Judith Ramseyer - Green Valley, AZ
RashidRashid is not just a horse. He is a companion, a friend, a soul mate, and a blazing bridge straight from my childhood, through my professional career and on into my "golden years." We saw the world together, shared everything and he was dying.
His chronic colic started after we shared 12 years together just after he turned 21. It started in May 2007 and rapidly became violent and unrelenting. When he was sick, he was laying in the dirt with flies buzzing in and out of his mouth, his teeth smeared with ground in dirt and his eyes dull. When the episode passed, he was on his dancing feet, bright eyed, eating, drinking, pooping and peeing. And this happened relentlessly.
The attacks became more violent and the educated guess was he had intestinal stones. In June 2007, Rashid underwent exploratory surgery; the findings were all negative-no stone, no nothing. In March 2008, sitting with him in the freezing dirt at 5am, I told him he could die. The next morning the veterinarian started him on prednisone and there was a remarkable recovery. He continued on increasing doses of prednisone, with banamine and dipyrone injections during the colic episodes for the next three years. The episodes, while treatable, were horrific. I was tormented, anxious, depressed, suffering at least as much as my Rashid. His colic was atypical, non-impaction, and precipitated by multiple factors: weather, change of feed, barometric pressure, allergic reactions to dust, pollen, maybe stress, who knew. My life was on constant alert. There was little time to share the joy that had become such an interwoven part of our relationship.
In May 2010, I found a new veterinarian and began an acupuncture regimen with him. At times, the acupuncture treatment itself seemed to stimulate a colic episode but it was clear Rashid was invested in the treatment, no complaints from him as he was the picture of a pin cushion. A blood allergy test was done on Rashid; the results were inconclusive. The end of March 2011, Rashid discontinued prednisone and began taking Chinese Herbs prescribed by Dr. Thomas. Rashid began with Liver Solution along with Colic Solution, both twice daily; as the herbal colic prevention program. This herbal program continued for a total of 103 days and then in March 2012 Colic Solution was dropped from a daily administration and kept on an “as need” basis. Rashid is on Liver Support continuously; during the fly season, Total Immune Health is added plus Colic Solution on an as needed basis. Rashid stopped having colic episodes on 12/20/2011. Since then, he has had a single attack on 9/29/12. In the four and a half years prior to 12/20/11, Rashid had a total of 95 documented cases of colic. He now looks great, his coat shines and he dances and prances. Approaching his 27th birthday, he still enjoys going out for rides. My friend has been returned to me and for that I am grateful. Rashid continues to love acupuncture and tolerates his herbs. He knows he is better and continues to be a compliant patient. I think he knows he is blessed.
