Thursday, October 2, 2008

Jack's Very Bad Day

I knew something was up. The woman left Jack and self in the barn with our breakfast AND she put Jack's halter on. She put the horses out and put Doc's halter on him. Hmmmm, I thought, this doesn't bode well. And it didn't.

Who should stroll in shortly after but the young woman vet (the one who cleared Jack's choke with a garden hose) and her assistant. The vet woman was carrying her suitcase of dental torture implements - designed by Torquemada and manufactured by Dr. Crippen Inc. Jack said "See ya later". He put up a tremendous fight but eventually they got him sedated and peered into the darkest recesses of his mouth. Our woman says his breath was slightly musty and he was quidding, which is a hundred dollar word for dropping unchewed wads of hay here and there. They removed his tartar buildup and sanded down some points and then the vet woman discovered his two furthest back molars on top were quite loose. "Oh dear", she said. With great reluctance she decided they must come out. Turns out they were attached by the merest thread and had food wedged underneath. Jack said it hurt, though not too terribly, but I was very worried about the whole dental procedure. I watched the entire thing closely, not moving a muscle, but using my concerned tone (a grunt, rasp, moan combination). I interjected lots of exclamation points so they would know I was upset. "He's old", I said "and he's scared, and he doesn't like what you're doing and neither do I, so please stop it immediately!!!". Finally it was over and Jack was put in his stall to recover.

Doc had his teeth done as well, but they didn't give him the filed-tooth cannibal look he greatly desires. He doesn't mind the process at all and gets so relaxed that he hangs from the rafters, eyes glazed and mouth gaping open, looking like an old-fashioned opium smoker. As usual, he had to nearly be carried to his stall to sleep it off.

We had just gotten nicely settled in the paddock and Jack was trying to figure out a new chewing method, when back comes herself and drags us into the barn again. This time it was for the foot man, whom we don't mind at all. Jack was left till last so he could see it was just the usual routine. When the woman went to catch him in his stall, he was furious, and turned his back to her and even aimed a couple of token kicks in her direction. She already felt terrible about what he had gone through (and so she should) and asked the foot man to catch him. He had no problem at all and Jack said "she's a traitor and I don't have no truck with that kind". Then he was positively angelic about having his feet done. The foot man said they're coming along beautifully and praised Jack lavishly for his good behaviour. The woman is very downcast.

Tonight Jack had his hay soaked and was able to eat it a few strands at a time. I'm still very worried and am watching him like a hawk. I realized today just how important a part of my life he has become. I would be very lonely without him. He says he's putting a freeze on the woman till he has her so remorseful she'll never betray him again. So far his plan is working beautifully. I plan to stay awake all night to check on him.

4 comments:

billie said...

Oh no - I just said to my husband earlier this evening that I have to get dentals scheduled. I get more stressed than the horses and he has promised to take the day off to stay home and assist.

I may sit in the stall with Rafer Johnson and just put those lavender filled eye pads on the both of us.

I'm sending soothing thoughts for Jack - hope he is feeling back to his normal self tomorrow - with newly improved chewing capabilities and those nicely trimmed hooves!

robert5721 said...

Sheaffer,
Look after Mr Jack, he needs you at a time like this. You mean as much to him as he does to you, I can assure you!! The porridge will be good for him, because he does not need to chew it too much. PLEASE give him our best and tell him that it ain't no big deal....maybe he can talk the woman into cooking oatmeal up for him for breakfast??

Old teeth can be a pain in the petootie for sure.... I take mine out and put them in a box and send them to my vet dentist every 20 or so years for a re build....that reminds me, it is about time....I am SURE that your woman will attend to his every need in that department, like nice oatmeal porridge and soft food....I really wish that MINE would do that...Harrumph !!

Those of us that are older than dirt have to put up with this, but as long as someone who really cares about us is near, we have little to worry about.

Give Mr Jack our best, and Liebbie (Liebschen that is) sends her condolences to Mr Jack and is VERY worried about his condition....she has a poster of him on the inside of the Porta Hut to, keep her company beside Dicey's picture of you....Maybe you two could start a Donkey Dating Service thing on the infernalnet....bet you could make some bucks for the donkey rescue....hint hint....

Give Mr Jack my best, and tell him that it can't be all that bad, as I have NO TEETH AT ALL, cause I lost em back in the time of the Vietnam War....maybe he will understand THAT....he he he....
Mr Gale

Dougie Donk said...

Please pass on my sympathies to Jack, as I too had my 1st experience of the horse dentist this week. Not nearly so traumatic as Jack's, as the dentist just looked in my mouth & said he'd check again in 6 months. I do not care for that idea...

Dennis the ex-racehorse had what seemed like a fine method of evasion, as he stuck his head in the air & then ran round his room. The woman did not find this amusing & she applied a piece of rope to his upper lip & then twisted it to make him stand still. Said this is called a "twitch" - certainly made me twitch just to observe it! I think I will have to work out a better evasion technique, so successful suggestions will be much appreciated.

ponymaid said...

billie - about those lavender eye pads - could those be, say, a snack once they've done their work? I'm very ecologically minded. Jack thanks you for the soothing thoughts and says he's feeling some better today.

Mr. Gale - we're extremely interested in the things you mentioned in your comment. Jack has saved his two teeth and now wants to keep them in a glass in his stall. He wants to know if they can be rebuilt and reinstalled? We're both very excited at being poster boys - makes me feel quite giddy. Jack remembers the Vietnam war very well but he calls it one of the "modern" conflicts. Maybe he's older than 40...

dougie - they never leave it at just looking - I speak from experience. That sander thing sounds like a pack of fighter planes reverberating around your skull but doesn't really hurt. Best to let them do it now and avoid a Jack experience. Dennis sounds like a lively lad, with a great sense of humour! Like yourself, I don't much care for that rope idea. Maybe just fall to the floor in a dead faint or pretend to have a rabid fit and foam at the mouth or begin braying in tongues instead? I will give it more thought.