December photos/Equine Affaire: On Target Miniature 2012 foals

[targetsmom]

Who else foaled? Sorry I have been a bit busy and seem to have missed it. And, yes the day isn't over and we still have another very pregnant and overdue mare.

 

[chandab]

Congrats! Can't wait to see pics of the new filly. So, does she get an Eastery name?

 

[Eagle]

Missy at Flyin G foaled last night a gorgeous colt

 

[targetsmom]

We are not having any luck getting this filly to nurse. I am about to send hubby to the drug store for a baby bottle. Any ideas would be MOST welcome. We would hate to lose this wonderful girl after the hard time she had getting here..

 

[palsminihorses]

Congratulations on your new Easter filly! Looking forward to pictures!

 

[Charlotte]

It can be hard for some to learn the trick to getting under there.

What I would do

1. Check the foal's temp. Should be around 101. if down near 100 get her in an electric blanket or heat pad.

2. Feed colostrum by syringe if she has a suck/swallow reflex. don't tilt head up. Even if some runs out of mouth continue feeding colostrum. A new born should get around 30cc per 10 pounds of baby every hour.

3. You might give (by syringe) 1/2 of a NoDoze tablet dissolved in water to stimulate baby if she seems to be tired or giving up, but you can't do this more than twice and once should do it. Be prepared to do everything possible to get her latched on as soon as NoDoze kicks in.

4. A dose of Karo syrup might help as her blood sugar may be getting low, but colostrum is the very best thing.

Hang in there. Getting some babies started can be difficult but if you can get her over the hump she will be good to go. Her difficult delivery may have depleted her reserves.

 

[targetsmom]

Thank you Charlotte!!!

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

Follow Charlotte's advice...she's knows of what she speaks!!!

Praying for your little one Mary.

 

[Becky]

Ditto everything Charlotte says as we've done all those things here.

I've been at the barn and don't know everything you've tried, but you might try these also.

1. While the mare is tied or held by someone, have another person hold up the back leg of the mare of the side the filly is on. My vet clinic has done that with a mare and foal of mine when the foal wouldn't nurse. This gets the leg out of the way and if the foal is looking around, it puts the udder right in their face. Worked wonders here.

2. If the filly will suck a syringe, fill it full of colostrum and get on the opposite side of the mare reaching under the mare with your syringe (assuming your mare will stand) toward the foal. If the foal is at the udder area of the mare, try to get them to follow the syringe to the udder. I've had good luck doing that too. Also I coat the mare's udder with colostrum. The foal can smell it and will search for the source of the smell.

Congratulations on your filly and I bet you can get her to come around. Good luck!

 

[targetsmom]

With the new baby bottle (rather than syringe) we were getting her within millimeters of the teat, and then she lost interest, But she had gotten some colostrum from the syringe. We will keep trying. Mare's udder has been coated with colostrum. Filly has strong sucking reflex so far.

we may try holding the back leg up too

Thanks for all the ideas - much appreciated.

 

[Becky]

I can't tell for sure if she's nursing, but the filly looks like she's where she needs to be and she's working at it. Go girl!

 

[Eagle]

filly is down under and trying, I can't see if she is nursing but she is looking like she has the idea.

 

[targetsmom]

Hmmm maybe that is why she isn't as interested in the bottle as before. And Mira's teats have come out of hiding, which can only make it MUCH easier for her to nurse.

 

[little lady]

Congrats on your filly! Thoughts and prayers that the lil filly figures it out. Everyone has given great advise.

 

[AnnaC]

Oh Mary, I've just logged in. What a day you have all had!! Many congratulations on the new filly, from what I can see on the cam she's lovely and she is certainly looking interested in the milk bar area!!

Well done to you and your vet, it sounds like it was quite a trauma for a while there - I had my heart in my mouth as I was reading the posts, so glad it was a successful outcome.

Sorry, I'm rambling again! Again, many many congratulations on your little Easter Miracle Princess.

:ThumbUp

 

[bannerminis]

OMG congrats on your new baby girl. I'm afraid I wasnt able to tune in today as I had family over for dinner. I did watch till 9 am (about 4 am your time) but that was it then as I had to put on the lamb, the kids had their Easter Egg hunt and the day took off from there.

I am glad you got your filly out safe and sound. It was a lovely surprise to start turning on all the cams and to find Mira with her filly.

Congrats again and looking forward to pictures

 

[targetsmom]

We are having a hard time telling if the filly is nursing or not and then a new issue just popped up. Mira's udder certainly seems like the pressure is being released and it LOOKS like the filly is in the right place and making some of the right noises. But the latest is that we saw some milk coming out of her nose - not a lot, but very scary, as we first thought of choke (or worse). Last time we had a foal choke we had to drive to the hospital 2 hours away and the thought of that right now is terrifying. Any thoughts?

 

[bannerminis]

I had one of my foals do that and what it seemed to be was that the mare was so full of milk that even the slightest suck drew a fast flow of milk and was more then he could handle so it came down his nose. The vet gave him the once over but it stopped after a day or two once he was stronger and was able to deal with her milk flow.

So it might be that the filly is getting more then she bargained for. If her udder is softer and teats are soft and wet then the filly must be getting milk but the flow just might be too fast

 

[Charlotte]

I agree with Bannerminis. Have had this happen before too when the mare has a lot of milk and the foal is new to it all. Also, sometimes some milk actually squirts into the nostril while baby is under there then when they put their head down it runs out. Don't panic on that yet. It's probably ok. Just keep an eye out for any pneumonia symptoms. Would probably be a good idea to temp the little girl 2 x day for a couple days.

 

[targetsmom]

Yep, the udder is definitely softer, the teats are not "hiding" any more, and they seem soft and wet. And Mira seems pretty comfy - and loving. So we do think the filly must be nursing. I hope that is all it is. They are both napping now and I don't see any new milk on the nose.

Thanks.

I keep telling Toffee "I know it seemed like we were in a hurry to have you foal, but if you could just hold on another day or two - PLEASE".