Friday morning was exhausting and intense for Rocky, Maria, me and surely for Dr. Sarah Jensen who spent four hours diagnosing Rocky and wrestling some entrenched and infected teeth from his scarred jaws. In the video, Dr. Jensen gives her diagnosis about Rocky’s eyesight – he is blind and his blindness is untreatable. She said he is an Appaloosa pony and she said his teeth were in terrible shape – infected, sharp and impacted molars cutting into his mouth and leaving considerable scar tissue. Eating was painful for him and probably has been for years she said.

Mornings like this are familiar to farmers and people who live with large animals. Treating them is complex, as there is rarely good diagnostic equipment available and they can be unpredictable and physically difficult to contain. Large animal vets work long hours for little money under always difficult conditions. You can see for yourself.

Maria held Rocky for much of the morning, and he was remarkably calm and easygoing as these two women talked to him, to one another. Dr. Jensen was impressive – direct, knowledgeable, clear and communicative, empathetic to Rocky and also to us.  We were much impressed by her. The video captures the feel and tone of the examination and the bloody teeth extractions. I included very little blood although there was quite a bit. Maria and I were exhausted and I can only imagine how Dr. Jensen felt – one tooth alone took two hours of steady twisting and wrenching. Rocky is fine, eating well, moving about. He looks easier and calmer and should put on some weight for the winter. Come and see how the morning went.