Paynter back in clinic; Colitis diagnosed..

[Riot]

The DIC is very bad news, worse than (and probably causal of) the laminitis. Very sad news. Doesn't look good.

[Merlinsky]

More from Mr. Zayat: "Paynter had mild signs of foot pain today and mild radiographic changes. We flew in Dr. Bryan Fraley, an affiliate of the Hagyard Equine Medical Center, to evaluate him this afternoon and placed casts to support his feet. He was very good for the procedure. His appetite has been greatly improved today and the diarrhea is improving. We are hopeful but are taking it day at a time."

More good news/bad news. Would a hyperbaric chamber be helpful at all for the infection and laminitis? I read somewhere that horses in early stages of laminitis have benefitted.

[Riot]

Update from half an hour ago (noon eastern) on Twitter, which pretty much matches what Merlinsky just posted, I guess

Hyperbaric oxygen can indeed help expose O2-starved tissues to oxygen (laminae of feet, ischemic bowel, sepsis, etc) but with a horse as sick as this with his multiple problems, catheters present, foot support for his laminitis, etc, you have to worry about the physical pressurization causing complications, embolisms, pain and further organ damage. Couldn't be used at this point for this horse today.

If he's still having clotting problems with the DIC (I suspect not as they went ahead with foot support for the laminitits) that's a huge worry. The ongoing fever and ongoing low protein levels in the face of transfusion are major problems.

Poor horse - he's still right on the edge, multiple problems, prayers for him.

Comment on laminitis: it can be very mild or severe and horrible, the mere onset of laminitis itself is not cause for euthanasia, it depends entirely upon the severity and other complications, but greatly also upon the cause of the laminitis.

Morning update: We still have Paynter in our lives for that we are blessed. Paynter continues to go through a sickness with significant complications. Ironically today he is having a decent day, he is one tough horse!

It is admirable but heartbreaking. On the positive side, he stays comfortable in his new cast fitting, unbelievably so that according to Dr. Laura says he is actually walking around comfortably in them. What a star!!

On the negative side He still has diarrhea, but amazingly enough his attitude is better and his appetite continues to improve.

he continues to fight his colitis hard.His fever is higher today than we would want it.The protein levels continue to be low.

He is fighting and we will keep praying for him to fight as long as we are secsitive to his needs. Again, our primary concern is his comfort #star #warrior #whatatrooper #prayforpaynter

[paisjpq]

I worked W Bryan Fraley on a badly deformed foal a few year a go... great vet.

[Riot]

No news this afternoon on Twitter, just a message that next update will be 8pm.

[Riot]

Wow - this horse is tough as nails.

@JustinZayat Paynter update: Paynter continues to amaze his vets by his resilience, class, charm, determination, what a horse. Indeed he is so special.

Paynter has been walking comfortably all day. This afternoon his diarrhea resolved and he passed formed manure.

He was mildly uncomfortable when defecating, which is not uncommon in horses with colitis as the diarrhea resolves.

He has had an intermittent low grade fever but his blood work continues to be normal. He continues to be treated aggressively.

Please keep your good prayers and energy coming our champ is fighting and fighting hard

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Riot

Wow - this horse is tough as nails.

Yeah. He continues to survive things he really shouldn't be able to, at least not in combination. If he beats colitis, laminitis, DIC, etc. then the only thing that could take him down is gonna be kryptonite.

Don't know that I've ever been so glad to hear news about a horse's successful bowel movements.