The neighbour leans over the boundary fence one day this week and says to Evan, "Oh by the way, the DPI have been out and tested one of my 2yos and they say that he has Equine Influenza".
When Evan told me of this news I was at work and to say that I nearly dropped the phone in disbelievement was an understatement.
My first thought was of where I was at the time I had been told this news. My second thought was "shit, and we thought we were locked down tight!"
Of course we were locked down tight... but the next door neighbour wasnt.
I told my story at the office and realised that it would be a while until I was back on deck if EI decided to come to Massie Lodge.
When I got home that afternoon I made a comment to Evan that there was something wrong with Pip ... she didnt look herself, I took her temperature and it was 37 .1 deg - she had eaten her dinner with her normal gusto, so I shrugged my shoulders and went back up into the house.
When Evan told me of this news I was at work and to say that I nearly dropped the phone in disbelievement was an understatement.
My first thought was of where I was at the time I had been told this news. My second thought was "shit, and we thought we were locked down tight!"
Of course we were locked down tight... but the next door neighbour wasnt.
I told my story at the office and realised that it would be a while until I was back on deck if EI decided to come to Massie Lodge.
When I got home that afternoon I made a comment to Evan that there was something wrong with Pip ... she didnt look herself, I took her temperature and it was 37 .1 deg - she had eaten her dinner with her normal gusto, so I shrugged my shoulders and went back up into the house.
This morning, in dawn's pre light we heard it. Cough Cough Cough. My first thought was it was Rusty next door. No it was my beautiful Epiphany.
First things first we brought both Pip and Local up to the house stables and did the temperature thing again (this has become our favourite pastime!) 38.3 deg. After finally getting hold of Local and taking her temperature - she was 36.5 and quite happy.
I rang the DPI hotline first thing. What a waste of time. I got an answering machine. Ok, ill leave a message. In desperation I called Monika - although she was lying in Brisbane Private Hospital awaiting ligament surgery on her knee, I knew that she would answer.
I then tried the DPI again... ahah a human! I was told by this person that they would get Warwick Command Post to call.
3.5 hours later I got a call from the Stock Control Agent basically telling me that the DPI is no longer interested in collecting blood samples of the disease and for me to call my local vet. He said that the virus was spreading all over Warwick and they didnt have the manpower to cope with it.
This would of been ok, however, Monika was in hospital. Eventually I got to speak with a vet and because it was a "clean" day, I would have to wait for a "dirty" day.
In the meantime, Evan and I have been nursing the two preggie girls. The one thing that I was told over and over again today, after speaking to many people was that the fact that they got the virus prior to foaling was brilliant!
We were also informed by the DPI that "the quicker you get the rest of your horses infected, the faster you can come out of Quarantine" "Get it all over and done with".
So here we are at the end of Day 1.
Day 1
Infected: 2 (Epiphany and Local News)
Highest Temperature: Epiphany 38.5 deg. Local News 38.9
Temperature at 9pm: Epiphany 38 deg. Local News 38.5
Both girls have been eating bits and pieces during the day, favouring their hay over dry feed. Which is fine... as long as they want to eat, they can have whatever they want! When let out around the house, both girls have been picking normally, although taking shade under the house verandah at the hotest part of the day. Local seemed to be feeling off when she had a temp of 38.9, however has cooled down since. Not much snotty stuff at this point. Both girls have been coughing. Will go down before bed and see how they are, give them some hay to munch and go from there.
Any Treatments: Local was given 12ml of Bute paste when she had her temp.
I have been speaking with a lot of different people today... but they have all said the same thing... wait for the temperature spike and then medicate - not before.
We now have the ammunition to fight and will continue nursing both girls along in the meantime.
How Do I feel? Absolutely knackered.
You know that while we are living the virus, I have realised that its not leprosy - its just a horrible virus that has been caused by the inadaquacies of the Federal Government and we are certainly not going to pay for the treatment to this !
There has to be a silver lining out of all of this. Once I find it ... I'll let you know!
In the meantime, Maz and Shorty are still at Ballina.....
*yawn*
Helen
Both girls have been eating bits and pieces during the day, favouring their hay over dry feed. Which is fine... as long as they want to eat, they can have whatever they want! When let out around the house, both girls have been picking normally, although taking shade under the house verandah at the hotest part of the day. Local seemed to be feeling off when she had a temp of 38.9, however has cooled down since. Not much snotty stuff at this point. Both girls have been coughing. Will go down before bed and see how they are, give them some hay to munch and go from there.
Any Treatments: Local was given 12ml of Bute paste when she had her temp.
I have been speaking with a lot of different people today... but they have all said the same thing... wait for the temperature spike and then medicate - not before.
We now have the ammunition to fight and will continue nursing both girls along in the meantime.
How Do I feel? Absolutely knackered.
You know that while we are living the virus, I have realised that its not leprosy - its just a horrible virus that has been caused by the inadaquacies of the Federal Government and we are certainly not going to pay for the treatment to this !
There has to be a silver lining out of all of this. Once I find it ... I'll let you know!
In the meantime, Maz and Shorty are still at Ballina.....
*yawn*
Helen
2 comments:
Given you have Lyndhurst just down the road it's no surprise your horses are showing symptoms. In the Hunter we are seeing farm after farm struck down who have adhered to strict bio-security measures and all the vets here are saying the virus can be carried on the wind. The way it is jumping properties in a straight line with rivers in between you'd have to agree.
The symptoms are, from all reports, very mild and no foals have died, so if I were you I would be pleased you have it as the sooner it runs its course the sooner it will be gone.
The horses will feel pretty rotten for a few days and that's always the hard thing with these viruses but, it's far less concerning that strangles for example, so try not to worry too much.
Its not worrying so much, I guess its the fact that all routines have changed ... im not going to work, EI seems to have affected everything in our lives - it's not just a cold!
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