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About Judi Rowe
Expertise
I owned and operated the first equine lay-up facility in the state of Colorado and have provided post surgical and post traumatic injury care for many interesting cases. I can answer equine health related questions but please understand that I am not claiming to be a substitute for veterinary attention or treatment. I can also handle many grooming, training and equine behavioral issues questions. In addition, I am happy to evaluate confirmation or rider positioning if asked to do so. Equine nutrition questions can be very complicated but I will do my best with these questions and will probably need time to do some research before I can solve the issue at hand

Experience
I am a graduate of Colorado State University with a BS in Equine Science In addition, I have owned, ridden, trained and shown horses since 1976.

Organizations
AQHA ~ American Jocky Club ~ National Team Sorting Championships ~ Stock Horse of Texas

Publications
Waxahachie Daily Light ~ Kansas City Dressage Society Newsletter ~ Many equine related on-line forums

Education/Credentials
BS Equine Science, Colorado State University - Ft. Collins, CO MBA Finance, Dallas Baptist University - Dallas, Texas

You are here: Experts > Sports > Horse Racing > Horses > 30 yr old arabian

Horses - 30 yr old arabian

Expert: Judi Rowe - 11/2/2009

Question
I just put my 30 yr old arabian down. He quit eating about a month & half ago. I had a vet come out & he said it was his teeth & he had an eye infection. I treated his eye with an antibiotic ointment. He also had swollen glands that were hard as rocks & he didn't seem concerned with that. A week later he developed diarrea. I soaked alfalfa cubes & put him on Equine Senior, gave him a b-12 paste & he started eating. I couldn't give him a large amount because of the diet change. He continued to have diarrea. I gave him a probiotic powder & electrolytes. A few days later I gave him iron supplement. He continued to have diarrea, at this time his ankles are swelling. He is eating & drinking well. I called the vet again about the diarrea and I got a Bute paste. I also told him what I was doing. On Nov 1 I went to feed him & he was in the pasture nibbling I looked at him & his right leg was swollen twice the size all the way up & his sheath was swollen. He followed me back to the barn & fell on the swollen leg. He tried & tried to get up & he couldn't he got. We worked for hrs with him but he got weaker & weaker so I called another vet because I couldn't get in touch with the one I had been using & he came out & put him down. I am sick about this because he followed me & fell. He also had hair loss around the throat ears & neck. I know his time what short but why did he fall apart so fast? In a month & 1/2 he turned into a skeleton with hair. What could I have done different.

Answer
Dear Cindy - your letter broke my heart and it literally aches for you. I am so sorry for your loss. I want you to know and believe that you did everything you possibly could for your horse ... I can't think of anything I would have done differently. Just from what you described here, it sounds to me that your horse's systems just began to systematically shut down from old age. The diarrhea, lack of appetite, weight loss, poor coat condition and limb swelling are all consistent with renal failure though I can't confirm that's what took place here ... it just really seems to fit. The speed in which your horse's health declined fits with system failure too. Right up until his final breath, this horse was only concerned about pleasing you. As an Arab owner, I don't have to tell you how amazing this breed is and one of their trademark traits is that they typically have an extremely high pain tolerance. I believe in my heart that they are so stoic because they do not want to worry the humans that love them.

I know how difficult it is to lose a horse Cindy but not one after 30 years. I pray that with time, you will no longer feel that you could have somehow changed this outcome ... I know how bad you wanted to ... you did everything right Cindy. Please let me know if there is anything I can do okay. I am so sorry ...

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