DAY 56, 57, 58, 59 & 60 - More Tick Bites & Bad Weather

Sunday morning, I was planning on taking Possum out for another short spin around the neighborhood before I had to take off for the afternoon, but was alarmed to discover another tick bite, this time on his neck, and the swelling accompanying the bite was about the size of a smushed golf ball. This was distressing to me, so I sent Ryan a text about it. She called me back, and mentioned that Possum had tested positive for Lymes 2 years ago, and so she was putting in a call to her vet to get some advise. I managed to get the tiny tick out of his neck, and pressed a hot wash cloth against the bite and swelling for awhile. Before I went off for the day, I filled up his paddock with hay, and tried not to worry too much about it. When I got back at night, I couldn't see very well in the dark barn, but I thought the swelling had gone down a bit.

Tick bite and swelling on Sunday morning.

The next morning (Monday), however, I saw in the day light that the swelling had in fact increased and spread, so I let Ryan know. We discussed the possibility of antibiotics, but later that day, when I ran into Donna as we met while I was hand walking Possum, she had learned from her vet that a round of antibiotics for horses can run into the hundreds of dollars, maybe even up to $500! Gulp! She and I grazed the horses in her back yard for awhile together, and Luanne came up to drop off the boys, and we hung around and chatted for awhile. Donna found another tick on Big Mack's neck, and it was comforting to have Luanne there to see Possum's tick bites and assure me that he would most likely heal himself. So, I took that to heart, and led Possum back home and let him work it out. After his evening meal, I took a few more photos of the tick bite and swelling on his neck and sent them to Ryan. She observed that he looked "dull" in his eyes and was not too happy. Meanwhile, we were waiting to hear from the vet and hoping that his body would heal itself.

Sad pony on Monday evening.

And the next morning, Tuesday, it had gone down, and he seemed a bit happier. The rains picked up and as of now (Thursday morning), we have been in the midst of a nasty Nor'Easter, with strong gusting winds and lots and lots of rain. So, no riding on Tuesday, no riding yesterday, no riding today, maybe not even tomorrow!

Yesterday, Wednesday (day 59), I found a lull from the rains in the early afternoon, and without even grooming the mud off of him, I put on his halter and took him out for a long walk. He was bit bratty at first, nippy and stalling a lot, but once we got down to the bottom of the hill, he began to enjoy himself. We walked almost all the way to the end of New Road, then turned and walked all the way back and down to Dr. Doyle's, then back up the hill. Once in a while, I let him stop and have a few bites of grass. Back at our place, we went out to our back yard and grazed for another 20 minutes or so, before the rain started coming down harder and I brought him back to his paddock.

He stayed outside most of the day, but towards dusk and feeding time, he came back to the stall to get out of the wind. I decided to give him his first bran mash since he's been here, so that was fun and certainly enjoyed that!

Bran, molasses. carrot skins & celery ends soaking in boiled water.

Cooled down & mixed with pellets, ready to devour!

Around midnight, I closed him into the stall for the night. He did not protest! While he was in the stall, I cleaned up a few more poops, fluffed up his bedding and added a little more fresh bedding. I topped off the water bucket and left him with many flakes of hay. I even brushed some of the dried up mud from his face and body, and he seemed to appreciate that, as well. I left the little blue strand of Christmas lights on for a dim light, and wished him well for the night. He seemed content, but I could not help but still worry. Somehow, I slept, and this morning, when I went out to feed him, he was totally relaxed! The wind is still gusting like mad, and the rain is coming down. It is 8:30 and I still haven't opened his stall doors yet, but I will soon. I checked the fence line and paddock, and they are in good shape. Just a few branches down in the paddock, but not on the fence! Anyway, at least the swelling from the tick bite on his neck almost completely gone.

So, another long day of stormy weather. Lessons have been cancelled and I think even my weekly walk with Donna, too! Icky icky day.