24 Hours To Live
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It was a Wednesday, I think. The day my grandparents called telling me they had two more horses for me to fall in love with. My grandparents raced horses so they sometimes had new prospects around the farm. Buying the younger ones and getting them good enough to win, or if they don't do too well they would be sold and their next owners might have better luck.
When they called about the two new horses I couldn't wait to see their new boys. When I got to the track I was the first out of the car, as always. I ran into the barn to see Jill, their mare, and completely forgot about the other horses I was suppose to meet. When I was standing at Jill's stall I felt something nudge my shoulder.
I turned to see a gorgeous bay gelding with a star and snip.
He looked like a little Quarter Horse and was a sweetie. His name was Doc. Over the next few weeks I spent some time with him. Grooming, bathing and helping to tack him up. Unfortunately, My Nanny and Puppa only had him for about three weeks when he went down. No one had any idea what happened or why he went down, but we all know one thing, something was seriously wrong. It was so hard for me to hear this news. I cried for days.
Even though I had only seen him a few times over the previous weeks, just like any horse crazy girl, I became attached. My Puppa had their vet come out and look at him. I had my Nanny promise me that she would call right after the vet had left. When she called I was told the vet fould nothing wrong. On the third day of Doc being down and only being able to stand for minutes at a time they called the vet out again.
This time the vet told them that he might have EPM.
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a disease caused by opossom feces. I was told it was incurable, but I did my own diagnosis on Google. It only made me feel so much worse. I read most of the signs of it and Doc had most of the symptoms. The vet said that if he didn't improve within a week that he should be put down. When my Nanny told me I just broke down. I couldn't handle it. I locked myself in my room for days. Texting my Nanny every five hours asking how Doc was. Each time it was the same thing,
"He's doing a little bit worse" or "He's only a tiny bit better."
I knew I couldn't give up hope. Doc had two days left to improve or I would lose him forever. I hoped every night he would be better. On the day he was supossed to be put down my Nanny went out to the pasture where Doc was and she noticed his eyes seemed brighter and a little less dull, and more importantly, he was standing and walking!
My Nanny got a call from the vet saying he couldn't make it today to put Doc down. My world became a lot less dark, maybe there was a glimmer of hope. Even my Puppa noticed Doc looked better. I was so happy that the vet couldn't make it. My Puppa called the vet later that day and suggested they reevaluate Doc before putting him down tomorrow.
When the vet came the next day he was amazed how he had changed over night. They later found out that the prevous owners injected a needle in the wrong spot on his neck, paralizing the right half of his body.
A few weeks later the vet gave Doc a clean bill of health. I asked my Puppa why he thought Doc was so much better the day he was to be put down. He said "Believe it or not, but when we went over to see him that morning there was bird poop on his back." I laughed knowing that my Puppa was right because when I saw him on the weekend there was bird poop on him. I was just so happy to know he made it. Against all odds he had the courage to live, fight and then win. |
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Run Free
wow brilliant story. its so lucky that doc got better and the vet couldnt come on the day he was supposed to be put down.
wow brilliant story. its so lucky that doc got better and the vet couldnt come on the day he was supposed to be put down.
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Jun 25, 2011
• 2,628 views
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kingfisher
Brillaint story! Great how he wasn't put down!
Brillaint story! Great how he wasn't put down!
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Jun 25, 2011
• 2,731 views
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ImaCoolCowgirl
Amazing.....I ony wish that was the case with my favorite pony....but she foundered...
Amazing.....I ony wish that was the case with my favorite pony....but she foundered...
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Jun 25, 2011
• 2,730 views
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DustMoon
Wow, cool. Glad he got better! ♥
Wow, cool. Glad he got better! ♥
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Jun 25, 2011
• 2,761 views
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Spyricale
Awesome story. I hate when horses have to be put down.....but sometimes, it's for the best. I'm just glad that Doc was able to pull through. Congratulations. ^-^ Hope you have lots more fun with him.
Awesome story. I hate when horses have to be put down.....but sometimes, it's for the best. I'm just glad that Doc was able to pull through. Congratulations. ^-^ Hope you have lots more fun with him.
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Jun 25, 2011
• 2,738 views
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Estella Noire
Wow! I'm so happy he was OK :)
Wow! I'm so happy he was OK :)
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Jun 25, 2011
• 2,901 views
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Jun 25, 2011
• 2,912 views
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Balla Eclectic
MOD
Thank goodness for a happy ending. Hope he's well enough to go back into training and win some races.
Thank goodness for a happy ending. Hope he's well enough to go back into training and win some races.
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Jun 25, 2011
• 3,083 views
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Arialr
I love this story! I so glad Doc made it.
I love this story! I so glad Doc made it.
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Jun 25, 2011
• 2,927 views
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Jun 25, 2011
• 2,910 views
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Prarie Rose
Aww I'm so glad he got better! :) Great story
Aww I'm so glad he got better! :) Great story
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Jun 25, 2011
• 2,908 views
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Inactive Member
Wow.....that was definatly a miricle for you and doc!
Wow.....that was definatly a miricle for you and doc!
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Jun 26, 2011
• 2,935 views
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Simplicity
Aww I'm so happy the horse got better
Aww I'm so happy the horse got better
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Jun 26, 2011
• 2,892 views
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Pintie
Neat Story :)
Neat Story :)
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Jun 26, 2011
• 2,907 views
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toffeelola
thank goodness everything turned out okay!
thank goodness everything turned out okay!
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Jun 26, 2011
• 2,931 views
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Isadorable
Amazing story! Great job writing it! So glad he didn't have to be put down. :)
Amazing story! Great job writing it! So glad he didn't have to be put down. :)
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Jun 27, 2011
• 2,921 views
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Raychel
This is a great story! I'm so glad that Doc made it, he seems like a really sweet horse!
This is a great story! I'm so glad that Doc made it, he seems like a really sweet horse!
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Jun 28, 2011
• 2,911 views
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Aslans Roar
wow wow wow wow wow. :0
wow wow wow wow wow. :0
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Jun 28, 2011
• 2,897 views
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Swiftpaw Elites
Great sucess story! I'm very happy that he wasn't put down. :)
Great sucess story! I'm very happy that he wasn't put down. :)
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Jun 28, 2011
• 2,993 views
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Deleted Accounts
this is so heartwarming&inspirational:')
this is so heartwarming&inspirational:')
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Jun 28, 2011
• 2,902 views
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LimeLemonade
my lesson horse had EPM a few months ago, I love her to death...shes good as new now though:)
my lesson horse had EPM a few months ago, I love her to death...shes good as new now though:)
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Jun 28, 2011
• 3,050 views
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All That Jazz
love it! so glad he wasn't put down
love it! so glad he wasn't put down
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Jul 3, 2011
• 2,904 views
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Jul 5, 2011
• 3,076 views
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Sunny Daze
I have a horse named Doc at my farm lol. ( He is palomino with a white snip and four white socks ) Anyway great story. I hate watching horse races because a horse always ends up dying on the track or being put down because it was in to much pain. I am glad Doc is better and I hope you have fun with him :) My greatest wishes to you and Doc
I have a horse named Doc at my farm lol. ( He is palomino with a white snip and four white socks ) Anyway great story. I hate watching horse races because a horse always ends up dying on the track or being put down because it was in to much pain. I am glad Doc is better and I hope you have fun with him :) My greatest wishes to you and Doc
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Jul 6, 2011
• 2,903 views
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RowdyPantz
thats so sad but in the end its so sweet i love it amzing it made me get alittle teary!
thats so sad but in the end its so sweet i love it amzing it made me get alittle teary!
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Jul 23, 2011
• 2,469 views
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