In Memory of Hunter | Oct. 8, 2020

 I haven't even had a chance to write up a post on Regionals, because the day I got home from the show I walked in the door and found Hunter - my sweet, toothless, diabetic, tripod cat - very very sick.

Waiting in the car at the vet.

He was catatonic, dry heaving when I tried to wake him and severely dehydrated.

I had a cat sitter for when I was gone, and that is a long story.

Basically I will never know what exactly happened. 

Thankfully, my ER nurse friend gave me a bag of fluids that I started to run sq immediately. And I called the vet. Oddly, his blood sugar was normal. His temp was normal.

Giving fluids

Once we run a bunch of tests at the vet, we found his potassium was extremely low - which could be the reason behind his lethargy. So he spent the night in the hospital on a slow drip and more fluids. I was really hoping he would perk back up in the morning.

Well, he didn't. More tests. thyroid normal, urine culture fine. Blood sugar still was not soaring even though at this point it should have been since I stopped giving him insulin (he had ZERO interest in food) After his potassium drip, we did get those numbers back up to normal but then his phosphorus plummeted. At this point the vet started calling specialists because she had never encountered this. 

On his sun window. lol

Tuesday night, there was still no change in Hunter's condition. We discussed a few things, including a possible tumor on his kidneys. There is a test for this, but you have to send the blood to the University of michigan and they only run this test once a week. OR he was more likely a very very sick DKA cat (Diabetic Ketoacidosis). We did find ketones in his urine, but his low glucose numbers were throwing us off. (A typical DKA cat will have blood glucose often so high it's off the meter). One of the specialists did say that can happen, but only in the sickest cats.

There was a chance we could pull him through. But it would require at least a couple weeks in intensive ICU on multiple drips and $5K + in bills. And still no guarantee. 

I brought up euthanasia and the vet very kindly agreed with me. We decided to give him one more night on fluids, just to see if any improvement.

By Wednesday, he remained the same. And his potassium had dropped back down.

So I went in about 3 pm and held him and pet him. I knew it was the right thing, his eyes were vacant. He did try weakly to roll over for a belly rub, and put his head on my hand. He knew I was there, but he was just too sick to pull through.

He died so peacefully in my lap.

I am trying very hard to not feel enormous guilt over this. What if I had not left town? What if it was someone else watching him? did I miss early DKA signs myself and he crashed? Did I not manage his diabetes well enough? 

It just sucks. I have no idea what happened and was not remotely prepared to lose an animal. It was so sudden.

Buckley seems to be ok, he was a little extra vocal for a couple of days and a little extra clingy. Also pissed because he isn't getting unlimited canned food anymore. Poor starved animal.

Do any of my blogger friends have diabetic animals? I have some supplies and insulin I'm willing to donate. If not, I can take to the shelter.

He would sleep with his paw in my hand almost every day lol

Fun on Furlough

 I'm making the best of my furlough days lately! 

The BFF Liz brought Royale down on Saturday and we took the boys to Deam Lake for some trail riding. The last time I was there we did an easy ride, but this time we took a different loop and while fun I would not call it an easy trail. It was a 6-mile loop of some significant terrain, creek crossing, mud and challenging hills. It was a great fitness ride for both boys! After two hours they were both running out of quarters lol!

Photo did not capture how steep this hill was!

It never ceases to amaze me that kind of people one can encounter on trail rides, especially in southern Indiana. How one can ride without a shirt in the woods I will never know. #enjoythoseticks

Now it's time to get back in gear for Regionals!

I've logged about 20 hours on a kayak over the past
2 weeks, too! Love it!

Beats per minute

 My generous barn friend let me play with her HyloFit system the other day. I've never used one, but was curious to see Hampton's heart rate (and mine!) during a typical morning of schooling.

It was really easy to hook up. The horse sensor goes on the left side, hooked up around the girth.

And the human sensor is on a band that you can tuck up under your bra.

Download the app, and you are all set!

I'm not sure I had the human monitor on correctly since at first it registered my resting heart rate around 37. I did indeed confirm that I was conscious, and no Code Blue needed.

Hampton checked in at about 68 bpm for his resting heart rate, which is technically high so who knows how accurate I had this thing.

So you select what discipline you are doing for that ride, and then off you go.

We had a very typical 40 minute school. And here was the results:

Keeping in mind I'm not sure how accurate the numbers really are, I do think the 

general up and downs do represent the general trend of his heart rate. I'm not sure why it didn't register my distance or speed?

The colors represent zones:

I like how we stayed in Zone 2 and 3 most of the ride. And it appears he recovers quite well. He is fit, but as as fit as I would like right now since I didn't do much fitness work this spring due to his foot. 

I think I probably need to use this once or twice a week to really get a feel for it. Then you can see trends and take more of an average in numbers.

Anyway, a fun experiment and I can see how useful this would be especially for eventers.

Gratuitous photo of Buckley trying to smush into this scratch pad box

Masked blue ribbon bandits

 

Mascot Fluffy in compliance with USEF rules

Indiana Dressage Festival was another fun, well run and successful show. We seem to always do well here, even though logically I know that has nothing to do with anything.

(I think it's silly to blame a venue for both failure and/or success)

Hamp and Fluffy

I didn't even school Friday evening, just did a handwalk and graze. And we rode early Saturday morning and had a solid I-1 test. He got a little flat toward the end and a couple of our twos were late, but I could have half halted better and helped him there. That was our ONLY bobble.

We got a solid 63%, won the class and got high point I-1. This judge was pretty tough and quite a few rides, especially in the FEI, were not in the 60s. So I was really happy with this score and our ride. We are just so much more organized and polished, and Hampton is able to maintain a cadenced trot in the show ring for longer. A lot of movements we used to just get a 6 on, I have now raised up to a 7 so that is helping me out when I do make those mistakes.

We had all day to chill and then a freestyle around 4:45 pm. I did a very abbreviated warm up and went on in. He was still kind of flat, but obedient and we managed a solid 64%. 

I decided since he was SO good for two weekends in a row, to scratch Sunday's freestyle. I rarely scratch tests, but felt like he had earned it and I didn't want to make him stand in a stall another day just to do another freestyle when I had the scores I needed. SO I THOUGHT.

At the time I THOUGHT it was a regional qualifying score, but I had forgotten they raised it from 63 to a 65. So infact I am still one score short for a freestyle. FML. It's likely I just won't take my freestyle to regionals at this point.

All for the Tiktok

I schooled him in the morning instead. We did the entire I-2 with the exception of the ones! 

Then I took him home and tossed him back out in the field as a reward for being The Best PorkChop.

So that means we are all qualified for Regionals. And that's IF they happen. If they do, we will be ready. And if not, well that's how this year is going so either way!

And if we go, we will be going to Region 4 this time around. St. Louis! HINT HINT bloggers in that area! :) *Cough LEAH cough*

Watermelon sugar high

 

Spoiler alert:

We went to a horse show and absolutely killed it!

I was totally prepared to scratch at any moment due to foot issues, not sweating, covid, astroids, or whatever else 2020 has in mind. But Hampton is just getting better and better so off we went to Ohio's Majestic Farm. 

We had absolutely PERFECT horse show weather all weekend, and while we did have to  wear masks when not mounted, it was really quite easy to follow covid protocol and still have a fun time showing. So there's no excuse not to comply people. 

Saturday I rode the I-1 in the morning and Hampton was a total rockstar. Businesslike, obedient, just right there for me. Unfortunately, I miscounted my twos AGAIN and only did 5 instead of 7. I realized it as soon as I did it. Sigh. Pat the horse, slap the rider.

We ended up with a solid 62+% and great comments and scores. And won the class! We missed high point by just a fraction, too.

Step brother Royale came too and scored nothing less than a 65 at First level all weekend!

Schooling Friday afternoon

Sunday afternoon was my freestyle. In typical Karen fashion, it was the first time I've actually ridden it to the music. Whoops. lol. But it went pretty well. I only had to add one extra circle because I was off my mark in the music. Hampton was a little more down on front, and not as sharp but still a good boy and much to my surprise we got a bangin' score of 69.8%! (Under judge Tom Poulin)

I nearly fainted as that is the best score of my LIFE at recognized dressage. 

We are now qualified for the I-1 at regionals, and just need one more freestyle score.

(If regionals even happen. Sigh)

Evening graze in PJs

Just Royale standing by the tailgate to be mounted. lol Liz did a bomb job this weekend.

We had 5 of us from our farm at the show, plus honorary members Liz and Royale. Everyone had great rides and great scores. It was such a fun time. 

And now I get to do a bunch of laundry and do it all over again this weekend at the Hoosier Horse Park!

Liz took this of us walking around after Friday schooling

Thank you Gods of Sweat

Glorious sweat marks

If the God of Sweat existed I would be singing my praises to her.

Hampton is back to sweating normally! 

I'm not religious but PRAISE THE BABEH JEZZUS

I did double his dose of One AC, and at the same time the weather finally broke to much more comfortable temps in the 70s/low 80s. So not sure which one finally did the trick but Hampton is much happier and back to his normal self, and his owner no longer has to develop ulcers from worrying about him.

Freestyle practice day

We are on track for a horse show this weekend. Things are always dicey with covid, but at this point in time I feel the risk of going to this show is within the acceptable range for me. (It is a private facility in Ohio)

 And of course I will comply with all mask and distancing requirements. If they cancel, they cancel. But boy do I feel bad for those kiddos who were already on the grounds for the Pony Finals at the Kentucky Horse Park, only to have that canceled. Talk about heartbreaking.

It's a funny balance. On one hand, I don't want to take unnecessary risks. I want to keep myself safe, and those I care about. On the other hand, I don't want to live in fear. I'm trying to do the best I can while following all protocol. Is going to a horse show being foolish? I'm not sure.

in the meantime, I literally threw together our freestyle. I had let it go because of the soundness issues we were having. I figured show season was probably done. Jokes on me. So, I will be winging that particular test this weekend. Fine by me though! I'm so thrilled that Hamp is back to sound and happy. 

A little on the chonky side but ... we will just call that his covid bod.

hey it's no sweat!

Spot the swamp monster

Do you want the good news or bad news first?

The good news is that Hampton has not only been sound since his bursa injection, but he is starting to feel AMAZING again. He hasn't felt like this all year. So I am keeping my fingers crossed that we finally got him and whatever was bothering him. Things could go downhill again of course, but we are now almost 2 weeks post injection. Total best case scenario right now.

Thank you everyone who reached out with thoughts for Hamp! 

....BUT

(there's a BUT)

Saying hi to May from May As Well Event!
#bloggershoutout

This week Hampton decided to stop sweating. He has come in from the field twice now with increased respiration, flared nostrils, not sweating and generally looked miserable.

Thankfully after hosing him for 5-10 minutes he is back to normal and is otherwise drinking, pooping and peeing just fine. I have never dealt with a horse with anhydrosis before so all tips and tricks welcome.

I did run out and get him some One AC, and I think I'll try giving him a beer with breakfast as well. And of course we already school in the mornings to help beat the heat. He already gets electrolytes, too.

He has always been one to tolerate the heat very well. And has always been a profuse sweater, so much so that people make fun of him. So I'm pretty worried that he has suddenly shut down. I imagine because it's been 90+ degrees daily for a month straight with 10000% humidity, and no real relief at night. 

2020 is just giving everyone all sorts of hell. I mean geez!

And as of this blog post we are still on track for 2 shows in August. With covid surging everything is always up in the air but that's the plan for now!