Lucy was in serious discomfort, so we quickly brought her to the hospital. She was in so much pain during the exam that she kept trying to lie down. The only option to help her was emergency surgery—to find the source of her pain and see if it could be fixed.
We were holding our breath and asking for every positive thought and prayer in the world for our sweet Lucy girl.
Surgery Success: Lucy Pulls Through!
Lucy made it through surgery! She had a strangulating lipoma. While most horses develop lipomas (fat globules) as they age without issue, sometimes they grow on a stalk and wrap around the intestines—causing life-threatening strangulation. Timing was EVERYTHING with Lucy.
Recognizing her emergency-level pain and getting her to the hospital immediately made all the difference. Dr. Splawn and Dr. Claunch acted fast to get her into surgery, saving her life. If we had waited even a little longer, her intestines could have started to die.
Watching the surgery was both fascinating and comforting—we were there with her every step of the way. And yes, we got to admire her sweet curly socks during recovery!
Lucy will probably remain hospitalized for the next week as she continues to recover. The first few days are still critical, but she’s in the absolute best place for care.
Home Sweet Home: Lucy’s Recovery Begins
She’s finally home! After emergency colic surgery and 5 days in recovery, Lucy has been discharged from the hospital. Everyone is overjoyed!
Her recovery has been textbook so far. She still has incisions on her stomach (all dissolvable), so no baths for now. She will remain on stall rest for 30 days, then move to an area with a small yard for another 30 days.
Even though her surgery was a success, she’s still in recovery. But thanks to everyone’s support, and the incredible care from Dr. Claunch and the team at Weems, Lucy is thriving.
We are beyond happy to have our Lucy girl home safe and sound!
