Little Zeke
For such a little guy, Ezekiel is quite the fighter.
Ezekiel, or “Zeke” is a miniature horse foal who was first presented to the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Equine Surgery Service in early August at just four weeks old.
What this little guy has gone through has been amazing as has the treatment and care provided by the Equine Surgery Service.
Here's a rundown on Zeke’s medical issues, and treatments while at the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State.
- Zeke arrived with congenital, bilateral, laterally luxated patellas. Using a standard technique, Iowa State surgeons corrected the luxations.
- Unfortunately, both of Zeke’s patellas luxated shortly after surgery, likely because of his undeveloped bones.
- A planned second surgery had to be postponed because Zeke developed pneumonia that was exacerbated by anesthesia. In mid-August, Iowa State equine surgeons performed a novel surgical technique during which time Zeke’s patellas were fixed to his femurs with screws. “The goal was to temporarily hold the patellas in the correct location until scar tissue had formed and his bones developed enough to hold the patellas on their own until we could remove the screws,” said Dr. Molly O’Brien, equine surgery resident. “Zeke had to have full limb casts applied to both hind limbs, and he had to be kept down so he wouldn’t injure his legs or disrupt the screws.”
- Misfortune again struck Zeke when he developed surgical site infections of both implants resulting in osteomyelitis of both patellas and femurs.
- This necessitate a third surgery for the little guy when both screws were removed, the infected tissue was debrided, and autogenous cancellous bone grafts were implanted into his previous drill tracts to induce healing. Once again Zeke was placed in casts and immobilized. “In an effort to provide enrichment while he was kept down, we gave him a stuffed rabbit to play with and allowed him to watch cartoons or horse movies on an iPad, which he greatly enjoyed,” O’Brien said.
Once the casts were removed Zeke began an intense rehabilitation. His congenital condition meant he had never learned how to walk normally.
“We had to start from scratch and progress cautiously,” O’Brien said.
This included daily swimming sessions in his own pool for the first two weeks, then water treadmill sessions a few times per week in the Canine Rehabilitation Center in the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital.
In between those sessions, Zeke would go on walks in a sling-supported cart. Not quite three months after his arrival the miniature foal was able to walk on his own just before Halloween and was granted the freedom to roam around his stall like a normal horse.
But Zeke’s appointments with the surgery team weren’t over. While hospitalized large inguinal hernias were found and Zeke had his fourth, and hopefully, last surgery to correct the hernias.
And just last week, Zeke finally went home to continue his recovery and rehabilitation. A special “Clap Out” celebration was held with many of the 100+ veterinarians, technicians and fourth-year veterinary students who cared for him in attendance.
“Although Zeke appears to be cute and cuddly on the outside, he is an energetic foal with a fighter spirit,” O’Brien said. “He has a huge personality for such a tiny horse.”
November 2024