Proof that he is right

Dang that Dr M. We have a running feud, where, when I don't like his answers, I try to pressure him into saying the things that I want to hear. I guess I think if I can get him to say something, I can hold him to it and he can make it happen.

This leads to a constant dilemna. I want to WIN these arguments, which is particularly confusing when me being right means bad news for me or my horses.

He has said since last week that this was a blunt trauma. I was afraid to say pigeon fever to him, as I did not want to influence his decision, and I knew he would laugh at me, since it does not happen here. But with everyone else in the world mentioning it, I was bound and determined not to be satisfied until he addressed it.

Fortunately, he gets me after all these years and knows how to handle me. He answers my questions, but does not suffer me when I am being a fool, and ultimately, inspires amazing confidence in him. He knows I am not stupid, and never ever treats me like I am (even when I am acting like it). No matter how much I fight him on it, I can take his opinion to the bank. That provides me an amazing amount of security, as when he says it will be OK, it will be OK, and I don't have to fret all by myself any more.

Today is proof of that once more. He said to turn Hawkeye out and let him work off that swelling, so I did. He was not out 4 hours, and BAM- it is gone. I mean completely GONE. The picture of him walking, facing the camera was at 7 pm tonight, after being turned out at 3 pm post-vet visit. The picture of the hole is right after that, at approximately 7:30 p.m...notice there is not even any swelling around it, like there has been.

This last picture was just after I turned him out after the vet left, and shows how much of his weight he has gained back. Granted, it does not show the side with the withering muscle, but does demonstrate how much of his weight he has gained back since we first started chronicling this mess ten days ago. That was one thing Dr. M remarked on-- the quick recovery of the atrophied muscle. I will get a better shot of that asap.

I do know this---he makes me crazy in that I cannot make him give the answers I want sometimes (what the hell kind of vet would he be if I could?), but the amount of security his experience and confidence provides is invaluable. I do not know how people stay in this business without a doctor like him, and I know from all these years on the internet with other horse owners how rare it is to have this sort of relationship. Mark this down as one more thing I am blessed to have.