Trevi

The imprint of Treveri, a Hanoverian mare originally imported from Germany, is evident all over Susan Lynch's and her husband Francis Swift's Shepherd Farm. Purchased six years ago in foal, Trevi, as she is fondly called, is the farm's foundation mare. "We have four of her babies that are brood mares here, and a few of her grandkids on the property," says Lynch. "She is the heart and soul of the place."

Put out to pasture a couple of years ago-complete with a big retirement party-Trevi, now 20 years old, spends her days a happy matriarch. But just five days before Christmas last year, Susan was alarmed to find the mare down in her stall at feeding time-unheard of for this hearty girl.

"She'd never colicked before-she'd never had anything wrong with her in the six years we've owned her," Susan says. "I immediately thought something was wrong. I got her up and into the round pen and started walking her, and she tried to go down again." Now Susan knew something was definitely amiss. She dialed up Ridgeview Veterinary Practice.

Dr. Brandy Snedden was on call and immediately returned Susan's call. She told Susan to keep the mare walking and she'd be there in 25 minutes. As Dr. Snedden pulled into the farm, the mare went down again. "She started to groan, her eyes started to change," Susan says. "She'd gotten a lot worse, and she was really in a lot of pain."

Dr. Snedden gave her a pain shot, and after several minutes, the mare rallied. Her vital signs improved, she trotted out nicely, she even showed an interest in food. A rectal exam, however, suggested a possible impaction. Dr. Snedden administered fluids and decided to linger.

It was a wise decision. As the pain medication wore off, Trevi went down again. "It was our inability to control her pain that really concerned me," Dr. Snedden says. "I conferred extensively with [Dr. Will Engel], and we suggested they consider referring the mare for surgery."

"We were shocked," recalls Susan. "We'd just never had any problems with Trevi. We got Will back on the phone and asked a lot of questions: why did they think it was a surgical case, how did the fact that the mare was 20 years old figure in, etc. Will told us he'd just had a 28-year-old mare come back from colic surgery and is in great condition. Will patiently answered all of our many questions. He cautioned us not to wait too long in making a referral decision."

Quickly, the family decided to go for it. A PreventiCare Colic Assistance Plan through Pfizer Animal Health and Ridgeview Vet Practice was in effect, meaning some part of the costly surgery would be reimbursed. As Susan loaded Trevi for the trip to Leesburg, Brandy called the equine hospital to brief the surgical team.

Things moved into high gear from there. Veterinary staff at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center rushed to the patient, performed and assessed the diagnostic tests. Trevi had a foramen entrapment, roughly similar to a hiatal hernia in humans. Surgery was, in fact, the only way to save her.

"The surgeon was amazing," Susan reports. "He determined the extent of the damage, and consulted with us mid-surgery." Fortunately, the news was good. The fast actions on the part of everyone involved meant that the intestine had sustained minimal damage; there was no need to remove and resect a portion of it. After an hour on the operating table and 35 minutes to awaken from the anesthesia, Trevi emerged from the surgical suite, calling in her signature loud deep voice.

Trevi, at 20, was a suitable candidate for colic surgery because of her overall good health.

Trevi stayed in Leesburg for the next 10 days, as her intestines were coaxed into working again. She was released on New Year's Day. By springtime, the mare had completely recovered.

In fact, the story has a silver lining: Farethewel, a Trevi daughter and a dead ringer for her mother, occupies the stall next to the older mare. During Trevi's absence at Leesburg, the normally contentious eight-year-old was inconsolable. Upon her return, the daughter's temperament improved remarkably. "No question, this was not the sweetest mare," Susan allows about Farethewel. "We literally had considered selling her because of it. But she did a 180 after Trevi's ordeal-her whole personality changed. It's just the craziest thing."

Susan has nothing but praise for everyone involved in the mare's case: Dr. Snedden, who responded immediately to the emergency call and wisely and patiently waited through the medications; Dr. Engel, who emphasized the need to move quickly once it was clear the case was surgical; the caring professionals at the equine hospital; and Pfizer, which, Susan reports, cut a check to her for the surgery in a very reasonable time.

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