Jacques Update: The Bad, The Ugly, and The Hopeful - Page 3

HorseLovinLady · 10-31-2009, 02:37 AM

Lots of prayers for a speedy recovery!!

RenosGirl · 10-31-2009, 04:00 AM

I'm so happy to hear that the treatment is working. We all would love to have a update on when he gets home

Clippity-Clop · 10-31-2009, 04:59 AM

Do you know if the stuff they are using is the black salve like "cansema" someone else posted about earlier? I had read about that stuff before but re-visited it after reading your thread. I decided to buy some and try on my mare who has a nasty sarcoma on the bottom of her ear. Sometimes it's oozy and sometimes just crusty. It's been treated with chemotherapy injections 3 times and that treatment isn't doing anything. In fact, it's getting bigger and even uglier. Our vet does not want to take it off so rather than keep up with chemo injections, I thought I'd try that salve. Glad you are getting good news so quickly! If you are able, can you post pics of the process of it healing?

Lady_MCSE · 10-31-2009, 07:02 PM

Very brief update before I head out for a spooktacular party ...

To be perfectly honest, I think they wanted to kick him out ... they had another patient come in, so took his "babysitter" away. (They have a resident blood donor horse whom they stable across the way from a patient for company.) They said he was REALLY not happy being by himself!

Heading out to the trailer, it was a very cold and blustery day. The clydemonster was out in full glory. He does not often "scare" me, but I really felt unsafe leading him. I stopped him and backed him up, and circled him, and all kinds of things to get him setteld and his mind on ME instead of all the rest of the scary things out there. But none of it worked very well. He continued to be very nervous and flighty. (Think of it like a thoroughbred on race day being ponied up to the starting gate ... only he's 1650 lbs!!!)

Aah, but peppermints helped enormously and got him into the trailer in under 15 minutes or so. The three hour ride was uneventful.

Got him home and settled. I admit that I did not look at the area before we left the hospital and now I'm really wishing I had. I don't know if it got a lot more agitated from the trailer ride, or if it looked exactly the same before we left.

But right now it is really nasty looking, very red and very oozy. I took some pics, but I have to get going, will upload later.

They said they applied some just this morning, and so now he still has to be on stall rest for three more days in order to keep it clean as possible.

Then after that he's got 2 full weeks of "keep free of mud." Well how the heck is he supposed to do that if he's going out to pasture every day? At least I do have the option of a pen instead of the muddy pasture where he's boarded, so I guess we'll do that for a while.

Overall, I'm still thrilled to death! However this turns out, it's still way better than doing nothing at all, and 100x better than attempting surgery.

merleliz · 10-31-2009, 07:10 PM

OMG, the only place I could put mine to "keep free of mud" is the bedroom, and even that's iffy when Leo's been running in and out!

Prayers continuing Lady M...glad he's home with you, wishing you the best ever on his healing journey!

enigma · 10-31-2009, 07:59 PM

NICE. So glad to hear a positive report.

tuffsmom · 10-31-2009, 08:22 PM

I'm glad you got him home.

Clippity-Clop · 11-01-2009, 05:50 PM

Oh My! I could never keep any of mine mud free for 2 weeks this time of year! Being in a stall should help. I sure hope that 2 weeks goes by fast for you ;o).. So glad to hear he is making progress too. Apparently this type of treatment makes it look horrible before it starts looking better. I found this website and actually ordered the cream she used on her little donkey. Wish me luck that it works with my two who have sarcoids. Best wishes to your monster..lol..

There are pictures with how this would progressed as the treatment went on.

http://www.diamondjdonkeys.com/Sassie.htm

.

kanoo32 · 11-02-2009, 07:42 PM

Just checking in, and it sounds like you have made a few steps in the positive direction.....I am keeping you in my thoughts as well as keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well!!!

merleliz · 11-03-2009, 08:41 PM

Any updates, Lady M? How's the Clydemonster doing?

Horselady44 · 11-03-2009, 08:55 PM

Yes...we would like a update...sounds like things were heading for the positive side...UPDATE PLEASE

Lady_MCSE · 11-04-2009, 05:44 AM

Sorry, have been so busy I haven't even turned on my home computer since Sunday. And my work computer doesn't exactly block HT, but I have issues with it. And my boss.

Sooooo ... been walking him in the mornings, and giving him Ace so that he doesn't kill anyone who's trying to clean his stall. In the evenings he's much calmer because the rest of his buds are in from the pasture. So I would walk him up and down the aisle a few times then give him some hay out in the aisle just so he can be OUT of the stall.

Had an email exchange with the vet ... agrees that I don't necessarily have to come back in two weeks unless problems develop, he can work with just pictures. That will save me a 6hr round trip, thank goodness!

The wuond area looks positively disgusting and awful. Got pictures 2 days ago. But on looking at some other case histories online, I guess it sort of matches up. The cream is essentially killing issues, so looking awful is to be expected.

Glad I am keeping him on stall board a little while longer, I can't help but think that coated in mud 24/7 would be a bad thing. (And feces too, of course.) So being on stall, he will come in every night and have about 12 hours to dry out in a stall.

So, no bad news, just waiting and waiting and waiting ... two to three weeks of waiting to see how well it works, and how invasive the tumor was into the joint. Definitely not out of the woods yet as far as lameness is concerned.

merleliz · 11-04-2009, 09:37 PM

Well, looking awful might mean getting better? Poor Clydemonster, isn't it awful that you can't explain to them what is going on and why you are doing what you do? When Merle was neutered the vet made him wear an Elizabethan Collar to keep him from messing with his stitches...the reproachful looks I got from him ("Mom, I'll be a good puppy, please take this thing off my head!") almost made me cry!

Prayers and Best Wishes, Lady M...no bad news is certainly good news at this point!

Lady_MCSE · 11-04-2009, 10:39 PM

Hope these aren't bad enough that I should put "graphic photos" in the thread title ... probably heading to bed in a moment.

Tonight was the first I've seen him favoring it a little. It's not a lot, pretty subtle, but when resting to eat or for grooming, he cocks that one leg up for a rest. But when I ask him to move, I can't perceive any noticeable lameness yet; he's definitely putting all his weight on it.

I wasn't sure if at this point after 10 days of being cooped up in a stall whether he wants to get out and stretch his legs a little for a romp in the arena, or whether I should let him rest and keep the area quiet. Since he was calm and very "Clydepuppy"ish tonight, I opted for keeping him quiet. We went up and down the barn aisle a couple of times, mostly so I could judge for lameness, but no trotting, and definitely no introduction of arena sand!

October 31, pretty much straight out of the trailer. Didn't take pics before the trailer ride, so not sure if it looked any "better" at the vets' place or not.

November 2

November 4, tonight.

SilverLexi · 11-04-2009, 11:00 PM

It looks like its drying up and falling off. Thats great I hope it works.

Horse_Orderly · 11-05-2009, 12:00 AM

Yikes!

I've been so out of the loop lately. I'm so sorry that Jacques is going through this...and that you are too! I hope to hear continuing good progress reports!

Karen Cole · 11-05-2009, 05:42 AM

It looks alot better than I thought given your discription. I really hope the treatment works for your Clydepuppy/monster.

Karen

dunamovin · 11-05-2009, 08:30 AM

Much better, keeping our fingers and hooves crossed for you both.

Lady_MCSE · 11-05-2009, 10:23 AM

Aaaah, went out to the barn this morning, and Mr. Vet who "cleared" Jacques earlier this year as being 100% healed, stop messing with it, was out there.

It was all I could do not to talk to him. Still planning to send him something written, but if I start opening my mouth, I'm likely to say things I'll regret. As I was leaving, he asked how I was doing, just sort of a general inquiry ... I kept it to "Not so good." and walked away.

Lady_MCSE · 11-08-2009, 10:09 PM

Update, more ugly pictures ...

There was a piece just dangling off the back begging to be pulled off ... I know that I was told to leave it alone, but I just couldn't resist. So I gave it a quick tug, and Jacques didn't mind a bit. Revealed a bit of redness underneath, but overall looking like it's on the mend I guess. Knowing it had the chemotherapy cream on it, I had been using latex gloves, so double-wrapped it up in both of them, and wrapped it in plastic back around that. But it was kind of a weird feeling as I approached the garbage can I was literally throwing Jacques' cancer out with the trash!

He's still walking on it just fine. And I'm really really glad I paid to keep him in stall board one more month ... so far he hasn't had a bit of mud on it, and regardless of how well the treatment ends up working, at least I don't have to be second guessing myself as to whether I could've done more for him by keeping it cleaner.

Oh man, and I am such a bad mom. I raided his apple supply!!! I always buy apples for him at the fresh foods market which has really good stuff. So good that what they call "second rate" is still really good quality, but at reduced prices. I'll get maybe 5-6lbs of apples for about $3. But I was so hungry the other night I swiped one out of his stash. WOW! I have never had a "honey crisp" apple before, but they are totally FANTASTIC, especially for someone with a sweet tooth like me. I bought a whole bunch of "First rate" ones tonight, to share at work they are so dang good.

OK, sorry aobut talking food just before sharing the gross stuff ... here goes.

10-31-2009, 02:37 AM
HorseLovinLady Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 5,474	Lots of prayers for a speedy recovery!! __________________ Baylee's Album: http://pets.webshots.com/album/570656187BCJmgs 2008 Foal pics: http://pets.webshots.com/album/569199962cPhBZd

10-31-2009, 04:00 AM
RenosGirl Long Yearling Join Date: May 2008 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Posts: 1,251	I'm so happy to hear that the treatment is working. We all would love to have a update on when he gets home __________________ Go and love your babies today, and everyday...you never know when it could be the last time.

10-31-2009, 04:59 AM
Clippity-Clop Coming two Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,662	Do you know if the stuff they are using is the black salve like "cansema" someone else posted about earlier? I had read about that stuff before but re-visited it after reading your thread. I decided to buy some and try on my mare who has a nasty sarcoma on the bottom of her ear. Sometimes it's oozy and sometimes just crusty. It's been treated with chemotherapy injections 3 times and that treatment isn't doing anything. In fact, it's getting bigger and even uglier. Our vet does not want to take it off so rather than keep up with chemo injections, I thought I'd try that salve. Glad you are getting good news so quickly! If you are able, can you post pics of the process of it healing? __________________

10-31-2009, 07:02 PM
Lady_MCSE Seasoned Join Date: May 2005 Location: Shytown, IL Posts: 4,523	Very brief update before I head out for a spooktacular party ... To be perfectly honest, I think they wanted to kick him out ... they had another patient come in, so took his "babysitter" away. (They have a resident blood donor horse whom they stable across the way from a patient for company.) They said he was REALLY not happy being by himself! Heading out to the trailer, it was a very cold and blustery day. The clydemonster was out in full glory. He does not often "scare" me, but I really felt unsafe leading him. I stopped him and backed him up, and circled him, and all kinds of things to get him setteld and his mind on ME instead of all the rest of the scary things out there. But none of it worked very well. He continued to be very nervous and flighty. (Think of it like a thoroughbred on race day being ponied up to the starting gate ... only he's 1650 lbs!!!) Aah, but peppermints helped enormously and got him into the trailer in under 15 minutes or so. The three hour ride was uneventful. Got him home and settled. I admit that I did not look at the area before we left the hospital and now I'm really wishing I had. I don't know if it got a lot more agitated from the trailer ride, or if it looked exactly the same before we left. But right now it is really nasty looking, very red and very oozy. I took some pics, but I have to get going, will upload later. They said they applied some just this morning, and so now he still has to be on stall rest for three more days in order to keep it clean as possible. Then after that he's got 2 full weeks of "keep free of mud." Well how the heck is he supposed to do that if he's going out to pasture every day? At least I do have the option of a pen instead of the muddy pasture where he's boarded, so I guess we'll do that for a while. Overall, I'm still thrilled to death! However this turns out, it's still way better than doing nothing at all, and 100x better than attempting surgery. __________________ "A pun is its own reword." — Dance Drier, British comedian

10-31-2009, 07:10 PM
merleliz Seasoned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fairburn, Georgia Posts: 4,474	OMG, the only place I could put mine to "keep free of mud" is the bedroom, and even that's iffy when Leo's been running in and out! Prayers continuing Lady M...glad he's home with you, wishing you the best ever on his healing journey! __________________ VOTE FOR "DUSTY TRAILS HORSE RESCUE" DAILY IN THE PETFINDER SHELTER CHALLENGE! http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/c...faces?siteId=3

10-31-2009, 07:59 PM
enigma Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,271	NICE. So glad to hear a positive report. __________________ There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. ~ Winston Churchill

10-31-2009, 08:22 PM
tuffsmom Kid Safe Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 5,738	I'm glad you got him home. __________________

11-01-2009, 05:50 PM
Clippity-Clop Coming two Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,662	Oh My! I could never keep any of mine mud free for 2 weeks this time of year! Being in a stall should help. I sure hope that 2 weeks goes by fast for you ;o).. So glad to hear he is making progress too. Apparently this type of treatment makes it look horrible before it starts looking better. I found this website and actually ordered the cream she used on her little donkey. Wish me luck that it works with my two who have sarcoids. Best wishes to your monster..lol.. There are pictures with how this would progressed as the treatment went on. http://www.diamondjdonkeys.com/Sassie.htm . __________________

11-02-2009, 07:42 PM
kanoo32 Seasoned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 4,506	Just checking in, and it sounds like you have made a few steps in the positive direction.....I am keeping you in my thoughts as well as keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well!!! __________________ "Animals are such agreeable friends--they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms..." --George Eliot In Loving Memory of Spikey...My Best Friend...I Miss You RIP 1988-2009

11-03-2009, 08:41 PM
merleliz Seasoned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fairburn, Georgia Posts: 4,474	Any updates, Lady M? How's the Clydemonster doing? __________________ VOTE FOR "DUSTY TRAILS HORSE RESCUE" DAILY IN THE PETFINDER SHELTER CHALLENGE! http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/c...faces?siteId=3

11-03-2009, 08:55 PM
Horselady44 Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 2,437	Yes...we would like a update...sounds like things were heading for the positive side...UPDATE PLEASE __________________ A happy horse equals a happy rider!

11-04-2009, 05:44 AM
Lady_MCSE Seasoned Join Date: May 2005 Location: Shytown, IL Posts: 4,523	Sorry, have been so busy I haven't even turned on my home computer since Sunday. And my work computer doesn't exactly block HT, but I have issues with it. And my boss. Sooooo ... been walking him in the mornings, and giving him Ace so that he doesn't kill anyone who's trying to clean his stall. In the evenings he's much calmer because the rest of his buds are in from the pasture. So I would walk him up and down the aisle a few times then give him some hay out in the aisle just so he can be OUT of the stall. Had an email exchange with the vet ... agrees that I don't necessarily have to come back in two weeks unless problems develop, he can work with just pictures. That will save me a 6hr round trip, thank goodness! The wuond area looks positively disgusting and awful. Got pictures 2 days ago. But on looking at some other case histories online, I guess it sort of matches up. The cream is essentially killing issues, so looking awful is to be expected. Glad I am keeping him on stall board a little while longer, I can't help but think that coated in mud 24/7 would be a bad thing. (And feces too, of course.) So being on stall, he will come in every night and have about 12 hours to dry out in a stall. So, no bad news, just waiting and waiting and waiting ... two to three weeks of waiting to see how well it works, and how invasive the tumor was into the joint. Definitely not out of the woods yet as far as lameness is concerned. __________________ "A pun is its own reword." — Dance Drier, British comedian

11-04-2009, 09:37 PM
merleliz Seasoned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fairburn, Georgia Posts: 4,474	Well, looking awful might mean getting better? Poor Clydemonster, isn't it awful that you can't explain to them what is going on and why you are doing what you do? When Merle was neutered the vet made him wear an Elizabethan Collar to keep him from messing with his stitches...the reproachful looks I got from him ("Mom, I'll be a good puppy, please take this thing off my head!") almost made me cry! Prayers and Best Wishes, Lady M...no bad news is certainly good news at this point! __________________ VOTE FOR "DUSTY TRAILS HORSE RESCUE" DAILY IN THE PETFINDER SHELTER CHALLENGE! http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/c...faces?siteId=3

11-04-2009, 10:39 PM
Lady_MCSE Seasoned Join Date: May 2005 Location: Shytown, IL Posts: 4,523	Hope these aren't bad enough that I should put "graphic photos" in the thread title ... probably heading to bed in a moment. Tonight was the first I've seen him favoring it a little. It's not a lot, pretty subtle, but when resting to eat or for grooming, he cocks that one leg up for a rest. But when I ask him to move, I can't perceive any noticeable lameness yet; he's definitely putting all his weight on it. I wasn't sure if at this point after 10 days of being cooped up in a stall whether he wants to get out and stretch his legs a little for a romp in the arena, or whether I should let him rest and keep the area quiet. Since he was calm and very "Clydepuppy"ish tonight, I opted for keeping him quiet. We went up and down the barn aisle a couple of times, mostly so I could judge for lameness, but no trotting, and definitely no introduction of arena sand! October 31, pretty much straight out of the trailer. Didn't take pics before the trailer ride, so not sure if it looked any "better" at the vets' place or not. November 2 November 4, tonight. __________________ "A pun is its own reword." — Dance Drier, British comedian

11-04-2009, 11:00 PM
SilverLexi Weanling Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Manitoba Posts: 330	It looks like its drying up and falling off. Thats great I hope it works. __________________ Why is it when we age our hearts get softer, our butts get softer but that dang ground just keeps just getting harder and harder????

11-05-2009, 12:00 AM
Horse_Orderly Started Join Date: May 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,317	Yikes! I've been so out of the loop lately. I'm so sorry that Jacques is going through this...and that you are too! I hope to hear continuing good progress reports! __________________ J.H.S. Jr 11/4/76-7/3/09 sailing calmer waters

11-05-2009, 05:42 AM
Karen Cole Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,536	It looks alot better than I thought given your discription. I really hope the treatment works for your Clydepuppy/monster. Karen

11-05-2009, 08:30 AM
dunamovin Halter broke Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: where the blacktop ends Posts: 189	Much better, keeping our fingers and hooves crossed for you both.

11-05-2009, 10:23 AM
Lady_MCSE Seasoned Join Date: May 2005 Location: Shytown, IL Posts: 4,523	Aaaah, went out to the barn this morning, and Mr. Vet who "cleared" Jacques earlier this year as being 100% healed, stop messing with it, was out there. It was all I could do not to talk to him. Still planning to send him something written, but if I start opening my mouth, I'm likely to say things I'll regret. As I was leaving, he asked how I was doing, just sort of a general inquiry ... I kept it to "Not so good." and walked away. __________________ "A pun is its own reword." — Dance Drier, British comedian

11-08-2009, 10:09 PM
Lady_MCSE Seasoned Join Date: May 2005 Location: Shytown, IL Posts: 4,523	Update, more ugly pictures ... There was a piece just dangling off the back begging to be pulled off ... I know that I was told to leave it alone, but I just couldn't resist. So I gave it a quick tug, and Jacques didn't mind a bit. Revealed a bit of redness underneath, but overall looking like it's on the mend I guess. Knowing it had the chemotherapy cream on it, I had been using latex gloves, so double-wrapped it up in both of them, and wrapped it in plastic back around that. But it was kind of a weird feeling as I approached the garbage can I was literally throwing Jacques' cancer out with the trash! He's still walking on it just fine. And I'm really really glad I paid to keep him in stall board one more month ... so far he hasn't had a bit of mud on it, and regardless of how well the treatment ends up working, at least I don't have to be second guessing myself as to whether I could've done more for him by keeping it cleaner. Oh man, and I am such a bad mom. I raided his apple supply!!! I always buy apples for him at the fresh foods market which has really good stuff. So good that what they call "second rate" is still really good quality, but at reduced prices. I'll get maybe 5-6lbs of apples for about $3. But I was so hungry the other night I swiped one out of his stash. WOW! I have never had a "honey crisp" apple before, but they are totally FANTASTIC, especially for someone with a sweet tooth like me. I bought a whole bunch of "First rate" ones tonight, to share at work they are so dang good. OK, sorry aobut talking food just before sharing the gross stuff ... here goes. __________________ "A pun is its own reword." — Dance Drier, British comedian