December 23, 2024: Rocky the Shetland Pony's story begins over three decades ago on Lopez Island, where he was part of a group of ponies rescued by the Humane Society. After a brief journey through different homes, he found what seemed to be his forever family - an elderly couple who would care for him for the next 30 years. When his companion, a miniature donkey, passed away 4-5 years ago, Rocky remained as their only equine, patiently enduring increasingly difficult circumstances as his aging owners' health declined and with it, their ability to provide Rocky with the care he needs.
At approximately 35 years old, Rocky the Shetland Pony came to Skagit Animals in Need just before Christmas 2024. Despite being severely underweight and covered in matted mud and manure, his spirit remained unbroken! This plucky little Shetland pony hasn't lost his zest for life: with improved conditions, he is greeting his foster mom with adorable whinnies and even showing exemplary behavior during veterinary and farrier visits.
Personality:
This Shetland Pony is proving to be an absolute delight! Rocky is incredibly sweet and easy to handle, showing remarkable patience during medical procedures (though the dental float did require a bit extra sedation - who can blame him?). After years of solitude following his donkey friend's passing, Rocky is thoroughly enjoying meeting new horse friends and settling into life at his foster home.
Medical Update:
Special Needs:
Rocky requires specialized care including:
How You Can Help:
Rocky's medical care, special diet, and ongoing treatment represent a significant commitment. Your donation to Skagit Animals in Need helps provide this sweet senior with the dignified retirement he deserves. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps ensure Rocky's golden years are filled with comfort, proper care, and plenty of loving attention.
Follow Rocky's journey on our social media for regular updates on his progress and adventures!
No, your eyes aren't blurring...that's just Smudge, an 11-year old Appaloosa gelding who came to Skagit Animals in Need via a law enforcement seizure. He has recurrent uveitis and we are treating that condition, which is an inflammation of the layer of tissue that lies between the eye’s outer layer (including the cornea) and its inner layer (the retina). As a result, he has suffered some vision loss.
UPDATE 3/17/2024: Happy news for Smudge! He recently saw an equine ophthalmologist to evaluate his uveitis. Turns out that it is not the progressive, autoimmune type. And he doesn't appear to have cataracts or glaucoma. We're awaiting the results of some tests that will help us determine the best course of treatment for him.
UPDATE 6/27/2024: Great news for our Smudge! The infection in his eyes is completely gone now. The not-so-great news is that the infection caused a tear in the retina in his left eye. This partially detached retina means he has permanent partial vision loss in that eye. In his next ophthalmologist appointment, he'll have a laser treatment to preserve the rest of the retina and prevent complete detachment. And while you may have human friends who have had retinal repair surgery, it doesn't work well in horses. But the laser treatment should be protective of the rest of his retina. He also has some damage to the retina in his right eye and, as a result, some minor impairment to vision in that eye. However, the retina is intact and not in danger of detaching. All of this explains his occasional jumpiness or random startles, especially on his left side. For ongoing care, the ophthalmologist has recommended keeping him on a low dose of Bute and eye ointment, currently twice a week, but possibly reducing eventually to once a week, for his lifetime, as a preventative measure to keep inflammation to a minimum, as his left eye will be especially susceptible to any kind of trauma.
UPDATE 7/29/2024: Our brave boy needs a more complex eye surgery than initially thought to deal with his left retinal tear. The vet will use a gas bubble to reposition the detached retina, then laser the edges to promote healing. This gives Smudge the best chance to save vision in his left eye. Keep those positive vibes coming for our spotted friend!
UPDATE 10/14/2024: Smudge's vision loss is progressing and he was a bit lame. We got him some new shoes, which has helped with the lameness. We've reached out to the ophthalmologist again regarding the state of his vision.
