Colicky Knight Update

Thank you for all the warm thoughts, well wishes, prayers, fingers crossed, etc. Knight is doing okay. I visited him at the hospital after work and got to let him graze. We posed in front of the palm trees to make my relatives in cold Chicago jealous (just kidding).

It was weird being around Knight in my street clothes and leading him while carrying a purse.

Knight had a port in his neck which was used for the horsey IV. When I arrived he was happily eating very tiny bits of alfalfa.

Thankfully I did not get a call in the middle of the night last night. In fact, I didn’t get a call at all. The clinic had said, “No news is good news,” so when I had a break around 10:30 a.m. I called the office. The vet was actually examining Knight right then and I was told he’d call me back as soon as he was done.

More palm trees and the port for his fluids.

Of course the phone rang in the middle of my class. I prepped my students ahead of time that I had to talk a phone call and it was serious about my horse. He was sick and might need surgery. As we waited and the students worked in groups there was a constant chirping of adolescent voices conversing. My phone rang and the entire class silenced. I stepped out of the room and I could tell the class was still quiet (which is never the case when a teacher steps out). Kids do get it.

The vet said the fluids were working, but not as well as he’d hoped so he wanted to continue with the IVs and then start feeding him slowly to see how the food would affect his gut. “I’ll call you later this afternoon.”

I didn’t get a call which made me optimistic. At the clinic there were two vets who had insights into Knight’s situation. I noticed his stomach was less bloated. They agreed and said they felt he was doing better. I tried to gauge the reality of a surgery. From what I gathered (not speaking to his main vet), it was too early to tell. They need to gradually allow him to eat more and give him hay that’s not cut up into tiny fluffs.

So, for now he’s happy and eating and he graced us with a large mound of horse apples while the vets and I chatted. I will know more tomorrow about what to expect.

To follow all the colic drama. . .

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