The kitty I posted about the other day did not make it. Her kidneys failed quickly. She only lasted a few days after my post.
A silent prayer to ease the kitty’s journey, and to make her mom realize how blessed she was to have such a special feline in her life.
Today I read a post on an online bulletin board written by a woman whose dearest cat is dying from kidney failure. Reading her grief-striken words was like an echo of my own posts last spring desperately trying to find a solution or help for Basette. And knowing, ultimately, that there wasn’t one. That this was the last downhill ride for the Little Black Wonder Cat.
Everyone on the board was expressing their condolences, and part of me wanted to join then and another part wanted to tell them that the kitty isn’t dead yet! Let them enjoy their remaining time together. She has some time, how much isn’t know, but there is still some time.
This special kitty’s Mommy is doing everything she can and her heart is breaking over it. It is still bringing tears to my eyes remembering Basette sitting at my feet purring. The last time she came upstairs — even though she was blind. And the hard time in June when she purred one last time.
I still miss her immensely and some times catch glimpses of her around the house. A little black silhouette on the stairs. A sound of galloping paws upstairs when the other kitties are all with me. Little things that make me smile.
Back in October, I went to a Roman re-enactment at the Parthenon in Nashville. In addition to the re-enactment, Champion One Productions was filming a trailer for their upcoming film, “The Charioteer.”
Quite a few people attended. Some unedited, unlabeled pictures are available. (Some of the images are pretty large.) Several legions were there, including Legion XXIV.
One of the highlights of the day was seeing a reconstruction of a Roman cavalry saddle available from Deepeeka Industries, an Indian company that specializes in historical reconstructions of armor and arms. The reconstruction seems a little strange–especially to ride in. Supposedly it was built to be a pack saddle and a war saddle, which explains the taller back pieces.
Well, she is at it again. Houdini Horse has figured out how to take off the grazing muzzle. This time not by rolling and wiggling it off over her ears. This time she catches the muzzle basket on the fence and pulls it until the safety snap gives way. She walks away, leaving the muzzle hanging neatly on the fence for us to collect before feeding her.
Some days having a really smart horse is a pain. But still gives a laugh.
For the first time since the trail ride where Isis bruised her feet, I actually got to ride. Her rain rot has mostly cleared up and she has been doing much better. I’ve lunged her several times over the past week, and each time she has done very well.
She seems to move a little stiff in her hocks. However, that will be something to tackl after everything else. At least it seems to work out after she warms up.
The vet came out to x-ray Isis’ feet and make sure that her feet have fully recovered. I was so proud of my little mare. First she was examined for soundness. In the large ring, I freelunged her so she could move about and strut her stuff… She was so good. Perfect, really. One of those rare occassions where she did everything I asked as if she could read my mind. The vet students were most impressed.
She stood perfectly for the x-rays, and was quiet while everything was being done. Such a patient mare when things are being done with her.
Now we get to wait until the results are in from the x-rays…
Isis felt great today. Pulled her into the ring to see how she was feeling. She was off of bute, her hoof had healed, and it was time to see how she was moving. Poof! She took off around the ring, curled her tail over her back, and trotted without touching the ground.
Oh yes, she is sound. Magnificently sound.
Party!
Isis is an escape artist. Not out of the usual things: fences, gates, halters. She gets out of grazing muzzles and leg wraps. For a week, we soaked her foot and then wrapped it. And of the days it was wrapped, she took it off probably half of the time. It didn’t seem to matter how careful I was about placing the diaper on the bottom of her foot, sealing the velco-type closures, and then duct taping the rest of it securely. The wrap looked secure.
Before, I’d had trouble with her hoof comign through the bandage. Several times I found the entire bandage in the field and her happily grazing away — muzzleless.
Good news. Well, kinda good news. Isis’ lameness was caused by an abscess and not by a flareup of her laminitis. The vet’s examination showed a sore spot on Isis’ front right foot. Boy was there a lot of nasty gunk in her foot. No wonder she was so sore.
Isis wll be on bute for 10 days or so and her foot will be wrapped during that time. So she’ll be okay. It was a good thing that we called. Apparently, an episode like that could aggrevate her laminitis, so the important thing is to get the pain under control and take care of things quickly.
The funny thing is that I’m going to be wrapping Isis’ hoof with a diaper, one size above newborn. Have you ever tried to purchase a package of 10-15 diapers? Wal-Mart and CVS only sell diapers in packages of 30-50. She has a diaper supply that will last her for many years now.
