On Friday, October 2, 2009, we were about to vaccinate Ohlone. As I entered her pen, I sensed she was not herself. She had a frustrated look in her eyes, and then looked at me and I instantly saw what the cause was!
Her lower lip and part of her jaw was swollen; not a lot, but enough for me feel we needed our veterinarian. I left a message with her and left someone to watch Ohlone for a while. Ohlone was trying to eat, and doing a fair job considering her lower lip was not working well.
I returned to check Ohlone, and the swelling had progressed to the other side of her jaw and up her nose! Her behavior and appearance showed the pain she felt. I took a close look in case I could see the cause—bee sting? Allergy? A rattlesnake bite? I told myself that it just couldn’t be!
As I had not yet heard back, we called our veterinarian’s emergency number and found the receptionist was off that day. I felt lucky to have her personal number, as we go back many years. We talked about Ohlone’s symptoms, and I told her that I was able to press on her lower teeth without causing her pain, but there was a black and blue area on the inside of her lower lip. With just the touch of my fingers on her lip, she pulled away in pain.
We gave Ohlone emergency medications and set up a night watch to make sure Ohlone could breath. She seemed more comfortable after the medicine took effect.
She made it through the night, but it was obvious that she had not recovered overnight; the swelling was worse. This was no ordinary bite—the medicine had merely kept Ohlone alive. Upon examination and another treatment, our veterinarian determined that Ohlone needed a hospital and a special device in her neck to help her breathe in case the swelling continued.
Our veterinarian had confirmed our worst fear: a rattlesnake bite. She had found two small puncture wounds on her muzzle. The veterinary team at Estrella Equine Clinic immediately started emergency care on Ohlone. She was starting to have some trouble breathing through her nose and was looking wide-eyed and frightened. The veterinarian began treatment for the snake bite, and performed a tracheotomy—placing a breathing tube in her neck—to help her breathe easily. During the night Ohlone’s airway swelled and closed, showing how important that tracheotomy had been. Without it, she would surely have died. She also had blood-clotting problems—common with snake bites.
Ohlone had survived the most critical stage, but she couldn’t eat well or drink easily, so she had to have IV fluids until she could eat and drink on her own. She even had a bit of tummy trouble due to not having drunk enough.
She also developed a common side effect of a tracheotomy—air under her skin. Petting her feels like petting crumpled saran wrap; it isn’t painful, but feels very strange to the touch.
Ohlone spent five days at the veterinary hospital, and has returned to Redwings where she is recovering well.
The medical expenses for Ohlone totaled over $4,000. But for such a sweet horse, this is funds well-spent. This great horse has taught many people how to be safe with a horse over the past year. She is a valuable and loved member of the Redwings Equine Team.
If you would like to help Redwings assure enough funds to help in these emergency situations, please send a donation.
Ohlone is an 18-year-old Arabian mare with vision in only one eye. Jasper and Ohlone were rescued together in July of 2008. They have been inseparable. Luckily, Jasper was able to go with Ohlone, which was critical to keeping her calm.
