Dontworrybeappy
Well-Known Member
Yesterday at first I was sure that mom Nikkie must have "caught" on an earlier heat cycle and that this filly was the result of that.... however once I checked my records, it turns out that we only bred Nikkie ONCE last year... June 19th.
That means Baby Abbie was born at 295 days.
We fixed up the corral last night to be warmer for her, and put her in a little blankie, but her body temp is still low for a normal foal. She needs more nutrition than she's been getting on her own, as she's weaker than a normal foal. She IS nursing, just not enough. She had milk all over her face since she's not keeping her mother milked down enough.
So, I get to milk Nikkie and syringe or bottle feed Abbie regularly until we know she's doing it enough on her own. She'll have a heater tonight as well, although thankfully it's warm today and supposed to be even warmer in the days to come (they're predicting record heat!)
Abbie's IgG was so low that it didn't even register on the stall-side snap test, so our vet is off hunting plasma and she'll be getting a transfusion later this evening. She's also getting antibiotic shots - I HATE poking tiny babies!
It's pretty much a miracle that she was strong enough to be up and nursing on her own in an arena with other mares to "help"... and I have MORE respect for our 4 month old Anatolian puppy, who has access into the arena and obviously did no harm (which is as it should be, but she's really too young to have out with birthing stock according to conventional livestock guardian dog wisdom.)
In any case, this is a foal needing intensive care - and thank goodness she's strong enough for us to do it here - but she's going to need all the crossed fingers and prayers that I know you guys can muster... my vet said "This is what happens when you get everything you wanted in a foal!" - please help me keep her with us!
This is Brenda holding Abbie last night...
That means Baby Abbie was born at 295 days.
We fixed up the corral last night to be warmer for her, and put her in a little blankie, but her body temp is still low for a normal foal. She needs more nutrition than she's been getting on her own, as she's weaker than a normal foal. She IS nursing, just not enough. She had milk all over her face since she's not keeping her mother milked down enough.
So, I get to milk Nikkie and syringe or bottle feed Abbie regularly until we know she's doing it enough on her own. She'll have a heater tonight as well, although thankfully it's warm today and supposed to be even warmer in the days to come (they're predicting record heat!)
Abbie's IgG was so low that it didn't even register on the stall-side snap test, so our vet is off hunting plasma and she'll be getting a transfusion later this evening. She's also getting antibiotic shots - I HATE poking tiny babies!
It's pretty much a miracle that she was strong enough to be up and nursing on her own in an arena with other mares to "help"... and I have MORE respect for our 4 month old Anatolian puppy, who has access into the arena and obviously did no harm (which is as it should be, but she's really too young to have out with birthing stock according to conventional livestock guardian dog wisdom.)
In any case, this is a foal needing intensive care - and thank goodness she's strong enough for us to do it here - but she's going to need all the crossed fingers and prayers that I know you guys can muster... my vet said "This is what happens when you get everything you wanted in a foal!" - please help me keep her with us!
This is Brenda holding Abbie last night...
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