Well... despite the fact that I've been going to work with a fever and a head cold all week, the moment my 25 year old stallion announced that he was sick (and would undoubtedly die if I did not drop everything to attend to his needs) I called the office to inform them that I would not be coming to work today because I had a sick horse. Yes... my horse's life IS more important than anyone else's life in the City of Houston.

So I quickly called a friend to advise her that Sultan was down and he had informed me that he was probably dying and may need assistance getting up and into the horse trailer. So... Helen arrived with the troops. And the horse decided that since he now had an audience, perhaps he wasn't dying. In fact, he could stand and walk to the trailer on his own. (I think Helen's teenaged son was a bit disappointed.)

We arrived at the vet's, and Sultan decided that not only was he not dying, he was still a sexy stallion and perhaps he should use this opportunity to "get his groove on." Since he is a polite stallion, this consists of standing tall (he's a short 15.0!), arching his neck, preening a bit, and nickering to other horses. (Sultan loves to visit the vet. It's party time.)

I reminded him that we came to the vet because he had announced that he was dying. He informed me that he felt much better now, and would I please keep it down, as he was trying to get his groove on. Dr Gladson listened to me explain that the lying creature standing beside was indeed SICK! He batted his eyes at her. She was not impressed and pumped Pepto Bismal up his nose. He knew the party was over when she donned a glove and stuck her hand up his rectum. Yep.... hard to look sexy with a vet stickin' out of yer butt.

Even after suffering the indignities of the examination, Sultan kept his good humor. At this point we don't know what caused the colic. It could be the melanoma. Tumors are popping up on the outside, so it's safe to assume that they're growing inside too. It could be the weird weather. It could be a change in the brand of oats he eats. After a fecal exam, we've ruled out parasites. So now he's happily standing in the back yard where I can see him. I've had to put trash bags over the bird feeder since I'm absolutely certain that Nut & Berry Songbird Mix is not on his approved diet this evening. Hopefully when the banamine wears off, he won't colic again. Dr. Gladson has assured me that she is on call all weekend and my Sexy Senior Citizen is welcome to spend the weekend with her. I did not tell him this as he may have another episode just to cruise the vet's stalls for ladies.

sheridan

"Trouble is a sieve through which we sift our acquaintances. Those too big to pass through are our friends." Arlene Francis