It is a Sad Sad Day here at the Howell Home
Mariachi had to be humanely put down today. Since he came here I had suspected that he had some sort of nerve damage. Every once in a while he would just twitch for no apparent reason. I figured I would have chiropractic and acupuncture performed on him once his weight got up to a reasonable amount. I was getting so excited and had been telling Jim that I would probably be able to start riding him in a week or so as the weight was really coming on nicely.
Yesterday Jim called me out from the house and said to come see if he was ok as he was acting weird. I went out to find him holding himself up against the fence and Sudden all upset that she could not help him. I pulled Sudden out of the pasture and put her in the stall and went back to check on him. He was wondering aimlessly around the pasture and appeared to not be able to see and was confused. I went out to try and get a halter on him and thats when the worse seizure I have ever seen a horse have. His bottom lip exposed his entire lower jaw, he went totally stiff in the poll then his mouth flew wide open and his head jerked to his side. He went in circles like this for a little bit and then went down, his entire body was stiff with his neck still turned to his side and his legs were flailing about while he tried to get up. This was so violent there was no way for us to get in there to prevent him from hurting himself. He got up once only to fall again and after the third time I just lost it.
I ran up to Jim screaming we have to shoot him he is in pain and probably a bunch of other things I don't remember and went to get the phone to call the vet. Jim went inside to get his gun while I called the vet. By the time we got back out there he was back up but still disoriented. He had no coordination and his hind legs kept giving out on him he also was still unable to see. I walked out to him and softly called his name but he either couldn't hear me or was so disoriented that he walked over to the other fence line and leaned against the fence.
The vet finally called and I told her all the symptoms that he was having and she said right off the bat that it was encephalitis and that usually when they are that far gone that supportive therapy (which is very expensive) would probably not work. We made the decision to have him put down as that seizure was so horrible that I would not want any person or animal to have to go through something like ever.
Well it was about one and a half hours later and Mariachi finally came back into his mind. He still had the tremors but responded to his name and came over and drank some water. A little while later I offered him a treat that he was able to eat and put some hay out for him. I left him in the pasture that night as I did not want him to hurt himself in his stall or in the paddocks attached to the stall. I went out at various times through the night checking on him until around 3 am when Jim woke up and took over for me.
This morning Moses an animal rendering service came out and put him down. Jim put Sudden in the far stall so that she could not see what was going on and then stayed out there with Mariachi as I had said my good byes the night before. He said Moses was a very kind person and that it was very quick and painless for Mariachi. Moses then stayed with Jim another half hour or so consoling him which I think is the kindest thing a stranger can do for another.
We are both torn up over this terrible tragedy but we know it was the right thing to do. After checking all the books poor Mariachi most likely had West Nile as he experienced every single one of the characteristics associated with this disease with the exception of Coma. All it takes is a shot to protect a horse from such a terrible fate, now a beautiful horse is gone because of his owners neglect.
My other horse Sudden is so sad...she really loved Mariachi and they got along so well together. Her shots ARE up to date but I am going to give her boosters just to be on the safe side.
