Mihi's tooth is finally out!!!!!

After four more hours of surgery Wednesday and another overnight stay, we were finally able to bring Mihi home mid-day Thursday. Huge thanks to Dr. Forbes and everyone at Aspen Veterinary Clinic in Flagstaff, AZ for taking such good care of our sweet girl. We are sure she will be happy to be home in her own stall.

These are a series of pictures of the tooth that was extracted. The root is on top and the bottom, where the toothpick sticks out is the cavity that caused the infection. That toothpick is 2.5 inches long. In both pictures you can see a bulge in the tooth, that is part of the infected area and the bulges (on opposing sides of the tooth) is what made removal so difficult. It was so tightly wedged between the tooth in front and behind it, they needed to use a surgical hammer and punch to force it down between her good teeth. You can see the tooth itself is over 3 inches long.

The picture of normal molar teeth show you how smooth the surface of the tooth is and the size of the infection caused bulge on Mihi's tooth.

This picture shows you the chewing (occlusal) surface of the tooth and on the right you can see the cavity in what is called the infundibulum of the tooth. This allowed food debris to get inside the tooth and the infection took many, many months to get so bad that she had the swelling and food debris on her face.

Now we start the after surgery care with one antibiotic given 3 times a day, another two times a day, both for two weeks. She will get pain medication injections twice a day for 3-5 days and Rescue Matrix to mix with her equine senior mash to help boost her system. Huge thanks to Mushroom Matrix for donating a 180 day supply of Rescue Matrix just for Mihi. Info on Equine Matrix products

In two weeks Mihi needs to return to Dr. Forbes to have the packing/plug that was placed in the open space left from her tooth removal and to see how she is healing. Since she needed two surgeries to get the tooth removed, our bill was double what I had originally anticipated. With the hospital stay, surgery, medications and transportation we have already spent over $2500 and there will be more expense for her recovery and follow up vet visit. Thankfully we received enough donations to write a check out for the surgery and when I did the vet said, "Wow you are a real rescue, we get so many that call themselves a rescue and can't pay for care.". I told her how wonderful all of you are and how you support and care about the rescue.

In addition to the extraction, they did blood work, fecal test for parasites and she has a skin bug infestation. When we got home we applied topical Frontline for the bugs and today I spent a long time grooming her coat to remove the bug debris and loose hair that is shedding. She enjoyed every minute of the brushing while enjoying the warmth of the sun. If anyone wants to come help with grooming her over the next few weeks, please let me know. She will also be dewormed and have her feet done. One thing at a time. Mihi and I have bonded so well and as you can imagine we are both tired. I am truly humbled by the outpouring of donations, prayers and people sharing her story and need with others. YOU saved her life. If this tooth would not have been removed, she would have gotten sicker and sicker and eventually died. What you have done for this sweet mare is remarkable and brings tears to my eyes the love and support you give the fur babies here at the rescue. You are all such a blessing!