Living with COPD

So yet another thing my old man and I have in common - shitty lungs.  I have told everyone on here about how terrible Dutch's allergies are and about how many different (expensive) medicines and treatments we rotate through to keep his allergic butt happy and healthy.

Last year

This year



This summer (like last summer) has sucked.  It has been so hot, and the weather has been so crazy.  I have managed to keep Dutch's allergies and COPD mostly under control.  Our AWESOME neighbor has continued to let us use the field behind his house.  It gives us about a little under 2 acres of grass.  We also had the cool season annual grass in our lower turn out (until it died in July).  This meant the horses spent less time with their heads in the round bale and more time grazing.

Yummy grass

This has worked up until 3 -4 weeks ago when everything came to a crashing halt. 

First he pulled both shoes and we had to go back to casts. $$$  Then he pulled the casts.. $$$$

We have kept him happy with weekly trail rides and visits to near by barns with very low key (walking) work.  Then 3 weeks ago we went for a trail and he just could not catch his breath on the hills.  He powered along on a loose rein leading for all the flat stretches, but even the smallest up or down hill and he would be puffing and coughing.  

We tried to keep him mellow and calm the last few weeks, but it kept getting worse.  He would be puffing just standing under his fan.

Shiny, ok weight, but breathing hard


The vet came out and said that all she hears are a few wheezes.  She thinks his runny nose and cough (which are pretty cyclical) are due to inflammation and that some horses just stop responding to oral dex.  So now we go to shots.  He will get his 3rd dose tonight, but yesterday he was able to walk up the big hill without stopping to cough.  Of course this is supposed to be the week the weather finally breaks, but I am hopeful I have my big dude back.

I just want to be here again.



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