Just a drizzle now.

I have just got back from the hospital where Ace was scanned again this morning. The scan shows some white patches which are air pockets, and  one which might just be a foreign body, but the two vets scanning don't think so. They tapped his joint fluid and it looks very clear and very positive though it is being sent for analysis just in case. They pumped saline into his joint to see if it came out of the hole the pus is coming out of and it didn't, so it looks very unlikely that the joint has been compromised. So that's all good news.

To blitz the infection further, they tourniquet-ed his leg and put antibiotics into the vein to force it into the surrounding area closer to the infection. He's also still on two intravenous antibiotics, though he has tried to remover the catheter from his neck overnight! He also has a catheter in his leg vein and that process will be repeated on Saturday, I think.

Meanwhile the first bill for Jazz has arrived. £425 for the rehab livery for 9 days, about what I expected. The vet bill will be well over that. The fee for putting him to sleep was £150. Ace is now up to at least £700 already.   I don't insure because it costs more than it is worth, and even if Ace comes in at £2000 I am still better off over the last 10 years than if I had insured. I'm not complaining, it's just what it costs to keep a horse, but it's still a bit of a shocking payout in the space of three weeks!

Ace is being such a good patient. The staff all think he is lovely, and he is. I am beginning to care that he comes through this, I really do want him back.

Now  picture this bitter-sweet little scene from yesterday. I picked up Jazz's saddle to take it into the house, but I couldn't do it. I ended up with the saddle in my arms, walking a circle of about three feet in size, round and round, saying "it's too soon, it's too soon, it's too soon". Every time I tried to veer towards the door my feet turned away again. I put the saddle back on the rack. It's too soon.

Keep up the vibes for Ace. He will be xrayed again on Monday to make sure that there is no bone damage, and then hopefully he can come home to recuperate. Xrays of bone damage can be very odd. There can be nothing to see for a week, and then suddenly it becomes apparent what damage there is. Let's hope there is none. It does not help that he is a bit precious about pain, and is lamer than he "should" now be if it is just infection. But I know that if they were to  make him walk for longer, he would get sounder and sounder, becuse that's what he did before he went into hospital. I have told them that, but of course we would all rather be safe than sorry.

I think they feel for me, because I heard the vet say to the nurse "we won't charge for the scan". That's really nice of them and when this is over I will be writing to their boss to tell him what a great job they all did.

C