Marye - AeroMask update

It works!

It really does work!

When Marye came to TREES last summer, emaciated and with severe COPD, we didn't know if we could offer her many more days on this earth. Initially we were able to manage her symptoms well enough to allow her to eat normally, but her breathing was never "normal" until well into November.

As a last resort, this spring we appealed to TREES' visitors and supporters for an Aeromask Equine System. We'd never heard of this system before, and knew no one using it, but thought it looked promising. In April, two of our most dedicated volunteers, Gene and Carol, donated funds for the mask. It arrived within a week.

The main parts of the inhaler system include a plastic cup that fits over Marye's muzzle, a tube to direct the medication into the cup through a rubber port, and a "human inhaler" that expels the medication into the tube. Marye was prescribed two different medications, one to be given in four "puffs" once a day, the other in eight "puffs," twice a day. Easy, right?

Well.......sort of. Its easy once you get the hang of it, but there is a little bit of a learning curve. In order for the treatment to be effective, the timing must be just right. If the inhaler is "puffed" as Marye is exhaling, the medication will go right out the exhalation valves. So, the person doing the "puffing" must watch the valves closely to determine when to express the meds. It may vary a little depending on the person's reflexes and reaction time, but it seemed the optimum time to puff is just before the exhalation valve closes completely. It probably also depends, to some extent on the horse's breathing rate and how much time you have between the exhale and the next inhale.

Now, add to that waiting 30 seconds between puffs. So you're watching the valves, watching the clock, and remembering to "puff." All while keeping an eye on the horse's "eye" and attitude about the whole idea.

Marye, though, is a real trooper. She seemed to understand the process and stood as still as she could as we asked her to breathe through a plastic cup filled with some odd smelling vapor.

In the days before first treatment, Marye's breathing ranged from 36 breaths per minute to just over 40. (At her worst last year, her rate weas close to 60 breaths per minute.) At the end of the fourth day, on May 3, her respiratory rate was down to 18 breaths per minute. On May 2, a rainy spell began that lasted for 11 days. As the pollens were washed from the air, we discontinued treatment on May 4, and Marye's breathing has remained normal. As we go into summer, we may need to resume treatment, but for now Marye and all her humans are thrilled with the results.

Thank you, again, to everyone who supported this treatment trial and to those who offered other ideas to manage Marye's COPD. Her Ladyship is feeling very pampered and extremely grateful that no one gave up on her.

'Nother update - Chamberlain (aka "Josh")

Lizzie stole the spotlight for the last week and a half, but we didn't want to neglect updates on our other recent arrival, Josh.

Here is Josh on April 11, still wearing very impressive winter woolies.

And here is Josh now!

Josh fit right in with Emma, Jubal and Fitz, even though the Three Bay Amigos had initial misgivings about his addition to the band. After all, its been a long time since a not-bay horse has lived in this field.Josh, however, is one of those guys that is just plain nice......no one can ignore him for long. (Josh is on the left, Jubal on the right.)

SOS - Support Our Seniors

You can support the rehabilitation and ongoing care of senior horses like Lizzie in many ways:

Volunteer

Look HERE to see if you have "Things We Can Use."

Send TREES the Proof of Purchase seals from Triple Crown, Reliance and Legends feed bags. Depending on formula, we can redeem them for 10 -25 cents each.
TREES, PO Box 2260, Spotsylvania, VA 22553

Offer a caring home to a horse who has served his owners long and well, but is no longer considered "valuable" enough to warrant further investment by those owners.

Help to educate owners struggling with their Equine Elders' changing needs.

Participate, with your Elders, in local shows, parades, and other events to demonstrate that a horse's abilities cannot be judged based solely on chronological age.

Donate gently used tack which we can sell through local consignment shops to raise funds.

Donate gently used household items for Yard Sales.

Make a tax-deductible contribution to Traveller's Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary.

Support Traveller's Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary through the following links:

Country Supply: "Best In-Stock Rate in the Industry!" At checkout, please use Care Code "equineelders" to have 5% of your purchase total benefit TREES. (Dewormers do not qualify toward the eligible amount.)

iGive: Online mall including over 600 stores. New members earn a $5.00 donation for TREES when shopping within 45 days of original registration. Stores include 1-800 PetMeds, BabyGap, Back In the Saddle, Birkenstock, Chocolate Source, Eddie Bauer, Land's End, Montgomery Ward, Old Navy, PEt Food Direct and hundreds more!

Use iSearchiGive as your Search Engine and help the residents of Traveller's Rest every time you search the web.

Amazon.com: By entering the Amazon store through this link, and shopping as usual, you can earn Traveller's Rest a few pennies with every purchase!


How your generosity can help:

$1.30 - one roll Vetrap (bandaging tape) for First Aid cabinet
$5.75 - one bag of extra soft shavings for malnourished arrivals
$7.00 - one bale of orchardgrass hay
$8.00 - one tube dewormer
$17.50 - senior feed for one Toothless Wonder like Sonny for one week.
$30.00 - hoof trim for one resident (scheduled every six weeks)
$29.00 - one gallon Betadine solution for First Aid cabinet
$37.50 - joint supplement for one week for one arthritic horse such as Jubal.
$85.00 - dental work for one elder resident
$500 - provides senior feed for the entire herd for one and one-half weeks
$910 - senior feed for one Toothless Wonder for one year.
$2000 - total care (on average) of one Elder resident for one year (includes feed, hay, bedding, hoof trimming, innoculations, deworming, and veterinary care.)

Just one week........

What a difference a week makes.

A little update on lizzie, who arrived a week ago yesterday.

Lizzie - May 7, 2009

Lizzie - May 14, 2009

TREES' philosophy on feeding undernourished horses is the KISS philosophy......."Keep It Simple, Sweetheart." We don't like to introduce too many new things to a gut that has been inactive for some time so, unless something special is recommended by our veterinarian, thin horses are offered only soaked senior feed and hay. Lizzie is currently eating four meals a day, each 1-1/2 pounds of Triple Crown Senior, soaked to make a "mash." As she continues her recovery, amounts may be increased, based on rate of weight gain.

Love is fleeting........

Remember, last Valentine's Day, how excited we were that Wade had finally made friends with another horse? Wade had become the object of Marye's affection, and the two spent a lot of time grazing together.

Well. our fickle female has changed her mind.

Apparently, Val (front) is now the most desirable companion in the field.

Maybe its "birds of a feather" syndrome?

New Arrival - Meet Lizzie!

Lizzie arrived the evening of May 6, 2009. We don't know much about her yet, but we can say there is not a thing wrong with her appetite! We'll start out feeding Lizzie small, frequent meals and limiting her turnout to avoid "refeeding syndrome"

Even a small donation will help TREES provide Lizzie and other horses like her the senior diet, and the dental, farrier, and veterinary care necessary to restore good health and offer happy, healthy Golden Years. If you would like to meet Lizzie and her herdmates at TREES, please give us a call at 540-972-0936, or email info@equineelders.org

Freddie, the Self-Cleaning Arabian

Thank Goodness. Freddie really is self-cleaning most of the time. We're on our way to a record number of consecutive rainy days (or so the local weather gurus "joke.")

Even so, look at our 26 year old Arabian gelding, Fred Astaire:

Photo courtesy of Molly McDonald Peterson, mJm photography

No kidding! This is Freddie, as is, no special grooming, bathing, or "photoshopping," after several days of rain and mud. What a good guy.

We also have to take the opportunity to point out that Freddie is one of TREES' Cushings patients. Freddie's symptoms have been controlled for three years now, using dietary management and Pergolide. Again....Thank Goodness! Can you imagine dealing with an almost white "Cushings coat" during mud season? We don't even want to think about that prospect.