An Angus horse has inspired vets after surviving a deadly disease.
Horses have fallen ill and several have died in the district after eating sycamore seeds and, when equine expert Nienke Oostra, of Thrums Vet Group in Kirriemuir, was called to examine Oliver, a beloved gelding that had belonged to a Carnoustie couple for 20 years, she worried she was “fighting a losing battle.”
She said: “Oliver was reluctant to move, trembling, salivating, his heart rate was very high and his heart sounds were muffled.”
Oliver was diagnosed with atypical myopathy a deadly disease that shuts down respiratory and cardiac muscles. All the vet could do was trial supportive therapy on Oliver, trying to correct the imbalances inside his body.
After five days and nights of intensive care, the tide began to turn. Owners Sandy and Elspeth Cochrane are just thrilled to have their equine friend home where he belongs.
“A month ago, I wouldn’t have put two pennies on Oliver making it out of this thing alive,” Mrs Cochrane said.
