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Becky's horse "Big John" - 03-02-01 and
Update
03-02-01
Sid,
BigJohn AKA Jean-Claude van Draft had his surgery on Tuesday. When
the surgeon initially examined his eyes he said that he would have
to remove one of John's eyes because the cancer had attached to the
cornea. That was pretty devastating news since John is only five,
but I know that horses do very well with only one eye. The problem
would be if the cancer recurred in his other eye. A 2,000 pound
horse who hasn't lost his sight gradually wouldn't do well blind.
As it turned out, the surgeon was able to remove all the tumors
without taking John's eye! We brought him home on Wednesday and he's
doing very well. I have to give him 35 ccs (!) of antibiotic every
day for 7days. The needle looks like a drinking straw! My husband
and I are coming up with really creative ways of diverting John's
attention while I give him the shot.
I told you that he was afraid of his mask, right? Well, I attached
it to the fence by his hay rack and he decided it was a toy, pulled
it off the fence and carried it down to the creek. We found it very
muddy but no worse for the wear. He's gotten used to it and lets me
put it on him now with no problem but he rolls EVERY day and cakes
mud onto the eyes. I just take it home every night, rinse it off and
we're good to go for the next day.
It's a terrific product you make and I've been recommending it to
everyone I know, especially the rescue I volunteer for. Once the
ground dries up here and I can get the Big Guy looking presentable,
I'll be sure to email you some pictures. I wish now that I'd taken
pictures of his eyes before the surgery so others could see what
squamous cell carcinomas look like. Well, too soon old, too late
smart, right?
Take care, Sid.
Becky and Big John
Update
February 13, 2002
Hi, Sid,
I purchased a mask from you for Big John, a Belgian Draft horse who had
squamous cell carcinoma. I bought the mask about a year and a half ago
and just wanted you to know how well the mask is holding up. Big John
is very hard on it and it's taken the abuse amazingly well. The only
damage he's managed to do is to compress the plastic stiffener in the eye
cups, but if I heat a sauce pan so that it is almost too hot to touch, then
place the cups over the bottom of it until it cools, they are almost as good
as new.
About once a week, I throw the mask in the washing machine,
using hot water. It comes very clean and is no worse for the wear.
Later this spring, I'm going to break down and buy new UV blocking eye cups
because he's managed to finally rub some of the fabric off the sides of the
cups. As for the mask itself, I doubt I'll have to replace it any time
soon. It's an amazing product you've got, Sid.
I've attached a picture of Big John. It's a few years old, but it's
the only digital photo I have of him at the moment. I'll send a
close-up of his mask as soon as I can.
Best regards,
Becky Gill
Great to know the Mask is holding up well for Big John, thank you
Becky for sending us the image and update!
Guardian Mask
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