Baby Doll's Vet Visit

This has been a busy horse week. Monday Baby Doll had her hooves trimmed. Tuesday night I went riding with my neighbor under the full moon. And Yesterday was Baby Doll's Vet Visit. We got all of her vaccinations done (except for the boosters in a few more weeks), a check-up, and her teeth floated.

The Vet, from East Mountain Equine came here and I really like him. I met him the first time at Lori's Barn where I have been taking lessons and from whom I bought Baby Doll from, as well.
Dr. Bobbit was friendly, polite and willing to answer all of my questions and allow me to be hands-on. Usually he has an assistant, but it's summer and she's busy.
So, I was happy to help him take care of my horse. I actually worked as a small animal vet tech for a couple years when I was a young adult, but wished I had gotten into large animal and livestock. Defintely alot more interesting than cleaning out Fido's anal glands.

One of the things I love about my horse is how she always comes to the gate when called and is ready to be haltered and stands still. I suppose she knows that only good things happen to her if she does this.
So, I hope she won't hold it against me with the vet visit. haha

Really, though, the vet visit was a piece of cake. Baby Doll was calm and relaxed and the vet was gentle, experienced and quick.
Dr. Bobbit did give Baby Doll a low dose of the sedative, Xylazine, but except for the actual rasping of her teeth, she wasn't fazed by any of the vet's handling.

And even during the 'floating' or rasping of her teeth, she focused on me with her one half-moon blue eye with a bit of concern. But all I had to do was talk gentle and rub her neck and poll and she was calm. I'm so glad and feel honored that she trusts me that much. She's such a good mare.

During the procedure, I appreciated that the Vet invited me to feel her teeth, way back in her mouth, before and after, too. She had a few sharp points on both sides/top and bottom, but nothing serious. The vet filed them right down to a rough texture so she could still chew properly. I was also surprised at how soft and smooth her tongue is. I think I was expecting a tongue more like a cow, sort of raspy and rough.

Dr. Bobbitt also looked at Baby Doll's chest and between her legs because she's been getting some welts from the nasty gnats that like to burrow into her fur. He didn't want to put her on steroids because that would end up being a long term thing and he likes to stay away as much as possible from giving horses too many chemicals.
He suggested trying different brands of fly spray, a fly blanket, or maybe FrontLine for horses. Looks like I'm off to the feed store again...or online. haha

Baby Doll did really well and she checked out "Healthy as a Horse".

I created a little slide show from her visit. Wanna see?

Teeth Floating

After the vet left, I decided to hang out with Baby Doll and keep her company. She was still a little loopy and tipsy from the sedative, and she seemed to want me to stick around. Normally after I leave her at the gate, she grabs a drink of water from her bucket and then heads down to our fenceline and stands around with my neighbor's 3 horses.
But today, she just stood there and looked at me. And when I walked into her paddock she stayed right beside me all the way down to our favorite pinon tree which has a stump that I like to sit on while I pet Baby Doll and enjoy the weather and views.

Maybe I'm jumping off the deep end here, but Baby Doll usually seems to like having me around. Does anyone believe that horses can communicate telepathically? I'm starting to believe it myself. I stayed with her for about an hour (who really knows when one is on 'horse-time', right?) and as I stroked and petted her all over, under the shade of our pinon tree, she fell asleep. My kids were back at the house. Rancher John was taking a nap, and I was doing one of the things I love best.

You can view a slideshow I created of Baby Doll below:

Post Vet Visit