And ... Speedy's Home

Woohoo!  He made it home on Saturday afternoon as planned.  I would like to say, just for the record, that I had a bunch of other blog posts ready for this weekend and I really wish I could have stuck to those topics instead of this one.  Speedy's treatment is listed below the photos.  Again, thanks for the well wishes!

Speedy G's paddock at Bakersfield Vet Hospital. The light poles in the background belong to the neighbor, the Honda dealership!

The hospital's treatment bay is the tan building on the right.

Speedy G was discharged from the vet hospital at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.  The diagnosis?  Unclear. Best guess?  Upper respiratory infection.  Since his blood work came back with absolutely nothing out of the ordinary, Dr. B just couldn't say if he had a viral infection or a bacterial infection.  Even though he was released, she asked me to watch him closely as something may still surface.  I am to administer twelve tablets twice daily of the antibiotic SMZ-TMP for the next 8 days.

He has been cleared for a light walking ride on Sunday and if no symptoms return and he remains cough and booger free, he can go to my Wednesday evening lesson and the Clovis show on Sunday.  As of Saturday afternoon his nose was clear, there has been no cough since Thursday night, and he is quite the perky fellow.

So here is a detailed list of his treatment:

• Farm Call & Emergency Service
• Physical exam
• IV Medication  - Gentocin (antibiotic)
• IV Medication - Banamine (pain relief)
• IM Medication - Penicillin (antibiotic)
• Blood Collection
• CBC-HG-FIB (blood work)
• Chem Panel (blood work)
• Two Night Paddock Board
• Hospital Care/Treatment
• IM Medication - 60 cc Penicillin G Procaine (antibiotic)
• IV Medication  - 60 cc Gentocin (antibiotic)
  
• 2 Bottles SMZ-TMP Tablets (oral antibiotic)
• and just because we were there ... Eggs per Gram Fecal Counts for both boys
• and just because it was a convenient buy ... BVH's own thrush medication

So what does excellent vet care and piece of mind cost these days?  $919.25 - not cheap, but Speedy G is well worth it.  Let's just say I am not buying any new breeches, saddle pads, bridles, lead ropes, or other cool gizmos for a while.

Welcome home, Speedy G!