Tender Feet and a Bute-Laced Treat

Last Monday when I went with Tim and Brandon to pick up a load of hay from Leslie, I noticed that Coco's feet seemed to be tender again. He was standing with his forelegs well in front of his body.

When a horse stands "parked out" like that, it's usually sign that their feet hurt. And Coco had been foundered sometime before we got him, and has flare ups occasionally. His coffin bone has also rotated. Poor guy!

Here's a diagram of coffin bone rotation.

He needs to be off lush grass for a while, so Leslie has him in a box stall in the barn. It's oversized, airy, and Skippy stands in the aisle and hangs out with his buddy for company.

Skippy can't be stalled as he gets cast - probably a function of being blind and unable to judge the distance from the walls when he lies down.

Coco was in good spirits and was moving better than I expected.

 He reminds me so much of a stuffed animal. Look at those fuzzy ears!

I needed to give him a dose of bute while I was there.

 It's a medication for horses that alleviates pain, especially in the joints.

I crushed up some of Coco's favorite peppermint nugget treats, then added hot water to them to soften them. He's in his late twenties and his teeth are worn down, so he needs soft food and treats.

Like any good horsey mama, Leslie uses a kitchen mixing bowl for her horses' medical needs. Coco ate right out of it and snarfed that bute-sprinkled treat mash down.

When he was done, I cleaned out and refilled his two water buckets.

And gave him a flake of hay for dinner.

I get to come back tomorrow - I love caring for Coco and Skippy when Leslie is gone.