Fortunately Sarah had the common sense to know that she should call the vet because in no time at all things became very serious. Jazmine had uveitis caused by an infection in her eye.
This required a mesh cover over her injured eye so that it wouldn't let in too much light and would protect the eye...
...with her other eye uncovered.
Most of her medicine has been delivered by a fixed catheter but occasionally it has blocked or she has knocked it off when rubbing. This has necessitated the drops being applied manually and over time she has become more and more stressed about this taking place. Not only that, but Sarah will need to be able to put the drops in herself when she eventually takes Jazmine home.
At this distance, and with clicker training just started, she will keep her eye open...
...but get any nearer and she slams it shut and moves her head around to avoid it being done...meaning that her eyelids have to be prised apart. On day two of clicker training we were able to make this a lot easier and with practise hope that she will accept it, even if she doesn't look forward to it.
Resting her had on Sarah's shoulder seems to give her some comfort too.
Just to add to Sarah's woes, Jazmine's recent gastroscope didn't look too pretty and once she has recovered from this set of treatment, the vets are going to investigate what might be behind this problem. Until she went on to box rest, Jazmine had been living out full time. The question is whether the painkillers and antibiotics for the current problem have brought about the reaction in her stomach. If not, what? Life is definitely not fair when someone as conscientious and hard working as Sarah has to face all these problems with her horse who is in the prime of her life, and looks fit and healthy in every other respect.
Pie seems to think that we can't see him...
...and although he looks like a chimney sweep, he's come through the winter well.
