- He was wearing clean scrubs.
- He took my and Connor’s information on a laptop with a sophisticated software program that he was clearly comfortable using.
- He asked me what Connor’s temperament was like before he approached him, then extended a hand for Connor to sniff for quite a while, and took some time to pet him before he got started. Connor was like "No sudden movements? I like this guy!"
- His tools were in excellent shape and care was taken to sterilize everything.
- He was a very educated, cerebral type guy. My favorite type of equine professional.
“He’s got a slow, athletic heart rate so I’m going to start him out with just a little. He’ll probably need more, but I like to start horses like this out small, because they often surprise me by being really cheap dates with heart rates like that.”
Um, yeah, talk about a cheap date! Connor struggled to stay on his feet and eventually braced himself against the wash rack and stayed there for the entire procedure. Guy knows what he's talking about!
He explained things thoroughly to me as we went along, making sure I could see everything he talked about. Connor did need a float but there was nothing egregious in there, so that’s good. When I got home, he had emailed me a full report on the state of Connor’s mouth and notes on what he did, as well as a note on how much anesthesia he gave him so that I will know for future equine dentists and vets that work on him. So cool! Check it out:
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| Click to enlarge |
After that was done and while Connor was still sleepy, I cleaned his sheath using a new-to-me method: liberal amounts of KY Jelly, bean removal and just a bit of scrubbing, then leaving it for 24 hours and letting the lube and body heat loosen the smegma. KY doesn’t need rinsed immediately and thoroughly like soap does, and doesn’t affect the pH balance down there. I rinsed it the next day, and I have to say, I was impressed. About the same results and way less work!
The worst part was going to the grocery store on my lunch break, in work clothes, to buy lube and elbow length latex gloves. I avoided eye contact with the checkout person. Hawkward.
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| Hawkward. |
But it's better than needing Regumate, right?
I try to buy as many embarassing things in one sitting, lube, tic tacs, blank cds and a watermelon would do the trick :) the KY method is one of the best IMO.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha, you are my favorite.
Deletehaha, that would be hawkward! I will have to try this method it does sound better. Oh, and sheath cleaning over regumate any day!
ReplyDeleteSounds like the dentist was a real gem for sure!
Yeah, I found it on the CoTH forums. I liked it.
DeleteGlad you have a great Dentist. We have one who is awesome, though he is not a vet so does not tranq. He remembers us even after a year and our horses. Plus the man is a fount of knowledge so I know what you mean about admiring an educated mind.
ReplyDeleteKY, that is a new one. Wonder what my Dad would think if i put that on the shopping list? :)
Find out! Haha. You'll need a gallon jug for all your boys, which makes it even better. Good dentists are so important.
DeleteI've never tried the ky method! Interesting. Love the hawk ward. Funny!
ReplyDeleteGive it a go! I liked it. As much as you can like sheath cleaning, anyway.
DeleteSo glad I've got a mare! I thought my shopping trip tonight was embarrassing enough since I was wearing faded tan (read skin colored) breeches at the grocery store. It took me awhile to figure out what the long stares were about. I'm sure they thought I'd forgotten my pants.
ReplyDeleteHaha, oh boy! I love wearing boots and breeches to the grocery store. Sorry about your floors, grocery store...
DeleteMy vet sends out similar charts and reminders for my records and is awesome about sending info on to other vets if need be. I love tech savvy professionals! Also, I used to get him to clean my geldings sheath after the dental, because I'm all icked out by it:) I tried to get G to do it, cause he's a man. No luck. Vet heard about it and thought that was hilarious so very seriously showed and unsuspecting G what to do in graphic detail. Poor G, least it wasn't as bad as gelding day ;)
ReplyDeleteI figured you'd be the same as me with loving tech savvy equine professionals. My new vet didn't give me a paper copy of his coggins, but sent an email with real live pictures this year. Swoon! Saves me the step of scanning it into my email. Sheath cleaning isn't that bad! I definitely wouldn't do it if I was a man though.
DeleteMy vet did the same! Now I've got as many copies (in color!) as I want :)
DeleteWow awesome write-up from your dentist! Wish our guy did that. And sheath cleaning is always fun. Thankfully my pony doesn't need to be sedated for that procedure.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! I did a bit more the next day when I rinsed, and Connor wasn't a fan, but I didn't get kicked so...good? Dino sounds like a good boy!
DeleteWhen I read about sheath cleaning, it makes me happy to have a mare!
ReplyDeleteYour dentist sounds great!
Aw, it's not so bad! All depends on what you'd like to deal with, I guess. I've never liked the way that mares challenge my authority, but I know a lot of riders that thrive on that. And of course not all mares are the same!
DeleteI'll stick to the mare, haha :) The dentist sounds great!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy. :) Yeah, I was really impressed with him!
DeleteHawkward? Love it!
ReplyDeleteYeah, pretty much my favorite lolcat-style meme ever, except for perhaps FUCK YOU I'M AN ANTEATER! Google it, you won't be disappointed.
Delete>.< My go to sheath cleaning method is to wait until the vet has them under for -anything- and then be like "Hey, while you're down there..."
ReplyDeleteCuz yeah, it's worth it to me just to pay.
Guess who's getting done on Monday???
Funny...I tried to clean Williams yesterday while he was out after his dentist visit - and he kicked me so hard I almost passed out. No KY for him...
ReplyDeleteHa - I don't know about that Regumate vs sheath cleaning...out OTTB will cow kick at you big time even heavily sedated. Not for the faint of heart or slow moving!
ReplyDelete