This past Monday Dakota had a umbilical hernia repair. Dr. Caston at the Iowa State Vet School was her surgeon. Our friend Martha was the anesthesiologist.
Dakota has been on stall rest and has done well. She has two more weeks left of stall rest. While on stall rest I am hand-walking her a few minutes a day so she gets some exercise. Next week I can start turning her out in a small outdoor lot as long as she doesn't get too wild and crazy.
Faith and Mouse are alternating being in the stall next to her to keep her company. Since Faith and Dakota have been together since we got them it's been good for them to be apart. My mom showed me how to band Dakota's mane to help train it to one side. I've been working with teaching them to give to the pressure of a tied up lead rope when they are in the stall and also pick up their feet every day.
Dakota has been on stall rest and has done well. She has two more weeks left of stall rest. While on stall rest I am hand-walking her a few minutes a day so she gets some exercise. Next week I can start turning her out in a small outdoor lot as long as she doesn't get too wild and crazy.
Faith and Mouse are alternating being in the stall next to her to keep her company. Since Faith and Dakota have been together since we got them it's been good for them to be apart. My mom showed me how to band Dakota's mane to help train it to one side. I've been working with teaching them to give to the pressure of a tied up lead rope when they are in the stall and also pick up their feet every day.
Dakota didn't enjoy being weighed much! She weighed 443 pounds.
Dakota had a large stall. She was a little wary about the automatic waterer though!
The surgery took about 30-minutes plus prep and recovery time. I was able to watch her surgery on a television in a private room.
A close up of the surgery on the TV.
When Dakota woke up we got to see her. The orange bandage we took off the next day. She's really fuzzy!
Before the surgery I worked on loading Dakota in the trailer so she wouldn't be difficult to load, which was important due to the type of surgery she had. We loaded her up after we checked out and headed home. She was glad to get home and to be fed since she was not allowed to eat before her surgery.
The vet and others at the school were very complimentary of her manners. My working with her and Faith every day is paying off!
The vet and others at the school were very complimentary of her manners. My working with her and Faith every day is paying off!