Surgery

Any text message that says "Can I call you in a few minutes" or something like it, is never good when you know the vet is at the farm.  That was the text I got the night before my first final.  At this point, I had not seen the filly in two days and had very little idea of how she was doing.  My friends were great in taking care of her and not letting me get too distracted by her.  How they don't hate my guts at this point, I don't know.

I eventually received that call.  The bad news was that the infection had spread, and aggressively.  Apparently the vet had not brought an portable x-ray with him, but sent his assistant back to the clinic for one once he saw her.  He wasn't happy with what he saw.  The verdict came down that she had to have surgery, there was no other choice if she was to live.  As my friend explained costs and other details my mind raced.  My little yearling might not ever be anything but my little yearling. 

After running through everything, she asked if I wanted to talk to the vet.  I said yes, and tried my best to articulate questions to him.  It didn't help that the call dropped multiple (I think 5, it felt like at least that) times.  I now only remember bits and pieces of the conversation.  Important details like payment and cost.  The random ones like how he's seen horses with as little as a half a coffin bone be competitive, and that she'd need special shoes until she fully healed.  And most importantly, that surgery was the only option, and I could have up to 24 hours to think about it but the decision had to be made.  He said there was a large enough piece of bone to be removed that they could send her to the clinic and lay her down on the table and really clean out the infection, or he could do it there on the farm with her standing up.  He said he felt confident that he could get it done there on the farm and she was already blocked.  He also said that since he'd x-ray post surgery and make sure he got it all cleaned out.

I gave the go ahead and he said they'd talk to me to expect a call in about an hour when they were all done.