Snowflake's Story

My Seventh Day in Foster Care -- More Vets
April 6, 2005

Wednesday...I wake up when foster Mom and Dad come to check on me. It is early. My throat is sore and I am hungry. They notice that I have drank some water and believe that indicates that I am able to swallow and they are hopeful that my choke has cleared up. I get a tiny morsel of hay. I gobble. I beg for more. They are petting me and talking to me nicely. They are afraid to give me any grain, in case I choke again. After they are sure that I have swallowed that morsel of hay, they relax some and give me a little more hay. I really want them to give me the entire bale. But they talk and wait and give me bits here and there. Foster Mom stays home with me to await the arrival of another vet.

Several of my people show up to talk to the vet about me. This vet is different. She measures me, weighs me, takes my temperature, listens to my heart and lungs, she takes blood....she documents, she takes a sample of my manure, she looks at my teeth and says I might be older than 26, she discusses treatment for me. She tells Foster Mom to wet my food to reduce the possibility of choke. This vet says to start a deworming process but to wait one day until the blood results are back from the lab. Then she wants me to start a 5-day power pack dewormer and then start the daily dewormer. SMAWL pays my bill. The vet gives me a discount, but I know it must still be expensive.

The vet says my teeth are in terrible shape. The vet is also an equine dentist and will be able to help fix my molars. She says she my not be able to do much with my insizors, because they are in such bad shape. I have to gain at least 100 lbs before any dental work is performed.

One of my people is going to try and find out more about me. My racing tattoo is faded and scared in many places. They say they can read two numbers, but not the first letter (which would have represented the year of my birth). They may try to contact the jockey club and also try and contact any veterinarians who may have treated me during the past 20-some years. It's a long shot, but my people seem happy to try and discover more about me. Also, if they can find some vet records which indicate I have had my booster shot series, then I will only have to have one series of shots instead of two. That will save my people some money.

One of my people brought a farrier. He looks at my feet and does a quick trim. They say my feet are in amazing shape in spite of my neglect. I have some big cracks in my front feet, but they should grow out with good nutrition and hoove care. I like my farrier. He is gentle and I sense he is kind. I pick my feet up like a perfect gentleman. I LOVE all the attention I am getting. I feel like the center of the universe.

Wow, what a crazy first week. I hope next week is calmer.