Johnny's coming home!

I'm bringing him home tomorrow. He looked great today...very subtle signs that there was any problem at all, and only for a moment. He's much happier, the laminitus is gone, and he felt so good that when I took him for a trot to see how he's moving he bucked twice!
Kudos to everyone at Cleary Lake Equine!

Today's update

Because it's a weekend, the vet has limited hours on Saturdays and is not open on Sunday. Because Johnny's vet bills are so high right now I couldn't take Saturday off work to go see him. But I did give the vet's office a call and talked to his vet tech. She said that he was doing much better and she was going to turn him out in the arena (rather than strictly handwalking) today because he was putting weight on his left hind leg and seemed to be walking normally. They also reported that his feet lo longer seem hot, so hopefully the risk of founder is significantly decreased. They are still icing him.
I will see him tomorrow morning, and hope that being off DMSO doesn't have him down in worse shape.

Every bit helps

By clicking on the links above, a couple of cents will be donated for Johnny's cause. Thank you.

Johnny and I in the summer of 2004 at the field beside Rohan Stables.

Donations for Johnny

You may make a secure donation for Johnny's vet bills through paypal at the link below.

Today's update

Johnny seems to be doing a little better. One of my professors from the U, who is also an equine vet, told me about a new drug for EPM called Navigator. I really don't know for sure that he has EPM, so I really don't know what to do. That drug is about $1600 for 28 days. He's already on Marquis, which is about $1000 for 28 days. I wish there was a way to tell if he actually has EPM, or if it's something else.
Today was his last dose of DMSO. The vets at Cleary Lake told me that I could take him home, but I simpy don't have a place to keep him safe to manage his condition and his laminitus. I rent the hobby farm that I live at, and it's going to be bulldozed to make way for condos next spring, so I don't want to invest money repairing the barn or putting in stalls. Not that I have money to invest in that sort of stuff, anyhow (thank you, Johnny). So he is staying at the vet for the weekend. I will visit him Monday and maybe take him home Tuesday. I am scared he'll relapse if I take him home. He is putting weight on his left hind foot, now, and standing on it more normally. I don't want to get my hopes up too much because he is still on DMSO. He is no longer on Dex.
More than anything I want my horse shome from the vet. Getting your horse back from the vet is the most wonderful feeling in the world. But I don't want to lose him by taking him home without having the facilities.
Then again, if I am simply prolonging his misery by making him stay at the vet's when he's simply going to die because it's not EPM, is it worth it?
But how do I know what's going on?
If he has EPM, he may be saved. If he has a spinal cord compression, he cannot, not without a several thousand dollar surgery. I have no problem retiring him as a riding horse and letting him live out his days as my best friend and pasture orniment. He deserves that. But anything so severe as what I brought him to the vet like and he's not safe for anyone to be around. He's apt to founder and he's losing ground quickly.
I just don't know. Lots of wait and see.