Bravo

Arrival Date:  November 19, 2014

Farewell Date:  August 12, 2025

 

On Nov. 19, 2014, we met a 16-year-old Tecate Red, known as Bravo. He came to our attention through our friends at ECLAP. When faced with chronic lameness, his owner decided to euthanize him. ECLAP took him in and identified navicular disease. The good news was that Bravo was pain-free, not being ridden. Dr. Smith proposed moving Bravo to ECLAP so that newest member of their team, Dr. Bear, could practice diagnostic techniques. Bravo and Dr. Bear will always be linked. We credit Dr. Bear with saving Bravo’s life and allowing him to enjoy retirement.

Due to space constraints at the time, from Nov. of 2014 until May 19, 2015 Bravo was boarded at Sun Bear Ranch in Lakeside. We cannot thank Nancy Ellis enough for the care he received for those first months.

Once at the ranch, he met Qianli Ma. They were a very devoted pair.

 

Farewell Date:  August 12, 2025

 

On August 12, Bravo’s vital signs included an elevated heart rate. We administered medications and monitored his heart rate throughout the morning. In spite of additional medications, Bravo’s heart rate remained high into the afternoon. Beyond those symptoms, Bravo did not exhibit any of the discomfort signs associated with colic.

Throughout the day, Qianli Ma remained by Bravo’s side. We were surprised to see his neighbor Lobo remained close by as well.

When Dr. Harlan arrived, he quickly diagnosed a significant impaction colic. The impaction was so large that it involved the entire intestinal cavity. Bravo ate his entire dinner the night before. He ate through a great deal of pain. Given Bravo’s failure to respond to medication and the poor prognosis, Dr. Harlan felt that humane euthanasia was the only option for our special boy.

We were so grateful that Qianli Ma and Lobo spent the day with their friend. We have no doubt that their presence was reassuring to Bravo. We are so glad that Bravo’s time with us was filled with love and friendship. As Dr. Harlan pointed out, we were able to give Bravo nearly eleven years from the day he was intended to be euthanized. While eleven years was not “long enough,” we are grateful to all of you who made his time with us possible. Thank you for giving this gentle fellow the retirement he so richly deserved.