Luckily, I was right that the truck coming down the drive was Jude, and his arrival saved me from more conversation with Kat. Wearing a gray western shirt and a black cowboy hat, he came striding in with his medical pack on one shoulder and an all-business demeanor. The cavalry was here, and tension visibly rolled off Kat. Jude inspired that sort of confidence. He did, however, spare me the barest of smiles as he greeted Kat.
“Thank goodness you’re here.” She led the way to Forest’s stall.
“I came as fast as I could.” Jude’s voice was as soothing as the one I’d been using with Forest. “Tell me more about his symptoms?”
“Forest went on a ride earlier with Adler and some ranch guests. Adler took them up by the old swimming pond, so not terribly far. We’re having something of a late-September heatwave, but I wasn’t too concerned about them taking the horses out.”
“What happened when they came back?” Jude asked as we stopped in front of Forest’s stall.
“Carson was the one to put Forest away,” Kat explained, talking fast to get the story out. “He noticed Forrest appeared agitated and far stiffer than we might expect, even from an older horse. Carson fetched me, and I agreed that something was off. He’s sweatier than usual, seems very uncomfortable, and doesn’t want to eat or drink. I’m praying it’s not colic, but we need your opinion.”
“Absolutely. Let’s have a look.” Jude turned toward me. “You want to fetch the portable ultrasound from my truck? I want to start with listening to the stomach and bowels, see if I hear any signs of colic, then move on to ultrasound if needed.”
“I’m on it.” I dashed for Jude’s truck.
I’d helped him enough by now that I knew exactly where he stored the ultrasound machine and other imaging equipment. When I returned, Jude had ruled out colic based on the gut sounds. He was completing his initial physical assessment of Forest, checking each limb and foot for signs of injury. He also took Forest’s temperature and listened to his heart and lungs.
I helped Jude set up the ultrasound machine and position Forest. The horse was wary in addition to his agitated state, but I managed to keep him still enough for Jude to get the images he needed. Jude stayed quiet as he reviewed each area of concern with surgical precision, eyes narrow and a deep furrow on his forehead, until finally he exhaled.
“I’m not seeing signs of obstruction or other emergent issues, which is good news.” He stepped closer to where Kat was waiting right outside the stall. “However, the rapid heartbeat and elevated temperature are more concerning right now.”
“Tying up?” Kat asked, referencing rhabdomyolysis, a rare dehydration complication that causes muscle breakdown and could compromise kidney function, along with being superpainful for the patient. I’d seen the human version a couple of times in the military, and I knew both the equine and human slang for the condition.
“Leaning that direction.” Jude continued to study Forest closely. “I want to do a few more tests, but we’ll likely want to run fluids through an NG tube and start treatment for rhabdomyolysis while we wait on more lab work.”
“Makes sense.” Kat sounded much more relieved now that the worst-case scenario had been ruled out.
I was breathing easier as well, which made it easier to assist Jude in getting the blood samples he wanted. If the condition became chronic, he might also want urine or muscle biopsy tests at a later time. We then lightly sedated Forest before setting up an NG tube through the nose to pump in the fluids and electrolytes needed to combat the rhabdomyolysis.
“You’re going to want someone to stay with him overnight to monitor his hydration levels and look for worsening symptoms,” Jude said to Kat as he packed up the samples. He could do some basic analysis in the field, but he’d need the lab for the more complicated tests.
“I’ll stay.” I volunteered before Kat could. Adrenaline rushed through me, my heart rate almost as elevated as Forest’s. My body was convinced this was a mission-critical situation, and I’d slipped back into a decisive leadership mode. Plus, I was likely to worry about the horse all night either way, so letting Kat get some rest seemed like a good call. “You go eat.”
“You sure?” Kat’s upper lip twitched toward her nose like an uncertain horse. She glanced toward the barn door, then back at me. “Suppose I can have Casey box you up some dinner. I’ll bring it by in a bit, see how you’re managing.”
“Good plan,” Jude and I said in unison, then chuckled at our identical thinking.
“Carson’s got this,” Jude added as Kat readied to leave.
His vote of confidence made my shoulders lift. I would have stayed regardless, but his faith in me felt better than any commendation I’d received in the army.
“Glad it’s not colic,” I said to Jude after Kat left.
“Me too.” Jude exhaled hard as he removed the disposable gloves he’d used for the blood draw. “Kat did the right thing by calling, though, because every minute counts with colic. Rhabdo at least is treatable, but we’ll want to rule out some of the chronic causes so it doesn’t happen again.”
“Yep. It’s nasty.” I made a sour face. The risk of a repeat sounded miserable for all concerned. “A buddy got it once.”
“In both humans and horses, the pain can be quite severe. That’s why we’re pushing pain meds in addition to fluids.” Jude gave Forest a gentle pat. The horse was much calmer now, thanks to the pain meds. “And the pain can mimic other conditions, which is why the continued monitoring is so vital. Thank you for volunteering.”
“No problem.” I moved so he could exit the stall with his equipment. He needed thanks far more than I did. He’d texted earlier that he had plans to get a drink after work with Luna. The call had likely upended his night. “Did you get your beer?”
“Cut short, but it was good to see Luna and Mitch outside of work.” Jude shifted his case to the other shoulder. “Colt was also at the bar, having a drink with Grayson.”
“Oh.” Not sure how to react, I drew the word out. “Awkward?”
“A bit.” Jude bit the inside of his cheek, shifty eyes saying it was more than a little weird to see my brother while trying to keep the thing with me a secret.
“Sorry.”
