remedy on the rocks

Butch in his slick summer coat

Doc S. is the kind of old-style veterinarian who can tell more at a glance than most younger vets can diagnose with a clinic-full of tests, tools and machines. He's a local legend. He's retired. He's an old friend of the barn owner. He treats my mule because I board with her. Lucky me - lucky Butch!

Diagnosis: The stocking up (swelling) in Butch's left hind is NOT due to a tendon injury. *Whew!!!*

                  It's not a long-term concern. 

                  He's not lame. There's no reason not to ride him. 

                  However: 

                      The burn injury is still healing; it's slow to repair partly because of reduced blood flow so far from the heart, which is also why his fetlock joint keeps stocking up. Usage during healing produces fluid the heart can't pump quickly enough, so it builds up slightly overnight. 

                 Doc S. also noticed Butch's feet are wearing unevenly due to a mild conformation issue. (Mule's right front toes out a bit.) Which brings us to:

Treatment: Ride - on rocky ground!

                  Doc says riding will keep the burn scar tissue flexible as it forms, and will increase blood flow even if it does cause mild swelling. And he says the uneven foot wear now is due to Butch self-correcting to try and carry himself evenly in the sand. Riding on rocky ground - especially hills - will teach him to balance on the whole surface, wear the hooves evenly, and have the added plus of toughening up his feet.

                Other than that, just keep doing what I've been doing: hose, apply Corona, wrap at night.

Prognosis:  Full recovery. *Happy dance!*

morning ride

Saturday morning's ride was hot, hazy and overcast. Hazy with smoke from the massive New Mexico fire. Step outside and it smells like ash and cinders, no matter where you go. I'm surprised my clothes don't have that campfire reek.

Friday evening several of us rode into the setting sun, marvelling at the beauty of the huge red fiery orb hanging in the sky. There was so much smoke you could stare right at it.

All day it looked and felt like monsoon weather... except that low-lying loose blanket of gray clouds blowing in wasn't clouds...

Butch was so happy to get out for a real ride, he nickered when he saw me carrying the big orange hornbags from the tackroom. I've been easing him slowly back into work, checking his leg and healing burn after each go-round, hosing them down and wrapping his legs even now, with no swelling. Friday night, for the first time, I put him up without hosing or wraps. This morning he was fine, so it was time for a several miles of walk-trot in the riverbed.

Turned out to be walk-trot-lope. He was so cheerful and so good! No stumbling, no hesitation, no barn-sourness. The only time he stopped and didn't want to move was when his cinch needed adjusting. He's always good that way, lets me know when it's too loose. He stands perfectly still now when I get on or off. He was a joy to ride, responding to every touch of the rein and leg, every shift of seat. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised! Apparently time off work has been just the break Butch needed, mentally and physically.

Back home gave him a bath, all of him, not just his leg. Happy happy mule! He stretched out his neck, eyes half closed, lip quivering while I scraped him off.  Funny guy.

Saturday night, no sign of swelling. Sunday morning Butch's left hind was all stocked up again. *Sigh.* Vet comes Monday...