I sure hope absolutely EVERYONE we have left is fine indefinitely.  This has been really depressing.  I have to say, although Duke already was insured, I've added colic insurance for him as well now, so if anything happens to him we'll have, I think, almost $20,000 to cover his medical costs.  (I don't care WHAT it takes, he WILL survive no matter what!)  I hated to lose Lizzie, but losing Duke would be catastrophic - even for Mark!