Wilson's Plight

Sequence of Events:

Wednesday 3PM: I was going for a walk with the dogs and Avery like we do several times a week. I let the dogs out and went to get Avery in the carrier and head out. Well, for whatever reason the dogs took off (probably a damn rabbit). I assumed they just went up ahead and would catch up to me on our walk. They never did. They occasionally do take off but return a few hours later.

Wednesday 7PM: Still no sign of the dogs. We looked and called and drove around. This was weird they had not returned and we had not received a phone call from someone who might have found them. We started to get a bit worried.

Wednesday 10PM: I heard something at the door and found Tasha alone and super freaked. I made Sam go out and whistle a few time for Wilson, but still no sign of him.

Thursday 7AM: Phone call from Brian (Thal Equine employee). He had found Wilson wandering around the Adobe barn and injured. We come to find he had 10 inch stick lodged in his chest (5 inches inside his body cavity). Sam rushed him to Smith Veterinary Hospital in town and Wilson went into surgery to have the stick taken out. Wilson had a rough time with anesthesia and apparently crashed post surgery, but they we able to pull him through. He was hooked up to IV fluids, doped on pain meds, and had a chest tube in place.

He probably had this stick stuck in him for most of Wednesday evening and Wednesday night. It is amazing he didn't just lie down to die. Even more amazing he made it just a few hundred yards away from home.

Friday AM: Staff seemed optimistic. Wilson looked terrible and refused food. Air is no longer being pulled off his chest tube, but fluid is.

Friday PM: He looked better and we were able to take him outside for a few minutes. He was very tired, but walking well and seemed more alert.

Saturday AM: Sam and I talk. Sam called and wanted the have a cytology run from the fluid being pulled. We decided if he was septic we will have to make a really hard decision. It came back negative for bacteria so we are pulling his chest tube and will pick him up @ 3 PM this afternoon. I think we will leave his catheter in in case we need to administer fluids from home.

A huge THANK YOU to Smith Veterinary Hospital. Their staff was gracious, attentive and gave us a whopping 50% discount. It is still an outrageous vet bill, but at least 1/2 of what it would have been.

It has been a very stressful few days and I am sure it will continue until he is eating and acting more like himself.