Written by Patrick’s owner -
Patrick was born into my family 11 years ago, and the day he hit the ground we knew he was special and he has really proven that to be true. He’s always been a love bug, giving kisses, nibbling on your ear, always silly and playful. He never pins his ears or has a single mean bone in his body. I moved him with me from California to have a better life for all of us. When I got sick in 2021, a lot of people tried to get me to sell all of my horses but I said Patrick will not be leaving my family. Even when I didn’t know where my next meal was coming from, I took care of him. He was my reason for fighting for my life with C19, Guillain barre syndrome, pulmonary embolisms, pericarditis and everything else I’ve battled the last few years.
When he started colicking we got the vet out, she gave meds, tubed him, we did all we could in the field to keep him comfortable and help him get through it but within a few hours he was showing signs of being uncomfortable again.
What really struck me as odd and I knew he needed more intervention is that he started shivering in 99° weather. I took his temperature and it was 94.4°. A horses temperature should be between 99-101 so he was hypothermic, implying his body was in extreme distress. We called the vet back and she blew us off “there’s nothing I can do for a low temp” umm excuse me?! You can get back out here and tell me why his temp is so low and make the referral to the equine hospital? We waited hours for her to come back but thankfully we had already arranged a truck and trailer and got them on the way because I knew in my gut he needed to go in.
I know he still has fight in him but I’m also fighting to come up with a way to pay for this.
$1000 for the on call veterinarian.
$6,000+ at the hospital
If this week has taught me anything, it’s that it takes a village. I need my village.
