"Swamp Cancer" is also called Equine Pythiosis.

It's also called "Florida Leeches."

Maybe some of you already knew about this and don't need the info here. Me, I only found out about it today. So, for all of you that don't know about it, here is what I have found out.

Fungal-like infection causing cutaneous or subcutaneous, gastrointestinal, respiratory or multisystemic disease in many species of animals including humans. Horses are most commonly infected.

The extremely rapid rate of growth of these lesions and the generally fatal outcome in these cases makes remembering this disease crucial for equine practitioners since early recognition and appropriate treatment are the only hope for survival for infected horses.

Florida is responsible for 60 percent of recorded infections. "Ninety-nine percent of the cases in horses are dermal infections that start with a break in the skin."

Typically begins as a small irritated area usually on the distal limb of a horse. This may be initially thought to be a sting, bite or small puncture, and the mild-looking lesion usually is not a cause of concern. Owners will generally begin cleaning the area and treating it with various topical antibiotic or anti-inflammatory creams. But within a few days, the lesion is markedly larger, red and irritated. It may also begin to be pruritic with the horse rubbing or even biting at the lesion. Veterinary attention is sought at this point.

Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy is initiated at this stage, but the lesion continues to grow. It is tumor-like now, and serum freely leaks from the raw, irritated surface. Aggregates of necrotic cells form in the lesion, producing yellow to grey, pea-sized, gritty, coral-like bodies called kunkers. Although these structures are not specific to pythiosis, their presence is evidence enough to make one highly suspicious of fungal infection.

The lesion will continue to grow and eventually erode ligaments, tendons and bone and lead to death in 95 percent of cases within six months. This rapid tissue destruction is solely the result of a massive allergic response to the presence of fungal hypheal elements on the part of the horse. T2 helper cells drive this reaction, and mast cells and eosinophils dominate the cellular population. Some horses (about 5 percent) are able to switch to a T1 helper cell response that effectively kills the organism and switches to a lymphocyte and monocyte population that promotes healing.

Pan American Veterinary Labs has developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that is specific for the presence of pythiosis fungal elements and has greatly helped in the recognition of these cases. A simple blood sample is evaluated, and the disease can be confirmed. This testing can also recognize the presence of Lagenidium (three cases in horses have been confirmed so far.

"We have developed a 'vaccine' to pythiosis that can be used in confirmed cases, and this immunotherapeutic product works by helping the horse modulate the change from T2 helper to T1 helper cell response.

This product has been shown to have an almost 100 percent cure rate for acute cases (< 15 days) but is less effective in chronic cases (> 60 days). The overall rate of cure is 75 percent for all cases, strongly suggesting that early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to success.

Information from: www.veterinarynews.dvm360.com/swamp-cancer
Kenneth Macella, DVM (Canton, GA)

Poisonous Pasture Weeds for your Horse

WITH 10 ACRES OF PASTURE TO CHECK EVERYONE HAS TO HELP. I NEEDED PHOTOS OF THE POISONOUS WEEDS THEY NEEDED TO LOOK FOR.

HERE ARE PHOTOS OF 16 POISONOUS WEEDS THAT GROW IN PASTURES IN THIS AREA.

HOPE THEY HELP EVERYONE ELSE THAT NEEDS TO CHECK THEIR PASTURES TO KEEP THEIR HORSES SAFE.



HERE ARE THE SYMPTOMS THAT YOUR HORSE WILL HAVE FOR ALL THESE WEEDS.



You can E-Mail me at phyllis@prettyponyparties.org and I will e-mail you a copy in PDF format.

A Way to Make Your Life Easier - AZZ Cardfile

Between your personal life and owning a business keeping up with everything can get to be a real pain in the rear.
I found this AWESOME program yesterday that is a FREE download that you will love.

Everyone that owns horses knows how much trouble it is keeping up with each individual horse and their info. It's okay if you only have one or two. If you have 20 of them paperwork can drive you crazy.

In 24 hours with this program I created a perfect way to keep us with it all. The program is sort of like the old cardfile program that came with windows. But it offers so much more in the way of using it.

I am still working on it but it will have emergency numbers for anyone I need if a horse is sick or hurt. Each horse will be listed with photo, and all info on the horse. I made a template so I don't have to add everything each time, just use the template.

This is what it looked like when I first started.



You can see on the left panel that I also have a template so I don't have to type everything each time. There is a card with my vet, farrier, dentist, chiropractor and other important numbers on it. I also made a card with all the medicines and medical supplies I keep on hand for the horses. And, the BEST, is each horse has it's own card.

Here is what the template looks like, although I may add to it as I think of what I want on it.



Here is what the horse card looks like for Cash.



I've also made one for my business contacts that come to me over and over again. I don't have to ask them all the usual questions because I already have the info at my fingertips and don't have to go through a years worth of appointments to find it.

Go visit their website and see all the ideas they give you for keeping up with anything and everything. They give you free downloads to get started on recipes, crafts, home, entertainment, educational and more. Once you see all the things you can do to make life easier you will be downloading the program. I love it. You will to. Free Sample Cards

Go to the home page to Download the program FREE AZZ Cardfile

Equine COPD

On September 29, 2014 the vet diagnosed "Cash" with COPD.  I didn't know much about it except it was not curable and every year your horse got worse and eventually you had to put them down so they didn't suffer.  I could not imagine having this happen to my baby so I started some serious research on it.

COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also known as "heaves" and RAO, Recurrent Airway Obstruction. 

Equine lung disease similar to human asthma.   It's caused by an allergic response to the particles in hay dust.   Four to six hours after a COPD horse is exposed to hay dust the airways become inflamed. It causes the small airways to constrict (get smaller in diameter) making it harder for the horse to breathe.   There is also a summer form of COPD which is more difficult to treat as it is thought that horses are allergic to airborne pollens.  This is known as Summer Pasture Associated Pulmonary Disease.

What Happens
Obstruction of airflow in both the large and, especially, small airways. This is due to spasm of the smooth muscle (bronchospasm) in the larger airways, and bronchospasm, inflammation and the accumulation of mucus in the small airways. 
1.  reduced exercise tolerance
2.  dry cough
3.  flared notrils
4.  increased respiratory rate
5.  "heave line" abdominal muscles becomes overdeveloped 

When mold spores, pollens, mites, or other particles are inhaled, the respiratory lining cells secrete mucus to try to lift and discharge the particles, thus stimulating the horse to blow them out (snort) or cough.   The mucous hardens and shrinks the airway even more if the horse's cough doesn't bring it up and out.

There are 3 broad types of medications for treatment:
1.  anti-inflammatories - used to suppress the inflammation
2.  bronchodilators - opens up constricted airways (short term)
3.  expectorant - helps unplug the airways, loosening up the mucous

None of these are cures.  They only help with the symptoms by relaxing the airway muscle, so that breathing is easier and helping to reduce the inflammation.

Because the drugs have to be given long term there are horrible side effects from most of them. Laminitis, colic, increased heart rate and they suppress the immune system making the horse susceptible to viruses and other diseases.   

Free radicals and oxidative stress 
A free radical is a molecule or atom that has one or more unpaired electrons. It is unstable and tries to attract electrons from other molecules to pair up with these. This can start a chain reaction with increasing amounts of free radicals being released.  If the production and removal of these is not controlled, tissue damage may occur leading to inflammation. This is known as ‘oxidative stress’ and may be an important factor in the development of RAO. In a normal horse, the production of free radicals is controlled and those produced are ‘neutralised’ by well-developed antioxidant defence mechanisms. Experimental work has shown that the major antioxidant in the fluid lining of the lungs is ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and horses suffering from RAO or airway inflammation often have reduced levels.

What You Can Do & Products You Can Try

Antioxidant supplementation
Antioxidants are sometimes known as ‘free radical scavengers’ and they are able to neutralize free radicals.  Horses and ponies suffering from RAO often have low natural antioxidant defences. Dietary supplementation with a balanced antioxidant mix has been shown to improve lung function and reduce inflammation in horses with RAO. Vitamin C is the most important antioxidant in the fluid lining of the lungs.

 1.  Potties Cough Mixture - expectorant action, expels excess mucous, relieves inflamed mucous    membranes, relieves dry cough.   www.herdtz.com
 2.  Organic Iodine Dextrose - Iodine is an anti-inflammatory and expectorant that assists in loosening phelgm, making it easier for the horse to cough.  Adding 1 tablespoon of iodine to the horse’s evening grain for 21 days will make the cough go away.  
 3.  MSM, Ground Flax Seed and Bentonite Clay – together work wonders! This great formula is what many are calling the ‘Big 3’ for COPD and other related respiratory problems. www.theholistichorse.com
 4.  Equistro Secreta Pro Max - Contains 20 selected herbs as well as vitamins A, C and E. Can be used long term. www.petmeds.co.uk
 5.  Sputolysin Powder - www.horsesuppliesdirect.com

Natural Herb Remedies

1.  Chickweed - soothing inflamed tissue and organs, good for soothing both the gastrointestinal tract and the pulmonary organs, lungs, bronchials.

2.  Meadowsweet - a brilliant anti-inflammatory.

3.  Parsley - contains three times the potency of C than citrus juices. 

www.equineiridology.eu

I can at this point tell you that my vet ordered me the Sputolysin.  You get enough for 7 days for $115.  It says that you can give it for up to 3 weeks. It works on some horses and not others.  After 3 days of giving it to my horse he had his energy back, was not coughing and no longer had the flared nostrils.  He was on the product from November 19th to November 25, 2014.  Today is January 13, 2015 and there is still no coughing or flared nostrils.

I hope this helps so that you are not giving your horse all the drugs with side effects.  Anyone that has other information please leave comments.  I think everyone who has a horse with COPD is trying to find answers that will actually help the horse.

Cancer Free Over 1 Year

It has now been over a year that Skyla has been Cancer Free.  All of the places that I was treating on her with the Xxterra are now clear.  The hair has grown back and the skin is healthy looking.  The vet says that they can still show up again, but I feel good about it being gone for good.

Skyla has gotten her happy attitude back and is no longer mad at the world.

Even the vet was not sure this product would work but I couldn't afford the surgeries so we tried this.  The cost of $100 per ounce scared me at first but it doesn't take much of it.  I ended up spending a total of $300 to save my filly.

Anyone with a horse with Sarcoids, try the Xxterra.  It's not fun.  Your horse hates you after about the 3rd treatment, but it works.  And, the horse forgives you after it's all over.

Soda Cans - Rats - Deadly Diseases

In 2013 some people died from drinking out of soda cans that rats had urinated on.  The media was telling you to use water to rinse cans before drinking out of them.  Rats were walking across the cans in warehouses and leaving behind urine, hair and pieces of uneaten food - all of these will give diseases to humans and can even cause death.

I had always looked at the top of a can before opening it because sometimes they had dirt around the rim from being transported and would need rinsing off.  I never thought about what could be on there that I couldn't see.

I buy two or three 24 packs of soda every week.  Most of the time I buy Dr. Pepper, occasionally Coke and every now and then Orange Fanta.

Soda cans come off the top edge down into a very deep and narrow crevice then flatten out to the top of the can.  That deep crevice is so narrow you can't even run a fingernail around it.  If you rinse it with water then you can see the little puddles in the crevice but it doesn't take out some of the stuff you can see there.

For the first time today, I got a Dr. Pepper out of the fridge and looked it over and there was this little bitty tiny black hair in the crevice.  I tried blowing on it to get it out, rinsed it under the faucet and tried using the edge of a paper towel.  I did finally get it but then was to paranoid to drink it so put it in the trash and got a different one.

Out of a 24 pack you will be lucky if 5 cans don't have something in that crevice.  It may just be dirt and dust, then again, it may be from rats.

I understand that it is almost impossible for warehouses to keep out rats.  Soda cans sit at the manufacturing plant for a while, then they end up in a warehouse somewhere waiting to go out to the different stores.  Then the stores (Wal-Mart, Winn-Dixie, Family Dollar), all of them put them in there back rooms where everything is stored until put on the shelves and sold to us.

Why aren't the manufacturer's required to re-design the cans so that deep crevice is not such a problem to clean?  Yes it will cost them money to get different machines to make a different type of can, but this is a serious health problem.  Why are they allowed to sell these to us when they can't guarantee that there has been no rats on them?  Isn't this what all the different government agencies are for - to keep the public safe?  People died and nothing has been done.  The cans are the same and the rats are still in the warehouses.

If there is rat urine in the crevice, rinsing it under the faucet is not doing the job of cleaning it.  You need to be able to actually wipe it out with a towel or something to be sure it's clean.

TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AT THE NEXT CAN YOU GET - whether it's in a case or just a single you buy at the store.  If you buy 6 cans in a week, you can bet, if you really look at it in the sun or under good lighting - you'll find something in the deep crevice that isn't supposed to be there.

McDonald's in Bartow

Yesterday at 2:45 pm we stopped at the McDonald's in Bartow.  When we went in the door there was 10 people standing in line and then another 4 behind us.  There was one cashier on the  front counter and one on the drive-thru window.

The sad part is that there were two managers and five other employees standing behind the counter just talking.  Not of one of them made a move to help anyone do anything.

I said something to my daughter, "can you believe this, one cashier, all these people in line and managers standing there doing nothing."

The one manager, whose hair looks like a rooster's comb, turned and gave me a dirty look.  The woman still didn't do anything, she went right back to talking and laughing.

One of the employees that was standing there talking actually came over and said something to the cashier and then got a coffee and went back over to talk some more.

For myself, I'm not overly fond of McDonald's food anyway, but I have never been in any other McDonald's where the customers were just totally ignored.  Most Managers will step out to the counter and help out if it gets that backed up.

Whoever the franchise owner is of that store needs to seriously look into hiring new Managers for the store.  There was even two ambulance drivers in line and one of the employees said something about EMT being in line and they weren't helped either.

I've got to hand it to the cashier, she was trying her best to get everyone taken care of.  If one of the Managers or one of the employees standing talking would have at least helped bag her orders and hand them out the line would have went down quicker.  Cashier did it all herself.

"Rooster Comb" Manager needs to find a new job.

A True Story

I was updating one of my websites and was making some changes on the Petting Zoo page.  As I was writing somehow this is what I ended up with.  About half way thru it, I stopped to read it and got such a laugh I decided to finish it.

For all the people who actually know me, they are going to enjoy this as much as me.

At a lot of parties we have someone that will ask, "how long have you been doing this?"  "How did you get started?"

As you read this, as I was living it, at that time a lot of it wasn't funny.  That was then, now it made me laugh at my life.  Thank you, God, for having a sense of humor.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 Party Critters

Someone asked, "do you have a petting zoo you can bring?"  I thought about it and decided we could add that.  It would be fun.  

We bought 2  baby rabbits,  we had to buy cages, bedding and water bottles.  They had to be gentle and not bite or scratch, so we put them in the house so they'd be handled a lot.  

I decided that just rabbits wasn't a very good petting zoo, what could I add?  (Somebody should have slapped me).  

We saw an ad for 2 Guinea Pigs for $40 with their cage, we got them.  What a mistake -they only lasted 2 weeks, they don't do anything but squeal day and night.   

We bought a Mini Horse cause he was only 21" tall and the kids would love it. 

Storm wanted a Baby Goat, well, I couldn't just buy 1, it needed a buddy, so we bought 2 females.  They were only a week old  and had to be bottle fed every 2 hours.   (leave it to Florida to freeze that night, we brought them in the house, put them in the hallway.  overnight 2 baby goats ate the linoleum off the floor, ate the insulation from around the hot water heater, ate the dryer vent, ate a hole in the wall and ate the door facing). 

A few months later, Storm says, "why don't we have Baby Goats?"  Back to the auction and bought a Billy Goat.  (now we have to build a goat pen because the horse fence doesn't keep them in).

Now I find out that the big horses don't like the little mini horse and  they are going to seriously hurt him kicking and biting, so he's by himself all the time.  We have to buy him a buddy, hello "Charlie".  (the mini horses can walk between the wire around the pasture, we have to fence off a separate pasture for them).  

Somebody asked if we had a chicken, back to the auction, we bought 2 Silkie Chickens.   (now to keep the coyotes from getting them, we need to build a chicken coop).

Now we had 3 goats, 2 chickens, 2 mini horses and  2 rabbits to take to parties.  

How are we going to keep up with them at the parties?  We bought a portable fence (they are expensive).  Now we have a fence to carry around.  

At a party we were given 3 Ducks.  We had to buy a Pond and a cage  for them.  Now we have to carry around a Duck and it's Pond.  (to keep the dogs from killing them, they needed a fenced area of their own, more fence posts and wire).

Storm wants a snake.  We buy a Python.  Buy a cage, water dish, hidey hole log, heat lamp,  thermometers, humidity thingy.  We have to buy mice once a week.  Did you know they come in Pinkies, Fuzzies, Hoppers?  Ok, we take the snake with us to buy mice so they can tell me which ones I need.

Now it's time to go to small, medium and large mice and only feed every two weeks.  All of a sudden he is eating 3 large mice every 10 days and then he looks for more for 3 days.  Back to the pet store,  they say, "you can start feeding him rats,"  I look at the rats.  Nope, not me!  Then comes the day we go to pet store, no mice, we go to 6 more pet stores, no mice.  Sold out.  He goes 17 days without eating, something has to be done.  

I go buy a rat.  It's 20 miles to the closest pet store.  They put the rat in a cardboard box (more like paper).  I'm driving home, the box starts moving, you can hear him chewing on the box------oh, oh, oh, his nose is out. I grab the box and swing it back and forth, I figure with it swinging he can't chew it - if he gets out of that box  I'm getting out of the truck while it's going down the road.  He is now eating 1 or 2 rats every 15 days at $5 to $9 per rat.

You guessed it!  Now we have rat cages and are raising rats.  I figure if it gets out of hand I'll make the cats happy.  (why why why have I got all these critters to feed and clean up after)?

Lady calls to book a party.  "Do you have a Donkey?"  No.  We do now!  (can't believe my hubby hasn't killed me yet).

Look, there's a Mini Pig for sale.  Yep, we now have a Pig to carry around.  (we need a cage for the pig and her and the ducks hate each other,  so we have to fence off another area for the pig, more fence posts and wire).  Guess what?  For the next week we got to chase the pig down every morning - they are serious escape artists.  (go buy stuff to bury all along the bottom of the fence so she can't root under it).

Well, somebody lied, the mini pig now weighs 65 pounds and it's just to big to lug around when it refuses to walk on a lead.  Sell the mini pig.  The next 10 phone calls for a party say, "oh, I want the pig".  Start hunting a pig.

Yikes!  Teacup Pigs  are $500 and up.  I can't pay that.  Ohh Look!!!  Teacup Pigs $25 each, housebroken, will only weigh between 7 and 10 pounds.  Make the call, find out why they are only $25 (family emergency).  Okay, what's the address, I want a female?  Oh, you are only 3 hours away, be there tomorrow morning.  Ended up buying 4 females and a male.

Got to build shelters for all of them.  Need to find dishes for food and water.  Oh my God, they attack you when you go thru the gate with food.  

Lots of places don't have any shade, now we need a Canopy so all the animals will be in the shade.  Something else to carry around.    (those things are a pain to put up and take down, allow another 1/2 hour for each party to do that).

We used to saddle 2 horses/ponies, load and go to the party.  Spend 15 minutes decorating them.  Do the party, go home.

NOW  we load the canopy, travel cages for the duck, pig, rabbit and the individual wooden fences for each of them.   Make sure you get the screw in the ground stakes for the goat and the mini horse and the donkey.   Don't forget the duck pond and  water to fill it.  You need 8 lead ropes (2 extra in case), the pig harness, 2 saddles, 2 saddle pads, the step stool, apple juice for the horses.  Load the Python and his cage.  Horse decoration box,  hand 

sanitizer, address, licenses, paperwork on all the animals.

Did anybody brush all the animals?  Take the grooming kit.  This party has face painting, don't forget to load the face paint bag, table and chairs.   Let's go, we got 78 miles to go.

The party is usually anywhere from an hour to 2 hours.  Unload and setup.  Time to go, load it up.  78 miles home.  Unload everything, feed all the animals, feed us, bathtime, nite-nite.   We got to start loading at 8 am tomorrow, first party is in Ellenton, 2 1/2 hours away.

We are going on 13 years.  It's a good thing I love what I do. 

We have a lot of fun, at most parties the kids and adults are just great to us.  In the summer when it's 95 degrees I wonder why I do this.  But honestly, I can't imagine not doing it.

This isn't counting the crap we went thru when we were turned in to USDA for not being licensed.  I didn't know you needed a license for a petting zoo, I thought USDA was for meat you eat.  Between the feed bills, vet bills and the money that I pay out in licenses and insurance - maybe I'll break even.  Oh well, that's life.  At least I'm having fun.

Horse Slaughter in Florida

People that know me and family members will tell you that I'm not a violent person.  I don't like to fight and don't like to watch "blood sports" of any kind.

I have owned, bred and rescued Pitt Bulls for over 15 years.  I don't believe in dog fights.  There is no better dog anywhere as far as loyalty goes than a Pitt.  If raised correctly they are lovable, gentle, well behaved and will protect you with their life.  Pitts have a bad reputation because of the people that keep them caged, on chains, feed them gunpowder, starve them and do whatever else they can to make them fight.  Pitt Bulls are "Catch Dogs" and they will bring something down that runs from them.  If mine goes after something and I yell "SIT" her butt will hit the ground and bounce, but she will stop and that is what counts.

Our Horses though are another story.  Horses don't hurt anyone, they don't bite or chase kids or kill other animals.  Most of all they are not meat for human consumption.  As many horse owners as there are why can't we stop them from slaughtering them?

If you are caught illegally slaughtering a horse, not your own, one you stole somewhere and cut meat off it while it was still alive, not caring how it suffered - you will get up to one year in jail and up to a $3,500 fine.
In the Florida Statutes, if the horse is a Registered Horse then the jail time and fine is more.   WHY?  My grade mares and geldings are just as important as a Registered Horse.

I have been doing research on GPS Tracking for animals.  There are quite a few out there for both cats and dogs.  Some of these tracking devices allow you, the owner, to track your animal on your home computer or your cell phone.  Some of them even allow you to put in boundaries and if the animal leaves that area you are notified by text or phone call.  All of them are collars with fairly large units attached to them.

A company called Tractive has one but it is to big to use on your horse, someone stealing the horse would see it and simply remove it.  Garmin and Home Again both have them but again they are to big.  Why can't one be made small enough to put on our horses bridle?  There are several out there that you can get and pay for a service to track them.  I don't want a Service to do it, I want to be able to pull up GPS on my phone if it shows my horse has left his allowed area and track him.  I can promise that I won't slap them on the hand for stealing him or trying to slaughter him.  I won't give him a bed to sleep in, cable tv, exercise equipment and 3 meals a day.  Having my horse in their possession would make me be the judge and jury and they would not do it to another horse ever..

OBama Care - They don't have the right to do this!

I sincerely hope that there are lots of comments left on this subject.  I have not been keeping up and just started to really pay attention a few days ago.  I went to this website and started reading, the more I read, well,  I just couldn't believe it.

I really want comments on how you feel about this, what you are going to do and any advice for the rest of us.  If anyone knows options we have, ideas that may help us - comment on this and help any of us who need it.  If nothing else, get it off your chest if you feel like I do.

I thought I lived in America, Land of the Free.  Where does the government get off telling you that you have to purchase health insurance?  I drove a school bus for 11 years, my health insurance was covered as a part of my job.  To add my husband and my daughter to it the price was over $500 per month.  If I had spent $500 a month on insurance, it would not have done me any good to work because I would not have had enough money to pay my bills.

My daughter turned 20 in August and when I went into the hospital to have her and that was the last time I seen any type of doctor.  If I had been paying insurance for the last 20 years at say, $140 per month (and I doubt that I could get it for that amount), that would be $33,600.  That would have been just throwing the money away since I haven't been to a doctor.

I was taken to the emergency room in Bartow recently.  I spent two nights in a hospital bed, had surgery the next afternoon and went home the next morning.  The bill I received is for $45,390.59, but it says on the bill, the discounted amount I owe is only $16,340.61.  I had no health insurance, no medicare or medicaid, yet they are giving me a discount of $29,049.98.  

What that amounts to in my mind is they were going to charge me $29,049.98 more if I had insurance, since I didn't, they would charge me less so that everyone would get paid.  No wonder insurance premiums are so high, when you go to the hospital or doctor you charged more than double the amount if you have insurance.

And, to go one step further in proving that, I called around last week to get a dermatologist appointment to have a mole removed.  I called 5 different places to compare prices.  If I had insurance the office visit was $150 to $185, if I didn't have insurance, the office visit was between $70 and $100.

All of the people I know just barely get by as it is.  None of us drive new or fancy vehicles, we don't live in half a million dollar homes, we don't have vacation homes or fancy boats.  With what we make we have clothes to buy for ourselves and our kids, vehicle insurance, tags, property taxes, groceries, school supplies, pet food, vet bills, vehicle repairs, house payments, electric bills, phone bills, internet service - then you have Christmas, Graduations, Funerals, Weddings - there is no money left.  

I manage to get my bills paid all year and wait on my tax refund check to be able to pay my property taxes and now OBama Care is going to take part of that if I don't pay for health insurance.

I don't know about the rest of you out there, but I don't have an extra $100 or more each month to pay for health insurance.  My pickup has over 200,000 miles on it, if I had extra money it would be used to make a truck payment before this one breaks down permanently.  

Xxterra Horror Stories are TRUE - sarcoid update

First the Good News - the sarcoid we were treating on her face is gone and the wound has healed.  The vet said to keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't come back (10% of them come back a 2nd time and 2% come back a 3rd time and there isn't any info on it coming back a 4th time).

It took 37 days from the first treatment of the Xxterra.  But the hair is growing back and it just left a small scar on her face.  I'm praying we are done with this one and it won't come back.

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We are on Day 48 on her shoulder and it is still an open wound.  We are on Day 45 on her right front leg and it is still an open wound.  

They are ugly but it has not been as bad as all the internet articles said it would be.  She didn't even really mind me putting the Xxterra on the one on her face and the one on her leg.  She got a little cranky with the one on her shoulder on the 8th Day of using the Xxterra.

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This one is a nightmare!

On August 5th I started watching one on her tummy, wasn't sure if it was a sarcoid or not.  On August 28th the vet looked at it and said, "start treating it."    I believe this is where the horror stories started.  The ones that were on her face, shoulder and leg were on areas that didn't touch any other areas when she moved.  The one on her tummy is maybe a finger width in front of where her leg goes into her body.  Every time she moves the skin behind the sarcoid touches where the Xxterra is .  The other 3 we've been treating were not in "tender" spots.  She was okay with the 1st treatment, that was it.  It took 7 days to get an open wound.  By the 3rd day she was trying to get away from me as I applied it, on the 4th day I had to have help holding her cause she was trying her best to kick me.   The 4th, 5th and 6th day it took 3 of us to put it on her.

The Xxterra made an open wound where the skin was touching the area where I was treating the sarcoid.  The sarcoid didn't turn into an open wound until the 13th day.  Now the wound is twice the size of what it should have been.  The part where the sarcoid is looks like all the others I've treated, ugly, but looking better everyday.  The wound behind it, where nothing was wrong, except for the Xxterra touching the skin, is horrible.  It had infection starting in it so that I've put her on antibiotics as you can't mix another drug or chemical where the Xxterra has been.

If any of them are going to come back a 2nd or even a 3rd time, PLEASE God, don't let it be this one!

Day 5 - you can see where the piece of skin is behind the sarcoid that the Xxterra is effecting.

Day 7 - you can see where the wound is starting on the healthy area.

Day 9 - healthy area has pus in it and sarcoid is not even a wound yet.

Day 13 - sarcoid is now a wound, but it should only be the size of the red circle.  all the rest was healthy skin that the Xxterra was rubbing on.  this one is going to be hard to heal (the others were) and this one is more than likely going to leave a good-sozed scar.  Who knows at this point how much worse it's going to get before it gets better.  Skyla doesn't even want me looking at it.  Poor thing, I hope all this works and gets rid of them for good.  I hate knowing that I may still have to put her down after putting her through all of this.

Sarcoid Update - Looking Pretty Good

We are on the 18th day of treatment on the shoulder. Day 8 it became an open wound and we have not been using the Xxterra.  At this point we are watching it, waiting on the wound to heal and hoping it is gone and doesn't come back.  There are 10% of horses that will get them back a 2nd time and have to do the treatment again.  There are 2% of horses that will get them back a 3rd time and you have to do the treatment again.  There doesn't seem to be any documentation of any horses getting them back for a 4th time.

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We are on the 16th day of treatment for the one on her face.  Day 4 it was an open wound, no more Xxterra.  Now we watch it and wait on it to heal.  It was a lot smaller than the shoulder and seems to be healing a lot faster. I feel good about this one and don't think it will come back.

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We are on the 15th day of treatment on her right front leg.  It is the worst looking.  On Day 6 it became an open wound so no more Xxterra.  Watch and wait. This one hasn't even lost the scab totally yet and it is horrible looking. 

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The one on her right side on the bottom part of her tummy is not being treated yet.  I'm pretty sure it is a sarcoid, but want either the vets opinion or for it to do something so I know for sure before I use Xxterra on it.  I have to go pick up some coggins the last of this week, I'll take her with me for him to look at it.  This one will be awful to treat cause once it turns into an open wound it will be pulling every step she takes.

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The worst part of all this is Skyla was a lovable, in your pocket horse.  She was born here and I have spoiled her and spent lots of time loving on her.  She has been to quite a few Pony Parties, she smiles on command and the kids love her.  Using Xxterra has make her into a "don't touch me" and "get away from me" horse.  I hope once it's over that with a little time and a lot of love and attention she will go back to being a "pocket horse."

Sarcoid Update

I called the vet today because I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be watching for.  The instructions for the Xxterra said to apply if daily until it swells and becomes an open wound.  That part was easy.  Then it said to watch it and if the process stopped working to re-apply.  What did it mean by, "if process stops working?"

Vet said as long as the would was "raw" looking and it didn't show that the sarcoid was growing again it was working.  So it looks like the one on her face is doing what it is supposed to do and the one on her leg should be an open wound tomorrow or the next day.  The one on her shoulder is taking the longest to do anything.

It only took 3 days for the one on her face to swell and the 4th day it was an open wound.  On her right front leg it was swollen on the 4th day, a little bit of bleeding on the 5th day.  Her shoulder was swollen on the 6th day and today is the 8th day and it is still swollen but does not have any bleeding or has not turned into an open wound.

The horror stories on the internet from people who had supposedly used this on their horse are grossly exaggerated.  From what I read and what the vets told me I was expecting after the first time putting it on her that she was going to try and kill me from then on until we were done.

The 1st application was on July 26th and was no problem.  On July 30th she tried side-stepping away from me when I tried to apply it but nothing else.  On Aug 1st it was a little harder, it took one person to hold her while I put it on.  On Aug 2nd she tried to turn her butt to me but did not actually try to kick me.  It may get worse as we are not done yet but it's nowhere near as bad as all the reviews made it sound.

Monday I will have to order a 2nd bottle of Xxterra as I don't want to run out and have to stop the treatment until they are gone.  And I'm still waiting to see if the one on her left leg is a sarcoid or not.  Yesterday I found another spot where her back leg meets the bottom of her stomach and I'm pretty sure that one is a sarcoid.

The vet said though that once I started treating them that it would make the sarcoid angry and it would turn aggressive and try to make other ones before I killed it.  Sounds more like an "alien" than some type of cancer.  The internet and the vet talks about when you mess with them they get angry - makes it sound as if it has a brain and can think, scary, huh?

Next update in a couple of days.  Hope this is beneficial to someone out there that may have sarcoids on their horse and didn't know what to do about it.  It seems that there is not very many vets who tell you about the Xxterra or they don't know about it themselves.

Sarcoid Update - Sarcoid on Face is Horrible Now

The instructions from Xxterra is to use the product 4 days then rest for 10 days.  The instructions from the vet were use 4 to 6 days or until it starts to swell and turns into an open wound.  I decided to do it the way the vet said.

The one on her face we took the first pic on July 27th.  On Day 3 of treatment, July 30th,  you could see swelling.  Today, July 31st, 4th day of treatment - it is what I would call an open wound.  Did not treat it with the Xxterra.

Will continue to follow vet's directions to watch it and if it looks like the process has stopped will start re-applying it.

Will call vet tomorrow to get antibiotic for infection and butte for pain.

You can see the swelling in the one on her shoulder,  tomorrow will be the 7th day of treatment on it.  I hate to see what it is going to look like in the morning when I take off the bandage.

God, please let this work.  As of tonight I'm down to 1/2 the jar of Xxterra.  It looks like I will have to buy a 2nd bottle, another $100.  I don't want to have to stop treating it while I wait on it to be shipped.

Sarcoid Treatment Update 1 - Side Effects Have Started

Started treating the Sarcoid on her shoulder on July 25th.  I am doing the treatment in the evening and taking the photo the next day.  This is what it looked like after the 1st treatment with Xxterra.

Day 2 of treatment on July 26th. This is what it looked like after the treatment.

Day 3 of treatment on July 27th, Today (no photo till tommorrow).  Evidently today starts all the horror stories of the side effects.

Around 3 pm today Skyla went down.  She was not rolling but kept looking at her belly like when they get colic but it was only on the side where the Sarcoid is.  Got her up, listened for belly sounds, checked color of gums.  Belly sounds and gum color was okay.  Called the vet and told him about it, he said it was probably caused from the Xxterra.  Told me to give her 5 cc of Banomine, Butte for pain and to keep an eye on her.  She was up and walking around 15 minutes later.

We left to go do 2 parties and didn't get home till 9 pm.  Skyla was laying down and didn't even twitch an ear when we opened the gate.  We thought she was dead.  She stood up just as the truck pulled up to her and lifted her tail and it looked like the stream from a water hose.  She went right back down.  Her neck was very cold and she was trembling.  We put a blanket on her, put her in the barn.  Checked belly sounds and gum color.  It looked as if her stomach was bloated.  Called the vet.

Vet said to give her Butte and another shot of Banomine.  She got up and pooped again and it was like water shooting out of the water hose again.  Mixing apple juice and water to be sure she drinks and does not dehydrate.

You can tell just by looking in her eyes that she is in pain.  Nowhere in reviews I read from people using Xxterra or the vets or universities studies on it did it say a horse had died from using it.  Skyla just turned 2 last month and she is so sweet and I know she is probably the last baby I will raise and break, I can't stand the thought of losing her (that's why I'm sitting here doing this at 2:30 in the morning).

2:15 am, went to check on her, was laying down and doing a partial roll every now and then, gave her 5 cc of Banomine.  Offered her water and apple juice mixed and she refused it so i poured some in her mouth so I know she got some liquid in her.

Have a party in the morning in Tampa, going to worry myself sick about her.  Think I will leave Banomine in barn so I can call neighbor to go check on her and give her a shot if needed.   Everybody else is in bed.  If this was Lexi or Captain then Storm would be out there ever 15 minutes checking on them and yelling for me to come and make sure they were all right.  Since it's my baby it seems I'm the only one that cares if she is okay or not.

Everybody say a special prayer for me and Skyla.  Let her be okay in the end even if I have to take care of her constantly until we get the Sarcoids gone,  just let her be okay.

Sarcoids - the most common skin tumor in horses worldwide

My filly had this spot on her face that looked like a bug bite, and she had to little lump on her left front shoulder that was just a bump, you could barely see it but you could feel it.  Both of these have been there for over a year.

In May 2013 we went to the vet for coggins and I asked about them.  He told me it was a form of cancer called a Sarcoid.  I asked him what I needed to do about it and he told me to watch it and to leave it alone.  He said if it started growing then something would have to be done.  I asked what and he told me that he could remove it surgically ($400) but it would come back several times until we could get all of it and each time it came back it would be worse.  It could easily take 10 or more surgeries to get all of it.

This is my baby.  I wanted a second opinion so I called and made an appointment at another vet and was told the same thing.  I came home and started researching.  I found out that these are common to horses and if you bothered them they got angry and then turned aggressive.  Just from the two vets looking at them and touching them they turned aggressive.  They had stayed the same size for a year and from May to July both of them started growing like crazy.

Both vets and my research told me that there was lots of ways to treat them and almost none of them worked, the Sarcoid would come back worse and you would have to do treatment again.  It could get so aggressive that it would spread rapidly over large areas of the body and the horse would have to be put down.  Sarcoids are caused by the Bovine Papilloma Virus.

I wasn't willing to try something that was going to assure me of losing her.  So I went back to researching it.  I found two products that assured me they would work.  I called and talked to both vets about them.  Both of them agreed that the product called Xxterra would work but it was painful to the horse and it would get a whole lot worse before it got better.  Over a few months it would kill it and it would fall out and leave a big hole and I would then have to deal with severe infection.

Only a vet can purchase this product.  They were both willing to order it for me and both of them refused to use it on her, I had to do it.  Research states the following about Xxterra. It alters the antigenicity of a sarcoid to stimulate the hosts immune system and results in an immune rejection reaction of the sarcoid.  It also says that 10% of horses will have a recurrence and have to be treated a 2nd time.  The 2nd time it says that 2% will have a 3rd recurrence.  After the 3rd treatment there is no documentation of it coming back.

I had the vet order it for me.  1 ounce is $100.  You use it daily for 4 days and then take a 10 day break.  If it's not flaking and cracking you do another 4 days and you keep doing it till it's gone.  Usually it is about 60 days.  You can't even treat them one at a time because when you start the treatment on one the virus will try to go to the other one.  It's painful to the horse as it burns it down to the root.  It has to be bandaged, the one on her shoulder is going to be heck to bandage and her cheekbone is going to be even worse.

In my research I read 100's of reviews from people who has used Xxterra.  All of them said it eventually worked and the horse had not had any recurrence once they were gone.  But, god the horror stories I read of the effects of using it.  It seems to be the only option.  The other product that is also supposed to work can only be purchased from the University of Liverpool by a vet.  I couldn't find a price for it.

Today is July 25, 2013 and I applied it for the 1st time today.  Because there are so many people on the internet asking if anyone has used Xxterra and wanting to know exactly what happens I am going to take pictures of it daily and keep a record of what is happening.  I will keep it posted here every 4 days or so.

IMPORTANT INFO ON BOVINE PAPILLOMA VIRUS
It is an infectious DNA virus that comes from cattle.  There is vaccines to give cattle for it.  Cattle can carry it and not have the sarcoids but it is still infectious.  It is primarily found in calves under 3 years of age. It can be transmitted by tack, ropes, halters or anything that touches the cattle who carry it.

Since so far none of the other horses have it I'm going to quarantine Skyla to the barn during treatment.  Now I guess I will also be paranoid about checking all the horses every time I feed.  It is usually only found in young horses although older horses can get it.  Unluckily I have cattle all the way around me so I guess I'll be doing lots more research to see if there is any way to protect my horses from it, especially since I have 3 pregnant mares.