Updates since adopted:
Spongey has remained canker-free. He has been renamed Leo, and
he now lives on a beautiful farm in the heart of Fair Hill's horse
country. He has a herd of a donkey and sheep which he watches
over.
We have emailed back and forth since he was adopted: the canker remains
gone!
Updated again July 10 2008 -- canker free still. Healthy. Going under
saddle!
Spongey's story:
Spongey the Belgian was found in a 'kill' pen out behind the
sales ring at the New Holland Sales Stable. We paid cash and bailed
him out. Trouble is he had a rare but serious infection in both
front feet: canker
He's an exceptionally nice horse and healthy otherwise.
Equihab opted to go ahead with two surgeries at the vet office.
Special $400 handmade bar shoes were fabricated and hospital plates
(metal covers) were bolted on. Each day we'd open the plates,
remove the bandages, and apply more powdered antibiotic.
We documented the whole process to share with others. The big
problem with canker is that it's rare and people aren't always
sure how to treat it. Hopefully what we learned from him will
help to save a few other horses.
Because of him, we also started the only
Internet discussion list for hoof canker.
