Hawk

For those of you that have been keeping up with our stallion and his illness. We brought him home after 3 weeks at the Vet. Under the circumstances he is doing great. They weren't able to do surgery to remove the hematoma. It was just to big. The hole they would have had to chisel in his face would have been huge. Doc was also afraid it was attached to the main vein that feeds blood to all his face and brain. If that was the case he would have bled out on the table. A&M has been doing a experimental procedure where they inject this things with formaldehyde. The success rate is only 30%. and there can be some bad side effects. Mostly from the formaldehyde eating through the bone that protects the brain causing neurological problems. The recommended % for the injection is 10% and has to be done repeatedly until it shrinks. The more injections they have to do it the higher the risk of side effects. After one injection there was no change. We were at a having to put him down spot he was so bad. Doc took a huge risk and injected him with a 40% solution. Thank heavens he is still alive and doing well. The formaldehyde also destroyed is taste buds. He went off his feed for most of the vet stay. I was pretty shocked when I saw the weight he had lost. After being home a few days and trying him on some different things including cake scraps. He is eating his full ration and gaining weight. His breathing is loud because of the air passing by the remainder of the tissue. We are working on clearing up the infection in it right now. What is left of it can't be removed, it is attached to the main artery and there would be no way to stop the bleeding. He will live out the remainder of his days her as a beautiful pasture ornament and breeding stallion. So thankful for our dear friend Doc Howell.