Dear Friends & Family,
Sadly, Ellinghton was put down yesterday morning. He has been buried on the
ranch where we live. Last Thursday night his digestion stopped working
again. Dr. Greg Parks, his primary veterinarian, worked daily to save him,
to no avail.
Ellinghton’s autopsy revealed that a fourth surgery would not have helped.
We also learned that no new post-surgical adhesions had formed since the
third surgery – nothing was kinking his intestines this time around. His
intestines simply stopped functioning.
The vets have concluded that Ellinghton’s original impaction of toxic wild
acorns (resulting in this crisis beginning November 14), caused irreparable
neurological/ physiological damage to his colon, and that this was the
primary reason he needed almost constant veterinary intervention to pass
manure ever since.
Ellinghton had a great week last week. We were so excited, believing that
everyone’s efforts had finally succeeded. He seemed again a completely
normal and comfortable colt, leaping and frolicking and playing with us,
enthusiastically devouring lush green pasture grass, and growing bigger and
stronger each day. The week before had been almost as great. We thought he
was finally in the clear.
Because Ellinghton has required full-time care and monitoring all this time,
his struggle indeed become our entire focus this winter; everything else in
our lives came to a complete stop. Thank you so much for your moral support
throughout, it has really helped.
x0x0x0,
Catherine
