The Doctor came out to visit the General today, and strongly feels that he has EPM and is 24 years old, not 17, as my owner was told. He said that if he were his horse, he would not allow his kids to ride him. General is so unsteady on his feet that when he turns, he, as the vet said, "Doesn't know where his feet are". EPM (Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis) is often transmitted by possums to horses via feces on to grass, hay, whatever the horse is eating. Basically, there are protozoan in General's spinal cord, and his central nervous system is infected. Eventually, he will either die of it, or complications from it. The vet said he has maybe 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. He doesn't know. The treatment is very, very expensive and may not work. The vet said if General were his, he would not pursue treatment. The humans are very, very sad, as the General is an exceptionally sweet horse who loves kids and enjoys "talking" to the humans with his nickers. I'd say he's like a big, big Bullmastiff in many ways.
I hereby name General as Honorary Bullmastiff, never to be known as "Snack" again. Salute to theGeneral! May he be with us for many more years!
Slurps,
Miss Stella
More on EPM: http://www.vet.purdue.edu/horses/EPM.html
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5 comments:
Harr, some lashes with the whip might be in order for those people. Bad to lie and worse to starve the horse. Mom has a horsewhip around here somewhere. Harrr. We say the General be an honorary pirate too.
Cap'n Maverick the Pirate
I'm sorry about the General. I'm going to help you hunt down those stupid "Christians" and yell at them for you!
That is so absolutely sad! What horrible, horrible people to let him get that sick, and not do anything about it, and then sell him to your humans who are now heartbroken over it.
I must believe that THOSE kinds of people eventually get what they deserve. And it isn't pretty! And there won't be any nice animals there, that's for sure!
Holly
poor baby! I am soo sorry about general..its very bad of the humans who have done it..
Thanks, everyone. My human is just going to take the "high road" and give the General the best care until the end of his days. After all, its what's best for the old man.
Slurps,
Miss Stella
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