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Milton’s Surgery 2018

Companion to post on main blog [Milton’s Missing Photos]. Surgically explicit pictures ahead. Small, but goopy.

January 22

Feb 5

Milton's Schedule
Thursday: To vet clinic. Spend night.
Friday: Surgery. Spend night.
Saturday: Home.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 6, 2018

Feb 6
[It’s Not The Ups & Downs]

Feb 8

Settled in at the vet clinic. 1125 lbs. We'll be back first thing tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/UVzdL2VNos

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 8, 2018

Rodney has noticed that we did not return with Milton. Utterly failing to feel bereft. Yay.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 8, 2018

During dog walk, Rodney whinnied. Did I Tweet too soon? Investigated. Either, Where is Milton OR I need more hay. He got more hay.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Cookie check & good night.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Feb 9 Surgery Day

We swear he was facing toward home.

Good morning. Horse 1 doing fine. Wants his breakfast.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Horse 2 also fine. NOT pleased at pre-surgical lack of breakfast.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

IV in. Room being cleaned & checked. Milton pacing in holding area. People ditto.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

And we're off. Milton taken into surgery. Let the waiting begin. Probably at least an hour until we hear anything. More before we see patient.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Funny, I was less anxious when my father had heart surgery. Variety of reasons, having to do with family dynamics and responsibility. Mostly, I was a less nervous person back then.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

No word yet. Watching horses arrive for appointments. All greys today, from big jumpers to fuzzy ponies. Weird.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

We wait.

Current thinking by peanut gallery is that we may not hear until Milton is on his feet. At hospital, you get a progress report between procedure & recovery. Horse recovery is trickier so they want to see that it goes well before saying? We're just guessing at this point.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Up!

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

All done. Patient standing, albeit wobbly. Screaming, he's not sure about what. Waiting for improved stability before walking him back to stall.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Mass was not into muscle. Still took a while to cut away from skin, vessels etc. Total size approx double handful. Wound not totally closed, due to limits of skin elasticity.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Phew.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Patient back in stall. A little wobbly, a little confused, looking for food. You may be sensing a trend. Left him to recover in peace. Greg to work while I go home to check on Rodney.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Small hay snack for R. Short nap for K. Back on the road.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Finally! Food!

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Milton less annoyed, more wondering if anyone got the number of the bus. Wound seeping. Looks alarming but a little red stuff makes a big mess.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Want to sit by his bedside and bond, but he's eating and doesnt care about anything else right now. Will go for belated lunch then come back to check.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Milton's stall has 24 hr surveillance. Vets can watch on their phones from home. pic.twitter.com/bxQLxg82Bf

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 9, 2018

Home. Everyone fine at night check. 1/3

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 10, 2018

Milton tired, sore, & hungover – as one is. Gave him a brushing to neaten him up. Seemed to like the attention. Combed his mane, which he likes.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 10, 2018

Rodney continues to handle the separation well. Will he be happy to see Milton tomorrow or is he getting to like being the onlyest horse? Good night.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 10, 2018

Feb 10

Milton home & tucked in his stall. Back to work when the opening is half current size. Until then, as much controlled exercise as we can stand. Hello hand grazing.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 10, 2018

Notable lack of greetings from either party. Milton happy to be home! Seeing Rodney, meh.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 10, 2018

Very happy to have Milton back under our control. We don't delegate well.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 10, 2018

Gave first of many stall toys, Nutrilick by Horseware. Not impressed.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 10, 2018

Sitting in barn. Not b/c Milton needs supervision. He's fine. Much better attitude than last night. Sitting in barn b/c alternative is walking up to check every five minutes.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 10, 2018

Night check. All tucked in. For a horse who didn't miss his buddy, Rodney spent a lot of today right next to Milton's stall. Which is good b/c Milton didn't handle it well the one time Rodney walked away. Gonna be a long few weeks.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 11, 2018

Feb 11

Patient did well today. Several hand walks & grazing sessions. Rain kept Rodney in barn near Milton.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 11, 2018

Feb 12

All fine. Wound scabbing over. Milton cutting off grazing sessions. Tired? Not getting idea? Nothing in field? Also eats dirt. Has salt AND mineral blocks in stall.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 13, 2018

Feb 13

[Milton’s Medical Update]

TueNite. Lower leg swollen. Patient a little stiff, a little punk. Watching for heat, fever, etc. Has popped 1 or 2 stitches. Not ideal; not unexpected. Appetite unaffected.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 14, 2018

Feb 14

WedNite. Perkier. Wound bigger but happier. Less drainage. Leg going down. Walk stilted but willing. Dose of Maalox for everyone. Grazing improved.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 15, 2018

Feb 15

Saying hi to your buddy. pic.twitter.com/jzfhIPtg2w

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 15, 2018

ThurNite. All good. Walks, grazing, stall toys. Rodney supervising.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 16, 2018

Feb 16

FriNite. Okay now. Mild colic this am. Drugs & accupressure, then walking, & waiting for poop.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 17, 2018

Feb 17

SatNite. Five by five.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 18, 2018

Feb 18

SunNite. Patient scored 2 hrs of supervised, solo turnout today, for mental heath as much as physical.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 19, 2018

Feb 19

Feb 20

TuesMorning. Turnout time increasing. Tweet frequency decreasing.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 20, 2018

Feb 21

The kraken has been released. Milton & Rodney are both out. No fireworks. So far. Yay.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 21, 2018

Following a successful afternoon of turnout, the horses have been separated for the night, to reduce stress … on the peoples.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 22, 2018

Feb 22

ThurNite. Dual turnout during day. Milton has the night shift. Wound healing nicely.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 23, 2018

Feb 23

Feb 24

SatAft. 48 hrs & counting out of stall, 36&c with company. 1st ride today. Wound starting to close in.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 24, 2018

Feb 26

Sun. Rain. Rest day. Healing is hard work.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 26, 2018

Feb 27

Tues. Slowly back to work.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 27, 2018

Feb 28

Wed. Wound down 50% and shrinking rapidly.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) February 28, 2018

March 2

March 3

March 4

Sunday. Wound continues to shrink & heal nicely. Patient doing great.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) March 4, 2018

March 5

March 6

March 7

Wed. All continues to be well. No news is good news.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) March 7, 2018

March 8

March 9

March 11

March 12

Mon. Wound down to size of silver dollar. Scar will leave Milton with an interesting talking point at horse parties.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) March 12, 2018

March 13