Emergency Surgery for Chloe

If you know me, asking for help is not a forte of mine so this plea does not come easy. I’m trying to do the most effective, painless solution for an old soul who has had a bad run of luck.

A few months back, I pulled an all nighter between two 12 hour shifts to grab three late teen mares out of a situation they were not and had not received proper care in some time. I worked carefully and diligently with a team of veterinarians to help with the low body condition score, 7,000 eggs per gram lung worm infestation, and general health concerns. One mare, Chloe, had her tail so matted over and under her tail it had caused a fecal plug which lead to an antibiotic resistant UTI and skin infection which was an endeavor to diagnose and treat.

I was able to find loving, understanding home for the two younger mares and provide them a new outlook on life. I decided to retain the eldest mare due to an inconsistent soundness and age.

Fast forward to last week, I noticed her developing a slight squint during the worst storm of the year that Monday night. I ran out in the torrential down pour to start eye medications and place a fly mask and expected her to make a full recovery as most horses do if corneal ulcers are caught early! She was treated and monitored by a veterinarian the 5 days immediately after discovery but we quickly came to the conclusion this was not going in our favor with normal treatments.

Sunday before we head 1000 miles out of town, we take her in on an emergency basis to get a second opinion and try more involved methods such as debridement, ocular block, and additional medications. She’s now been under the loving and watchful care of a trusted professional this week with no improvement.

I’m having to make the hard decision to proceed with an emergency enucleation procedure which is not without its cost and risk. After a much pricier bill from the original appointment, I’m struggling to produce the necessary funds to get this mare the surgery and relief she desperately needs from this affliction.

If you are at a stable place to donate, my appreciation is endless as this was a truly unexpected emergency expense on a rescue mare.

Chloe is the most gentle, deserving soul who never should’ve been left in her previous situation as long as she had. She’s already overcome one of the worst cases of parasitism a group of DVMs has ever seen, an antibiotic resistant infection, and an extremely low body condition score at an older age so please consider helping this little gal continue her life in peace and luxury.