Worrying about my animals is one of my specialties, and when Hank is involved,
I can raise worrying to an art form. For the past few months, my worry level over Hank
has been a consistent 3 on a 10-point scale. Had it ever reached 4, I would have called the vet.
I imagine that call would have gone something like this:
Me: Hi, Doc, I'm worried about Hank.
Doc: What seems to be the problem?
Me: His nose is getting pointy.
Doc: (long pause) Pointy?
Me: Yes.
Doc: Maybe we have a bad connection. Did you say pointy?
Thankfully, before I embarassed myself and made the call, our farrier showed up
and looked at Hank's pointy nose. He has seen enough snakebit horse noses in his career
to recognize that what is happening to Hank's muzzle is common amongst the bitten.
It's not that Hank's nose is growing pointier, it's that the side that was snakebit
has contracted and looks smaller.
Oh. Well, that's a relief!
Here is how Hank's nose looked before the snakebite,
all nicely squared off at the bottom and pointless.
Hank: Do you think anyone will notice? Maybe we can save up for a nose job.
Me: You're handsome enough just the way you are.
I recognize the swelling. My white sheep gets swollen like that when she gets stung by wasps. She likes the grass along the edge of the stream where the ground nests are. Bad combination. Thankfully, I also waited it out. Those farm visits are costly!
ReplyDeletePointy nose or no, Hank is still a cutie patootie!
ReplyDeleteI hope his nose returns to normal. Perhaps it will. It looks a little swollen. I'm glad you posted this so if I come across a distorted muzzle I'll at least be a little informed.
ReplyDeleteThat's strange. Will it ever go back to normal or is this the new normal? Either way, Hank, you are one handsome guy.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the new normal.
DeleteLearned something new! So will it be pointy forever now? Either way, Hank is a hunk!!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I had no idea a snake bite would do that. As long as he can eat with that handsome mug all is good.
ReplyDeleteYou tell Hank it's a badge of honor! And that means he never needs to tangle with a snake again in his entire long handsome life! :)
ReplyDeleteOMG Carson! You live in a place where snake bitten horse noses are COMMON! You need to pack your menagerie up and come live in our snow blown northern woods... Hmmm... although here ... here porcupine quilled snouts are possible ... but NOT COMMON. Yes, again, pack it all up - come on up! ;)
ReplyDeletePoor Hank! And he never came home crying! What a man he is. Glad it's not anything really scary!
ReplyDeleteNo big deal.
ReplyDelete(except for remembering where Hank's "good side" is when you're documenting his handsomeness...)
I would have been worried, too!
ReplyDeleteGood thing you found out it's nothing to worry about! Thanks to your farrier! =)
Wow! I'm glad the farrier knew what was up! I'm impressed that you are still so kind to snakes, all things considered. :)
ReplyDelete