I swear they’re worse than toddlers…

Addy, the big, black beastie has a virus…………..we think………….

Stevie Wonder, our large animal veterinarian (that’s not his real name) came by today at 7:00AM.

 

Addy’s been running a temperature for several days and is off of her feed.

 

 

And I’m understandably paranoid.

Day #1:  She was laying down when I got up in the morning……………..not unusual, but worth noting……………(but…….I almost threw up and started crying.)

I kept an eye on her.

She did lay down again…………….still not super unusual.  I had just (partially) body-clipped her and she might have wanted dusting to keep the bugs at bay…………………but worth noting.

Later that day, Addy was not interested in eating her dinner.

That’s Definitely Worth Noting.

Not Good…………….Not Good At All.

Took her temperature…………it was elevated at 103.9 F.

I couldn’t find any easily-heard gut-sounds (very scientifically taken by smooshing my ear up against both sides of her belly in front of her hip bones———I have to be on my tippy-toes to get my ear anywhere close to the right spot)…………(well, maybe there were a couple distant gurgles & tweeks on the right side, but not much at all).

Sigh………………..nausea was beginning to bubble up inside my stomach…

I slam dunked a 20cc IM (intramuscular) injection of Banamine…………………..she’s a big horse……………………probably too much…………………..and we’re not even talking about the expiration date……………

……………that’s just how I roll…

 

But it did the trick, because in one hour her temperature was back to within normal range at 100.7 F.

 

(***Note to world——-be very cautious about putting ANY thermometers in your mouth at our house***……………..just saying.)

Day #2:  Next morning………………..Addy’s temperature is still all right and within normal range…………………but she is NOT interested in eating………………………Addy is usually a phenomenal chow-hound.

She IS peeing and pooping with no diarrhea……………………..a good thing………………….what goes in, must come out appropriately………………..farmers all are amateur scatologists.

At the twelve hour mark from the first injection, Addy’s temperature goes back to 103.7 F…………………….I call Stevie Wonder.

 

 

He tells me to check her temperature again in twelve hours, it will probably be elevated, and to give her another injection if it is and he will be out in the morning.

 

 

At midnight it was 104.1F……………………………aaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuggggggggghhhhhhhhh…

(And, I did throw up a little then…)

Day #3:  Stevie Wonder arrives in the dark, before dawn.

Addy’s temperature is okay at 99.4F———she’s not due for another Banamine shot until lunch time……………………

 

Sigh………………………………………..double sigh…………

 

 

Dr. Wonder draws blood and sends it out……

 

 

………………………………..and I wait………………………………..

……………………..I’m not good at waiting…………………….

……………………..I really hate waiting…………………………..

……………………………….I’m still waiting……………………………