"Briar Rose"
Sampson County: May 10, 2007
Sampson County Animal Control received a report of a horse with a severe injury that was not being treated. Upon arrival they found a yearling filly with a devastating and painful injury to her right hind leg caused by barbed wire fencing. The injury was old and infected.
The owner was located and could not afford veterinary care. He surrendered the filly to the county who, in turn, donated the filly to USERL. The filly was transported to a USERL quarantine May 10th where a veterinarian immediately washed the injury and debrided the dead tissue.
Unfortunately, several inches of the cannon bone have been exposed for weeks now and her prognosis is guarded at this time. She also colicked, but has recovered from that well.
This case is pending and is still under investigation at this time.
Read more about her recovery.
Sampson County Animal Control received a report of a horse with a severe injury that was not being treated. Upon arrival they found a yearling filly with a devastating and painful injury to her right hind leg caused by barbed wire fencing. The injury was old and infected.
The owner was located and could not afford veterinary care. He surrendered the filly to the county who, in turn, donated the filly to USERL. The filly was transported to a USERL quarantine May 10th where a veterinarian immediately washed the injury and debrided the dead tissue.
Unfortunately, several inches of the cannon bone have been exposed for weeks now and her prognosis is guarded at this time. She also colicked, but has recovered from that well.
This case is pending and is still under investigation at this time.
Read more about her recovery.
Update: May 16, 2007:
Briar Rose has had some set-backs. The leg wound is healing very well, but will require surgery at a later date to remove the surface of the cannon bone that was exposed from the injury. She requires daily bandage changes due to excessive drainage from the wound. The positive side is that she can't feel anything in the wound due to severed nerves. So she stands quietly and patiently for her daily wound care and bandaging.
Briar Rose is also having problems eating. Appears to be hungry, takes a bite, then walks away. Grazing is slow and lethargic and she began to drool yesterday. An exam of her mouth days earlier showed nothing, but a second look found swollen, rough patches on the very back of her tongue (nothing found abnormal in the front of her mouth). Briar Rose was transported to the veterinary clinic this morning so they could sedate and examine her in the treatment stocks.
A thorough exam found multiple ulcerations on the back of her tongue and back cheeks. Discussion between the veterinarians, a USERL investigator and Sampson County Animal Control led to the diagnosis of plant toxicity due to Buttercups. Briar Rose was found in a small pasture full of Buttercups, and she was seen eating them.
Buttercups are not highly toxic, but if large amounts are consumed they cause ulcerations of the mucosal membranes of the body. Which means they ulcerate the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines.... Other signs include swelling of the muzzle/face/throat and diarrhea. Briar Rose showed no signs of swelling or diarrhea, but had obviously consumed large amounts of the weed, damaging her tongue/mouth, and most likely, her stomach and intestines.
To help the healing process, Briar Rose must now have her mouth rinsed out daily and flushed with medication.
Briar Rose has had some set-backs. The leg wound is healing very well, but will require surgery at a later date to remove the surface of the cannon bone that was exposed from the injury. She requires daily bandage changes due to excessive drainage from the wound. The positive side is that she can't feel anything in the wound due to severed nerves. So she stands quietly and patiently for her daily wound care and bandaging.
Briar Rose is also having problems eating. Appears to be hungry, takes a bite, then walks away. Grazing is slow and lethargic and she began to drool yesterday. An exam of her mouth days earlier showed nothing, but a second look found swollen, rough patches on the very back of her tongue (nothing found abnormal in the front of her mouth). Briar Rose was transported to the veterinary clinic this morning so they could sedate and examine her in the treatment stocks.
A thorough exam found multiple ulcerations on the back of her tongue and back cheeks. Discussion between the veterinarians, a USERL investigator and Sampson County Animal Control led to the diagnosis of plant toxicity due to Buttercups. Briar Rose was found in a small pasture full of Buttercups, and she was seen eating them.
Buttercups are not highly toxic, but if large amounts are consumed they cause ulcerations of the mucosal membranes of the body. Which means they ulcerate the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines.... Other signs include swelling of the muzzle/face/throat and diarrhea. Briar Rose showed no signs of swelling or diarrhea, but had obviously consumed large amounts of the weed, damaging her tongue/mouth, and most likely, her stomach and intestines.
To help the healing process, Briar Rose must now have her mouth rinsed out daily and flushed with medication.
Update: May 20, 2007
Briar Rose has turned the corner in her recovery! After daily cleansing and medicating of her mouth, she began to eat with gusto late Saturday evening. Through Sunday appetite continued to improve and she is now eating hay as well.
Her leg continues to do well, and wonderful donations of bandage supplies have come in to help with this expense. Her leg will continue to need to be bandaged daily for at least another month, then fewer intervals thereafter hopefully. There is also her needed surgery when she is stronger. All donations for her medical care can be written directly to the veterinarian hospital and mailed to address below. Her expenses for vet care alone are now at $1200.00. She very much wants a second chance for a better life. Your donation can help her have that!
Briar Rose has turned the corner in her recovery! After daily cleansing and medicating of her mouth, she began to eat with gusto late Saturday evening. Through Sunday appetite continued to improve and she is now eating hay as well.
Her leg continues to do well, and wonderful donations of bandage supplies have come in to help with this expense. Her leg will continue to need to be bandaged daily for at least another month, then fewer intervals thereafter hopefully. There is also her needed surgery when she is stronger. All donations for her medical care can be written directly to the veterinarian hospital and mailed to address below. Her expenses for vet care alone are now at $1200.00. She very much wants a second chance for a better life. Your donation can help her have that!
Update: May 27, 2007
Many thanks for the support of donations for Briar Rose! She is making progress with her badly injured right hind leg. However, there are now also concerns about the future prognosis of her left hind leg which was also damaged by barbwire and had already healed over when she came to USERL. Possible damage to the hock joint in an area of high motion could result in future problems. Only time will tell, and USERL will give her plenty of that.
However, Briar Rose is feeling great, much more active and busy catching up on life! She continues to need daily bandage changes for some time to come. To date, USERL has received boxes of bandage material from all over for her needs. And those needs will continue! A future surgery is also needed to remove dead bone and will be scheduled when she is more stabilized.
Many thanks for the support of donations for Briar Rose! She is making progress with her badly injured right hind leg. However, there are now also concerns about the future prognosis of her left hind leg which was also damaged by barbwire and had already healed over when she came to USERL. Possible damage to the hock joint in an area of high motion could result in future problems. Only time will tell, and USERL will give her plenty of that.
However, Briar Rose is feeling great, much more active and busy catching up on life! She continues to need daily bandage changes for some time to come. To date, USERL has received boxes of bandage material from all over for her needs. And those needs will continue! A future surgery is also needed to remove dead bone and will be scheduled when she is more stabilized.
Left: USERL volunteers give Briar Rose a bath on their holiday weekend. She thoroughly enjoyed it!
Right: Her leg is healing very well with new, pink tissue growing in.
Right: Her leg is healing very well with new, pink tissue growing in.
Memorial Day:
Left: Briar Rose enjoys an afternoon in the pasture.
Right: Dreamer joined Briar Rose in their afternoon of freedom.
Left: Briar Rose enjoys an afternoon in the pasture.
Right: Dreamer joined Briar Rose in their afternoon of freedom.
UPDATE! July 2, 2007
Briar Rose is doing great! She had her first surgery last Friday, June 29th to remove the surface of the cannon bone that had died from being exposed so long.
The surgery site was at Neuse River Veterinary Hospital. NC State College of Veterinary Medicine surgeons, residents and students came out to perform the surgery. Dr. Katy Carothers, an intern at Neuse River, and Dr. Bob Meyer organized the procedure for USERL. All went very well on this first milestone for Briar Rose.
Briar Rose is doing great! She had her first surgery last Friday, June 29th to remove the surface of the cannon bone that had died from being exposed so long.
The surgery site was at Neuse River Veterinary Hospital. NC State College of Veterinary Medicine surgeons, residents and students came out to perform the surgery. Dr. Katy Carothers, an intern at Neuse River, and Dr. Bob Meyer organized the procedure for USERL. All went very well on this first milestone for Briar Rose.
Left: June 5, 2007, the wound was healing nicely. The black center is the surface of the cannon bone that was dead due to prolonged exposure to air. By the time of surgery, the wound had completely healed over and it was time for the dead bone to be removed.
Right: June 29, 2007
NCSU Veterinary surgeons and residents assist Briar Rose back to her stall after her successful surgery.
Right: June 29, 2007
NCSU Veterinary surgeons and residents assist Briar Rose back to her stall after her successful surgery.
Left: July 2, 2007
USERL volunteers come to the clinic to learn how to wrap Briar Rose's special wet/dry bandage. The surgery removed the dead bone, and now the wound must be left open again to heal. To prevent damage to the bone while the wound heals again, it must be kept sterile and moist (and, of course, changed every day).
Right: July 2, 2007
Briar Rose has been rebandaged and is ready to go home to her foster.
USERL volunteers come to the clinic to learn how to wrap Briar Rose's special wet/dry bandage. The surgery removed the dead bone, and now the wound must be left open again to heal. To prevent damage to the bone while the wound heals again, it must be kept sterile and moist (and, of course, changed every day).
Right: July 2, 2007
Briar Rose has been rebandaged and is ready to go home to her foster.
Update July 15, 2007: Briar Rose is doing wonderfully! Her wound is healing great from the surgery with the exposed bone almost covered again. She has required wet/dry bandages every other day to protect the exposed bone while it healed. Her foster is doing a fantastic job with her and she continues to win the hearts of all that meet her. Updated pics are coming soon.
Update August 17, 2007
Briar Rose has recovered beutifully from her surgery, gained weight in rehab, and grew a good 1 Hand in the last month. Radiographs show that she will probably not need a second surgery as it appears the dead bone was completely removed the first time. Her other injured hock is showing signs of arthritis.
Briar Rose is now wrapped with a light bandage every other day to facilitate the healing of the wound. Neuse River veterinarians, Dr. Kate Christenson and Dr. Katie Carothers, have made weekly visits to evaluate the wound and remove proud flesh so that her skin will grow to completely cover the large wound area.
Briar Rose has so many to thank for her recovery. It took many working together to give her a chance. USERL gives thanks to her foster, volunteer caretakers, bandage and financial donators that have given Briar Rose her new future.
Updates will continue to be posted on Briar Rose so that the many involved can see her blossom.
Briar Rose has recovered beutifully from her surgery, gained weight in rehab, and grew a good 1 Hand in the last month. Radiographs show that she will probably not need a second surgery as it appears the dead bone was completely removed the first time. Her other injured hock is showing signs of arthritis.
Briar Rose is now wrapped with a light bandage every other day to facilitate the healing of the wound. Neuse River veterinarians, Dr. Kate Christenson and Dr. Katie Carothers, have made weekly visits to evaluate the wound and remove proud flesh so that her skin will grow to completely cover the large wound area.
Briar Rose has so many to thank for her recovery. It took many working together to give her a chance. USERL gives thanks to her foster, volunteer caretakers, bandage and financial donators that have given Briar Rose her new future.
Updates will continue to be posted on Briar Rose so that the many involved can see her blossom.
Thank you to everyone that has contributed to Briar Rose's ongoing recovery thus far! The bandage supplies and monetary donations have helped tremendously with the financial burden of rehabilitating this wonderful filly. Donations are still needed as her medical care continues for several more months. In addition, it is highly unlikely that all the dead pieces of bone were removed with this first surgery (it was a large piece down the front of her cannon bone); therefore, a second surgery will most likely be needed to complete this part of her recovery. Continued donations are needed and much appreciated!
Briar Rose's Guardian Angels: Thank You!!!
Ruby Scheer Sampson County Animal Control
Katherine Ramsey Neuse River Veterinary Hospital Veterinarians!
Gail Boyd NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine!
Amanda Blake Lisa Godwin
Teri Crosier Elizabeth Honeycutt
Rachel Dillard Kathy Horky
Gwen Bryant Janet Sylvester
Gwen Kilpatrick Amanda Warren
Deb Carl Judy Mathews and the Boots-n-Saddles 4H Club
Barbara Cohen
Briar Rose's Guardian Angels: Thank You!!!
Ruby Scheer Sampson County Animal Control
Katherine Ramsey Neuse River Veterinary Hospital Veterinarians!
Gail Boyd NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine!
Amanda Blake Lisa Godwin
Teri Crosier Elizabeth Honeycutt
Rachel Dillard Kathy Horky
Gwen Bryant Janet Sylvester
Gwen Kilpatrick Amanda Warren
Deb Carl Judy Mathews and the Boots-n-Saddles 4H Club
Barbara Cohen
Copyright 2007/2008 © United States Equine Rescue League, Inc. All rights reserved.
May 10, 2008:
Exactly one year after coming into USERL, Briar Rose is truly a miracle. The filly has grown in the past year into a beauty, and her wound continues to heal very well.
Briar Rose has been with a USERL foster, who is also a registered veterinary technician. Her knowledge and skills have helped Briar Rose forego skin grafts to cover the large wound area. Instead, meticulous cleaning and bandaging have allowed the skin to grow back significantly. And it's continuing to grow. So Briar Rose has thus far been able to avoid another surgery. She continues to have "jerky" hocks, but it doesn't appear to cause her any pain as she runs and bucks and she's never needed any pain management since the initial surgeries.
This filly continues to be just a sweet, personable gal. She will make a wonderful companion horse (but will require sociable attention from the humans). With this remarkable progress, it is hopeful that Briar Rose will be available for adoption later this year.
Exactly one year after coming into USERL, Briar Rose is truly a miracle. The filly has grown in the past year into a beauty, and her wound continues to heal very well.
Briar Rose has been with a USERL foster, who is also a registered veterinary technician. Her knowledge and skills have helped Briar Rose forego skin grafts to cover the large wound area. Instead, meticulous cleaning and bandaging have allowed the skin to grow back significantly. And it's continuing to grow. So Briar Rose has thus far been able to avoid another surgery. She continues to have "jerky" hocks, but it doesn't appear to cause her any pain as she runs and bucks and she's never needed any pain management since the initial surgeries.
This filly continues to be just a sweet, personable gal. She will make a wonderful companion horse (but will require sociable attention from the humans). With this remarkable progress, it is hopeful that Briar Rose will be available for adoption later this year.
Briar Rose's leg one year after her injury. The skin has grown significantly!