Knight’s Summer Plans: Pasture and a Bone Scan

Knight has a confirmed case of kissing spine and is now reveling in being a horse in a big pasture while I am traveling for several weeks this summer. I received a cute picture of him via text the other day and wondered, “Why is the barn manager sending me pictures of a gray horse?” until I realized that he was wearing a flysheet and mask. (That’s not the picture.)

Not Like a Dog

I visited Knight a few days before my departure, and my barn friend who joined me for the hour and twenty minute drive to his temporary home said she could tell that Knight was happy to see me. I’d like to think this is true, but horses are so different from dogs. My Doberman squeals in delight when I come home from a long day of work. My Golden Retriever wags his tail and smiles, occasionally surprising me with a happy growl. Knight pricked his ears toward me and let me take cute pictures of him, but there were no whinnies or galloping beelines toward me.

While I was in Knight’s pasture trying to get him to play with me like Alec and The Black, I noticed two baby goats on the other side of the fence and I found myself rushing to the fence line, talking baby talk to kids. A voice from out of nowhere (actually it was a woman on the other side of the fence I hadn’t noticed) asked, “Do you want to feed a goat?” Do I? Silly question.

I jumped at the chance and she handed me a baby bottle and then the little goat. The kid chugged that bottle and I should have timed it because it was impressive. So fast! Then I lifted him (or her) back over the fence to the owner, and realized that was probably the highlight of my whole summer. I might have missed my calling in life: goatherd.

Knight totally ignored me (and the kid), which I guess is better than having a 1,200 pound equine lurking over your shoulder with a tender caprine at my side. I don’t know if that’s the right word, but canine, equine, bovine. . . I looked up “what is a goat” on Google.

Third Vet Exam’s a Charm?

Back to Knight. So last week a third veterinarian came to examine him. This vet specializes in sports medicine and has no connection to me, Knight, my barn, my trainer. He viewed Knight’s radiographs which show the extremely close vertebrae, but said that he was not convinced the KS is what is bothering him. He thought Knight looked a bit uncomfortable in his front feet! So he blocked Knight and the layup/rehab owner who was riding him around a bit for the exam, texted me that Knight seemed much better. (For those of you keeping track, he has not been ridden since the end of March).

It was recommended to me earlier in this kissing spine saga that I should do a bone scan. I tried to set this up weeks ago but for whatever reason, the vet I connected with on this earlier must not be hurting for patients. I called, my trainer called and we never heard back.

This Thursday Knight will have the bone scan done which involves an overnight stay at the clinic. Apparently there is a slight risk of colic with this procedure and so I’m thrilled he’ll be in the hands of all the medical folks since I feel like Knight has such a delicate constitution.

Am I Doing the Right Thing?

I am constantly questioning if I’m doing the right thing. An equine bone scan is very expensive. I hate the thought of a risk of colic. Long story short, I visited an old horse friend (she’s not old, but I’ve known her over 20 years), and while seeing her horse one of her friends happened by. We were introduced and I poured out a condensed version of the kissing spine drama. This woman’s dad was a vet, her fiance is a vet and she told me it was a wonderful idea to do the bone scan on Knight. That I would get a full picture of what’s going on with his body. What could be better than that?

Leave a Comment (Please!): Have you ever had a bone scan for your horse? If not you, do you know anyone who has had this? What do you know about this procedure and did the findings help?

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