Mom's horse struck by lightning!

[Sylvan]

:sadeyes: The night after we left my mom's house to drive back home, there was a huge storm and Mom thinks both of her horses were struck by lightning! They are both alive, but the vet has never dealt with this at all before.

Chancey's legs were swollen, and after having been wrapped up, the swelling has gone down and she seems to be doing alot better- nearly 100%.

Sadie, however, was not so lucky. She is acting as if she had a stroke- face all droopy, stumbling around. She had one leg that was swollen, and the ankle was bleeding when she was found, and her ear looked fried.

Not knowing exactly what to do, the vet put her on pennicillin shots, and while he was there looking at the horses, Sadie stumbled into Mom and knocked into her ankle, so now Mom's not getting around so well either.

The vet thinks that Sadie may have had a pre-existing condition with one of the bones in her head, and that in the storm, if she *was* struck by lightning, she may have tossed her head and broken the bone. Horse's heads are full of bones- the vet describes it like taking a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle and throwing all the pieces into a bucket. If they can get her x-rayed, there is no guarantee that they'll be able to find the bone, let alone fix it.

Just looking for some energy sent to Sadie for healing. That she won't have to be put down.

[Gala]

Poor horsies...

No way it could have been a snake? I know that rattle snakes will swell up a horse but not kill it.

Whatever I am sorry about the and pray for thier recovery.

[Pesha]

Using her pic I am sending healing to her.

BB
DS.

[Jenne]

Sending healing too...poor thing! :hugz: to you, your mom, and her!

[Hope]

aww calm and balance for all

love
hope

[OriginalWacky]

:sadeyes: The night after we left my mom's house to drive back home, there was a huge storm and Mom thinks both of her horses were struck by lightning! They are both alive, but the vet has never dealt with this at all before.

Chancey's legs were swollen, and after having been wrapped up, the swelling has gone down and she seems to be doing alot better- nearly 100%.

Sadie, however, was not so lucky. She is acting as if she had a stroke- face all droopy, stumbling around. She had one leg that was swollen, and the ankle was bleeding when she was found, and her ear looked fried.

Not knowing exactly what to do, the vet put her on pennicillin shots, and while he was there looking at the horses, Sadie stumbled into Mom and knocked into her ankle, so now Mom's not getting around so well either.

The vet thinks that Sadie may have had a pre-existing condition with one of the bones in her head, and that in the storm, if she *was* struck by lightning, she may have tossed her head and broken the bone. Horse's heads are full of bones- the vet describes it like taking a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle and throwing all the pieces into a bucket. If they can get her x-rayed, there is no guarantee that they'll be able to find the bone, let alone fix it.

Just looking for some energy sent to Sadie for healing. That she won't have to be put down.
You got it.

Is it possible that rather than a bone issue, Sadie has brain damage from the strike? The blood from her eardrum is most likely a ruptured eardrum, you'll want to watch for hearing damage as well. Also keep an eye on her eyes (no pun meant) becuse lightning strikes can cause residual damage in the eyes as well as the ears. Lightning often causes neuropathic problems, so this could be what happened rather than broken bomes, though broken bones are certainly not to be ruled out.

Quoted from: http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/html/EC/EC1472/EC1472.html (http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/html/EC/EC1472/EC1472.html) (To view the rest of the article in keeping your horse healthy, please read the link, the quoted part is just a small bit.)

"Electric shock may occur from contact with electric fencing, overhead cables, or other sources of electricity; or from lightning strike. Electric shock usually results in death. There may be little external evidence of injury, except perhaps some singed hair along the course of the current. Surviving animals appear dazed or unconscious with slow, labored breathing and weak, slow pulse. Paralysis also is common.
Provide adequate bedding, food, and water for the recovering horse. Support bandages on all limbs may help if the animal is weak or has some paralysis. Recovery may take hours or days. In some cases, permanent paralysis or blindness may result."

It sounds to me like the vet is doing pretty much what he can (at least in my layman's opinion). Lightning isn't exactly a typical thing to treat, which I suppose is good for most horses, but bad for this one. One thing he may want to keep an eye on, is that the veins in the burnt legs may swell up or become congested. I'm sorry your Mom is going through this. Best wishes to all of you.

[WynnJera]

Energy Sent :)

[silent_wings]

I know from expiriance that having an injured horse is horrible, although not the same injury... it still hurts not knowing what to do about it. I will send my energy, hopefully it will also help you cope with your stress. Please keep us posted on what happens. Hugz 4 every1!

[HorseCrow]

(((Energy of healing and recovery sent to Sadie))) :hugz:

[nomadicdragon]

((hugs)) & energy

[FeatherGoblinglimmer]

calm and healing.

[Convallaria]

Regenerating energy, and love