The Flicka Foundation. Registered Charity No 1119492

April 2nd 2008 Bilbo had a visit from the remedial farrier and vet yesterday afternoon (1st April) – after a significant period of allowing things to take their course.

There is good news and some not-so-good news……..his hooves have progressed beyond all expectations. The old hooves are now gone and his new ones in place, so we have succeeded in giving Bilbo a chance to live and we are so glad we did, despite a very gloomy outlook. However, the foot that was about three weeks behind the others for development has an infection and now we must act urgently….

Bilbo must have this foot x-rayed in case (and it could be likely) he has infection in the bone. If so, this must be operated on immediately to ‘scrape out’ all infection. Even if this is successfu, I’m afraid Bilbo will have a couple more months of box rest. We have come this far with him and we cannot give up now; our farrier is delighted with him. Sadly, many horses are not given a chance once ‘Sinker Syndrome ‘ is diagnosed, but it is a long haul for horse and carer. Some horses, unfortunately, are just not good candidates for the long incarceration in a stable and it can be quite distressing, especially if the pain cannot be controlled. Bilbo has been a model patient – thank goodness.

Once again we appeal to you all for help; Bilbo has cost thousands of pounds – we have raised as much as possible, but now a further x-ray and treatment will run into another couple of thousand. Please help us to help Bilbo if you can, anything you can give will help us so much towards his treatment. There is no doubt we have struggled with funds for dear Bilbo, but he is worth it.

January 24^th 2008 Gary the remedial farrier visits Bilbo – this time he actually led him out of his stable!! Now the time is fast approaching when we must begin walking him gently each day. We always hoped, but never quite believed, we get to this point. Bilbo is truly remarkable – his stoic, friendly nature and love of people has carried him through.

December 2007 Gary and a new vet came to see Bilbo – they are still very pleased with his progress. Each passing week brings Bilbo a higher prospect of recovery.

November 2007 Bilbo continues to do very well – we treat his feet every day by pouring ‘Keratex’ disinfectant into the holes in the ‘old hooves’ to harden the new growth, he has ACP pills each day to lower his blood pressure and amazingly enough only a small dose of painkillers.

Our remedial farrier Gary Gray (yes that is his name) checks Bilbo regularly and on 31^st October both Gary and Rachel, the equine vet specialist, came to see Bilbo and trim his old hooves, something we always dread in case we lose a hoof or Bilbo endures a lot of pain. Rachel sedated him and for the first time in five months Bilbo was led very carefully just beyond his stable to stand on some styrene blocks where Gary could get to work. Bilbo, as ever, was exceptional. All feet are progressing very well, except his near fore, which is about three weeks behind the others. We are being tentatively hopeful; this time Gary & Rachel actually told us Bilbo’s case was the worst they had ever treated... what has helped to save his life so far is his total acceptance of the situation. You only have to read about ‘Sinker Syndrome’ to see the poor prognosis and percentages of survival. He also continues to recieve Reiki healing every week from Felicity (our Reiki lady), who kindly donates her time.

  Bilbo – taken just after  having had his medication & he still manages to look quite bright.

We are ‘cautiously’ optimistic...  don’t you just hate that saying?!!!

August 07 Bilbo has been coping very well with his life threatening condition – ‘Sinker Syndrome’. If you have a look at any web site referring to the condition, most of them will tell you it is fatal, or at best a 20% chance of survival. Through vigilance, perseverance and constant round-the-clock management (and his wonderful stoic nature) Bilbo is still with us and, although we are still afraid to be optimistic, he is doing well.

Bilbo has had three more veterinary and remedial farrier visits. The latest visit involved sedation by the vet and the farrier cutting four holes in the old ‘hoof wall’ near the coronet (top of hoof). The new hoof growth is about 1½” and it is critical that the dead, old, hooves stay in place, despite all now being detached. So many things can go wrong and the whole condition is very complicated but we are staying hopeful. The new soles seem to be hardening up as well. Bilbo is being a model patient and he loves people. His incarceration in his stable (four months now) has worried us so much, but he seems to know we are trying to help him.

If you would like to know more about this condition please feel free to e-mail us – or have a look at the many informative web sites.

July 07 Bilbo has now had four holes drilled into his hooves to allow drainage. On Thursday 5^th July, he will have a further visit from the vet and remedial farrier who may, depending upon how they think he is progressing, cut away a section from each hoof (which are almost completely detached) to prevent a tourniquet effect from the new horn growth

This picture shows Felicity performing Reiki healing on Bilbo – he really enjoyed it and went to sleep………….

Bilbo has been coping very well, although he did have considerable pain just over a week ago, however these last few days has seen an improvement in his pain levels. We apply medication twice daily into the holes in the hooves to help harden the new growth, we also have to treat his ‘bed sores’; a hazard for horses that spend a lot of time lying down. We are still desperately trying to raise funds to cover his huge veterinary & drug fees (pain killers and drugs for lowering his blood pressure) – for which sadly, despite being a charity, we have no discount. Keep watching this web site for further updates – please help us and donate to this cause if you can.

June 07 Our lovely young cheeky Bilbo’s life really does hang in the balance and we are very worried that we may lose him, after being originally rescued from the ‘meat market’.

 Bilbo’s clinical signs first appeared as severe laminitis. This was unusual,  as he had never had laminitis before. An initial veterinary examination showed him to have a fever and maybe a viral infection – there was no doubt he was extremely unwell and we kept vigil 24/7 after administrations of antibiotics, painkillers and drugs to lower his blood pressure.

After his temperature came down his feet remained very hot and the laminitis showed no signs of improvement after two or three days. Bilbo’s laminitis could have been caused by something he ate that may have been toxic to his body – once horses have toxins in their system it can clinically show as colic or laminitis.

Now after 6 veterinary visits and x-rays to all Bilbo’s’ feet the damage has become clear – the pedal bones in the feet have sunk as low as they can go and Bilbo will lose all four hooves. This in itself is often the end for a horse. Bilbo’s ‘ray of hope’ is that he, so far, has been a good patient and has taken the pain very stoically. What is crucial, if he is going to survive, is that the ‘dead’ hooves, although detached from the sensitive laminae of the foot, stay on for as long as possible (three months at least). This could allow the new growth to start developing underneath. If this is can happen, the next worrying aspect is whether the new foot will grow a sole strong enough for weight bearing; he is a big heavy horse.

There are so many ifs and buts for Bilbo, but we have to give him a chance. He may well face box rest for 12 months; all we can do is wait and watch. The vet and remedial farrier will visit Bilbo every ten days for the next three months, and if it is at all possible do some remedial ‘trimming’ and keep a close eye on developments with x-rays.

It has been such a shock for us to see this decline in Bilbo – one of our young, fit and healthy horses. Please will you help us? As we are constantly saying, the rescue and rehoming of horses is just the beginning for us. Once here at Flicka, our cost, care and concern begin. Our outstanding costs to the vet and remedial farrier for Bilbo are over £2000 and this will triple by the end of three months if Bilbo comes through: we pray that he does. We have absolutely no idea if our decision to treat him will be successful; we just know we have to try.

You have all been such loyal and generous adopters and supporters, please help us to help Bilbo and give him the best chance we can. Unlike big national charities, we exist week to week, with no resources to fall back on when situations like this arise…… we find ourselves always turning to our supporters.

If you would like more extensive details of Bilbo’s condition feel free to e-mail us at info@flicka.org.uk or drop us a line, we always love to hear from you.

Thank you for your time; please consider helping.

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