Big vet day here! Poor pony. Poor Sarah! It was a lot of little things.
Firstly: he’s had his jabs and she did his teeth. After all the jaw nonsense I always have the vet do it so he can be sedated (not that he’s bad about them actually but Goncalo always felt it was more fair to him given all the mouth stress he’s had) and so they can check the jaw and everything. It’s all fine. She took some edges off but there was nothing major. Since the removal of the worlds most expensive molar he has one tooth that stands on it own (as the removed one was the second tooth back in the molar set) and the gum is slightly receding around that particular tooth and he was sensitive to having it rasped. When I finally got him back after the surgery the final time we discussed that that tooth might become unstable and fall out or require removal at some point so this isn’t too surprising. It’s not unstable right now but it’s unlikely to be a permanent fixture. Not an issue though. All his other teeth are in ‘great condition’ and the gum over the removed tooth spot it fine and jaw etc look good. So that’s nice 😀
Regarding his tummy sensitivity she says she’s not really convinced it’s ulcers but ‘scoping is easy so if it’s bothering you lets do it’. Bloody horse having nearly bitten me this morning when I brushed him off before riding just turned his head very sedately and starred at me like ‘yep, that’s my tummy’ when I confidently went ‘he hates being touched here’ to Sarah. :wall: He did show some reaction though and she spent a bit of time poking his spine. She thinks he’s ‘more reactive than she would expect’ along his spine which directly contradicts what the osteopath thinks. Swapped some emails with David and he really doesn’t think there’s a spinal issue and, honestly, I’m more inclined to believe him over that as this is really the first time Sarah has ever met him and David has known him for years but we shall see.
The gastroscope is currently having some kind of recuperative holiday in France but is expected to return next week so we’re booked in for two weeks time. Sarah will do the scope herself and if we don’t find anything she says she wants to look more closely at his back. Obviously she wants me to ‘get my saddler out’ which is easier said than done. I need an EE fitter nearer London (and less in hospital – thinking about you Why! :hug:) But we can cross that bridge once ulcers have been ruled out.
Either way I’m much happier with his new feed arrangement and the trickle net is working well. I’ve just had some lower rings put in and bought a second net so we can split his night hay into two easier to manage nets. He had hay left this morning which is probably a good sign? He’s got a few mud fever scabs again so he’s back in which is frustrating but I snipped off some more hair and it’s not as bad as I feared so hopefully we’ll be through that again soon and he can go back out. !!
Anyway. No update is complete without pictures:
I had to lift his head up to pass the bar under so he could rest his chin, poor sedated beast:
Did manage a quick hack before vet was due though:
