Our story began on September 5, 1996.
I received a call, the kind any owner doesn't want to get.
It was the stable calling to let me know that Justice was sick and
the local vet Dr. Lisa Handy from Aiken, S.C. was on her way.
Of course the words Justice & sick was all I needed & within no time
at all I was at the stable.
There stood Justice looking at me with those wonderful eyes of his
but this time I didn’t see his gleam I saw his pain. Such a terrible
thing to know they are in pain but unable to do anything for them
but to try & comfort them until the vet arrives.
Dr. Handy arrived after me, although it seemed
like an eternity she was there in no time. After the examination the
words no horse person wants to hear were said " Colic " she did what
she could, giving him the oil enema & a shot to try & relax his
system.
But after 30 minutes it was apparent that he wasn’t getting any
better, & Dr. Handy called UGA to let her know that Justice was on
his way & to give him what information she had & off we went to UGA.
My friend Larry drove us to GA., the trip seemed
to take forever but we were finally there. We would make a couple of
stops along the way to check on Justice. He was in such pain.
He was standing there so stiff with all four legs spread out, as to
steady himself for turns so he wouldn't have to move.
The staff was ready for us when we pulled into the emergency
entrance. Justice was taken straight in and they started the
examination. There were people all around him. All doing something
different. He was checked by at least six people.
Dr. Zwingenberger was the first person that I
spoke with & Dr. Basket the vet on call was his doctor. Once
they finished the examination next sentence you don’t want to hear
came out. "Justice needs an operation." They couldn’t tell from the
exam what the problem was but the outlook at that time was not good.
Dr. Basket gave me the details of what may be wrong & the outlook if
that was the case.
Of course I said "yes."
No sooner did I say yes he was lead into a room covered with thick
pads, on the walls & floor.
This is where they give them the anesthesia. The padding protects
the horse so that when they go down they can’t hurt themselves.
There was a small window so I could view the process & I watched as
Justice laid down & went into his deep sleep.
Next came the task of moving him from the floor
into the Operating Room onto the table. That I had to see.
They used padded cuffs around his ankles & a hoist. I watched as
this massive animal was moved to the operating room.
There he was laid on his back on the operating table legs in the air
but supported.
There was an observation room so I could watch
the operation. Everyone was busy. Dr. Trim was his anesthesiologist.
She hooked him up, he had an oxygen tube & heart monitor.
Dr. Basket started the operation.
Time seemed to go by very slowly. I watched as
Dr. Basket explored his intestinal system.
As the anesthesiologist monitored Justice. She would stroke his head
& pat him from time to time. Letting him know all was ok.
Finally it was over.
They called me back to talk to Dr. Basket she was very pleased to
tell me that everything went well. The best news of all they didn’t
have to cut any of his intestinal system.
The problem that she saw was that his intestine was looped around
his spleen. She also told me that his colon was healthy & everything
was replaced in normal anatomic position.
Now was the task of moving him back to recovery.
Again lifting him up & back to the room with the thick mats he was
laid down & the lights were turned down low & a towel placed over
his eyes. They left him to come out of the anesthesia.
We watched him from outside as they had a video camera watching him.
We sat for what seemed eternity. Then finally he woke up. And with a
little coaxing he slowly rose to his feet.
When he was able to walk, he was moved to a very
nice stall where he could relax & recover.
There they kept him hooked up to an IV for a couple of days to make
sure he didn’t dehydrate & he was fed bran mash & Alfalfa.
They kept him there a little over a week. I
visited him many times.
I would brush him & then just sit in his stall at times saying a
prayer for him. I wanted to let him know even though he was in this
strange place & felt bad that I loved him. He looked so pathetic,
you could tell he wasn't his old self yet. But he was getting
better.
At last the day came when they said he could go home to finish
his recovery.
So off we went I was so happy to have my boy back. He had a nice
long recovery. I visited him every day at the stable & would take
him out for walks & before long he was feeling like the old Justice.
Perky & ready to kick up his heels.
I didn’t ride him for five months but when I finally did he was the
same "Great" horse I had known before the operation.
I thank everyone at the University of Georgia
Athens for the EXCELLENT care that was given to Justice. For
without them I may have lost this magnificent animal.
I would not hesitate to take any of my animals
there for I think they are the greatest people in the world.
Again this comes straight from my heart:
"THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU"
Justice is now lives here on our farm & living
life to the fullest.
